West Cornwall Surf Schools.
Have you always fancied the idea of riding the waves but have never learned to surf? Cornwall is the UK’s surfing hub, and there’s no better place to give this exciting watersport a go. To learn to surf safely, it’s best to go with a pro. There are some fabulous surf schools in West Cornwall, run by qualified and experienced (and wonderfully patient) instructors. Whether you’re a complete rookie, a bit rusty or wanting to refine your skills, they’ll find the right sort of surf lesson for you. It’s also a great activity for all the family to try – and yes, the kids always pick it up first…
If you’ve booked a Cornwall holiday, better book a surfing lesson, too. Here’s some more information about three of our local surf schools.
St Ives Surf School.
Beautiful Porthmeor Beach in the west of St Ives gets the full force of Atlantic swells but is sheltered from the prevailing wind. This creates ideal surfing conditions (“clean” rather than “messy”) and makes Porthmeor the perfect base for St Ives Surf School.
This welcoming school is run by a team of dedicated surf pros whose passion for the sea, the sport and for sharing their skills shines through – we’ve all loved our lessons here. They run classes for beginners (as well as intermediate and advanced classes) plus private lessons and family group sessions.
Board and wetsuit use is included, and if any of your party is a seasoned surfer on hols without their board, St Ives Surf School offers a separate hire service. They also run paddleboarding and coasteering sessions. This is one of the best surf schools in West Cornwall.
Based: Porthmeor Beach, TR26 1JZ
Parking: Porthmeor Car Park (short stay), Barnoon Car Park or The Island Car Park. Find out more about parking in St Ives.
How to book: Through the St Ives Surf School website.
Gwithian Academy of Surfing.
The vast sweep of sand behind Hayle is made up from Gwithian and Godrevy beaches (called the “Towans”, the Cornish word for sands). Experienced boarders come here looking for consistent large waves (the Godrevy end is wild), while beginners and learners stay to the more sheltered Gwithian end. Gwithian Academy of Surfing is based here, handily near Lula Shack for refreshments…
Run by highly skilled and very enthusiastic surfers, the Academy offers a great range of lessons and courses for all abilities. If you book a series of lessons, the cost per session goes down for the first four, meaning that by the end of your Cornwall holidays, you’ll feel really at home in the water.
Board and wetsuit hire is included or available to rent separately if you need it. They offer private lessons as well as family classes if you’re all keen to have a go together – and their Silver Surfer classes mean that no one is left out.
Based: Godrevy Towans, TR27 5ED
Parking: Godrevy car park (National Trust)
How to book: Through the Gwithian Academy of Surfing website.
Sennen Surfing Centre.
Stunning Sennen Cove has two beaches that run together, Whitesand and Gwenver. Sennen is regarded as one of the best surf spots in Cornwall, with a consistent, uninterrupted swell. It’s an excellent place for a surf school and is home to the award-winning Sennen Surfing Centre.
The Centre offers a group lesson course, which can be between 1 and 5 sessions (the more you have, the better value it is – and the better surfer you’ll become!). If you’d prefer not to join a class, there are also private lessons available including for family groups. All equipment is included with your lesson.
It’s a super-friendly place to learn to surf, and the expert team couldn’t be nicer. The Centre does a lot of work in the local community including running Sennen Cadets for kids, one of the UK’s oldest surf clubs. Before you leave, pick up one of the Centre’s logo tops as a memento of your adventure.
Based: Sennen Cove, TR19 7DG
Parking: There are three car parks near the beach. Here’s where to park at Sennen.
How to book: Through the Sennen Surfing Centre website.
Meet The Author.
As Business Development Director at Cornish Escapes, Emma plays a strategic role in driving the growth of the business through the marketing and recruitment whilst also overseeing the performance of our sister company Handpicked Cottages. Emma brings a wealth of industry insight to the business.
With over 20 years of experience in the holiday rental market, Emma focuses on understanding evolving market trends and her goal is simple: to increase bookings for our owners through marketing while also strengthening the visibility and reputation of our brands.
Outside of work, Emma makes the most of Cornwall’s stunning coastline. Her favourite walk is the St Ives to Zennor route – a challenging trek, but one she says is always worth it for the views and a well-earned pint at The Tinner’s Arms. Passionate about the lifestyle Cornwall offers, Emma loves exploring the county with her two daughters, from discovering family-friendly days out to attending local events such as the St Ives Food Festival, where she enjoys sampling some of the very best Cornish food and drink. When it is time to relax, she can often be found at Newlyn Film House catching the latest film or sharing recommendations on the best theatre productions and live performances across Cornwall.
Planning your Surfing Holiday in Cornwall…
We’re lucky to have such excellent surf schools in West Cornwall, and we should also mention Global Boarders (Gwithian and Praa Sands) and Evolve Surf School (also Gwithian). Many of our luxury holiday cottages in Cornwall are set up for surfers, with outside showers and hanging space for wetsuits – and several of them are close to the surfing beaches we’ve mentioned.
