Surf camps in Cornwall are a sure-fire bet for a fantastic family holiday. They run both summer and winter but fill up fast during the British school holidays, so be sure to book as early as possible if you want to come between June and August.
The long leg of England that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean from the side of Old Blighty, Cornwall is a mecca for surf. It’s not really like the rest of the country. There’s a microclimate that means you’ll be hitting beaches shrouded in cabbage palms and fringed by white sands. There’s a strong local identity that’s wrapped up in Pagan religious rites, tin mining, and a fierce sense of independence. Most of all, there are waves everywhere.
Swells from NW to SW make their way into the long, crumpled western shoreline of the county, known to most as North Cornwall. The result are some of the most iconic British surf beaches. We’re talking the likes of Porthtowan, Sennen, and Gwithian. For those looking to hone their craft or catch their first waves, Cornwall also has arguably the best learn-to-surf town in the isles: Newquay. That’s where you’ll find some of the finest surf camps in Cornwall listed below, but there are options all over too…
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This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in England. This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps.
Cornish Wave Surf and Adventure
- Location: Newquay
- Best all-round surf camp in Cornwall
- Price: 3 days/2 nights starting at $360 (£289) per person
For us, there’s simply no better people to learn to surf with in this land of clotted cream and pasties. Cornish Wave Surf and Adventure have crafted a series of seriously fun packages that offer a mix of surf and other adrenaline pursuits to really make the most of the Cornish coastline. They include trips that mix surfing with yoga, coasteering, and wild camping.
Their flagship surf package is a three-day romp that takes place on the forever-wave-washed beaches of Newquay. Anyone who’d been there knows just how fantastic it is for beginners and improvers, what with highly sheltered waves rolling into the main beach and harder things waiting down on exposed Fistral.
The stay itself is truly magical. You’ll bed down in luxury bell tents in an ancient clutch of Cornish coast woodland, keeping the company of forest sprites and birds. It’s a proper escape from city life, with crackling campfires to keep you warm at night and company from both local guides and likeminded travelers. If it’s not booked – boot right away! These guys get busy fast as they only run over weekend dates.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Ride on Retreats
- Location: Newquay
- Best for: Female surfers
- Price: 4 days/3 nights starting at $1,491 (£1,199) per person
Ride on Retreats now run a 4-day, 3-night package that’s solely for the ladies out there. It’s a mix of yoga and meditation, plus fun on the waves. Again, it’s based in Newquay, one of the most beginner-friendly surf towns in the county. Your stay? The prestigious Sands Resort Hotel and Spa, a grand hotel with its own pool and fitness center on the top of the cliffs just to the south of town.
What’s great about this is that it’s only for women surfers. That nurtures a really empowering environment and helps solo travelers especially forge new friendships in the surf community. We also love the focus on relaxing Yin yoga and simple socializing – there’s lots of hot tub time to be had.
The downside here is that the Ride on Retreat isn’t, strictly speaking, a surf camp. The two lessons you get on the water are actually in SUP, which is okay, and there’s no dedicated surf time. That said, it’s not too hard to get to central Newquay and rent your own gear or book onto a lesson at one of the local schools.
The Surf House
- Location: Porthtowan
- Best for: Surfing families
- Price: A week’s surf stay in a 9-person private apartment starting at $4,350 (£3,500)
The Surf House is a standalone apartment rental that you can book for up to nine guests at any one time. We rate it as one of the best self-catering surf stays in Cornwall for a whole host of reasons. At the most basic level, it’s downright lovely, with a cosy lounge, a country kitchen, and interiors that ooze local touches.
Because this is a book-it-yourself stay, not a planned surf package, you’re going to need to plan all your outings yourself. The good news is that you don’t have to have a car because Porthtowan beach is just 200 yards from the front door. That has good winter waves; pounding, hollow and powerful. If you do have your own wheels, head south to Gwithian and it’s cruisy stuff for all levels.
Sennen Surf Loft
- Location: Sennen Cove
- Best for: Couples
- Price: A week’s surf stay in a 4-person private apartment starting at $1,909 (£1,538)
We wax lyrical about Sennen quite a bit. Yes, it demands an extra two hours in the car compared to northern Cornwall, but therein lies the charm. This beach is often empty and never clogged by crowds of weekenders out of London or Bristol. It’s also freaking lovely – think pure white sands and azure seas.
The Sennen Surf Loft nestles between the cosy coastal cottages down in Sennen Cove, the small hamlet that hugs the beach. You’ll be literally steps from some of the mellowest longboard and learner breaks in the UK come the summer, and have one of the best swell-magnet spots in the country on the doorstep, not to mention a characterful local pub to boot.
The place itself is romance to the T. There are tight-knit rooms done out with a whiff of New England style, along with a bijou lounge warmed by a crackling log burner.
St Christopher’s Inn Newquay
- Location: Newquay
- Best for: Budget
- Price: A week’s surf stay in a shared room starting at $159 (£120) per person
Every local surfer from Newquay down to Perranporth seems to have their own story about the St Christopher’s Inn that line the seafront. For better or for worse, this hostel has become hallowed ground in the surf annals of Cornwall’s wave capital. It’s seen booming stag parties and the revellers of more Boardmasters than we care to count, but has also given loads of people their first taste of surfing.
Okay, so it’s no luxury spa hotel. But there’s a price tag to match the mediocre reviews and the shared dorm accommodation – you’re looking at under $80/night in the shoulder seasons. When it comes to surf lessons, things couldn’t be easier. Simply mosey down to the front desk and sign up to one of their guided sessions. The rest will be taken care of.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
