Llangennith Reviews and Ratings
(Wales – Gower, UK)
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Visitor reviews of Llangennith surf break
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“This beach is crazy, hardest paddle out waves breaking everywhere, loads of surfers, bodyboarders, swimmers.
One of the most consistent beaches in the Gower coast, when the swell is big here it will give you an idea of how the swell is on other beaches and reefs.
Lots of surf schools come down here but as the beach is huge you can just move away and it will be fine. Worms Head will block out a lot of the south winds which is the prevailing wind for the beach.
[Editor writes. If only. The prevailing wind, sadly, is WNW, which is onshore here. Ahead of an approaching depression the wind pulls S or SE, and if the depression stalls you get cross to cross-off winds and swell with shelter at the south end, but less swell there too]”
Hugo from UNITED KINGDOM - 30 May 2015
Llangennith Ratings
Overall: 4.0. Based on 16 votes and 3 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.9(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 3.9(1: Llangennith is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 4.1(1: Llangennith is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Wales - Gower. 5: the best break in Wales - Gower). |
Difficulty Level: 3.1(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 3.5(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Llangennith can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 3.8(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Llangennith, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 3.3(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Llangennith are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 3.9(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 3.1(1: Often too crowded. 5: Llangennith is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.4(1: Getting to Llangennith requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 5.0(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 4.3(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 3.9(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Llangennith for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 5.0(1: Camping at Llangennith is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 3.7(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Llangennith is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 4.7(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 4.1(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Llangennith, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 3.9(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Llangennith where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“This beach definitely separates the skilled from the unskilled, the fittest from the fit, known through out the world, not just the UK as one of the hardest paddles out, on Earth.
A Gennith surfer will regularly argue with Caswell, Langland and Aberavon surfers, regarding the heights of the massive waves out deep, when you get passed the mish mash they can be frightening to any surfer, just take binoculars down to Rossilli and size up the dots (people) walking on the beach to the towering waves out deep.
This beach is suited to all levels of skill and being so large, there’s plenty of space. I recommend getting use to the dreadful paddle out, so you can paddle out easily on all other beaches.
On a clear day you can watch the sun set into the sea, (priceless)
It also has a nice café and pub to put the calories back on.”
chris from UNITED KINGDOM - 03 Jul 2012
“Llangennith is one of the most consistent beach breaks on the South Wales Coast and the Indicator Beach for the Gower Area so if there is no swell here it will be flat all along the Welsh coast.
It's a very popular spot, even in the depths of winter, but the huge 3 mile wide expanse of the beach means that it is always possible to escape the crowds by walking some distance away from the car park. In general the further South you walk, the smaller the waves and the easier the paddle out will be.
The paddle out at Llangennith is infamous. It is unusually difficult because the gently sloping beach profile means that on a big day outside is a very long way away and inside is a very big washing machine. Once the surf gets over about 4 feet, apart from dangerous rips against the cliffs at either end of the bay, there are few currents to help. Watch the sets for a while before going in you can usually see areas where the surf is less heavy and after you pick your spot, timing is everything.
The surf here can be very good, with long lefts and rights. It can handle a lot of size when conditions are right and on these days longboarders especially can score some very long rides by sitting way out the back and waiting for the sets. Often, however, 'gennith is a frustrating wave that tends to back off and then close out in a shorey. This is usually the case on very clean long period ground swells - the beach is just too flat to make anything of these because there are never any decent banks. Sometimes a light onshore SW breeze behind the swell seems to improve things by adding some short period swell into the mix and making the waves that bit more peaky. NW breezes, which are common in summer totally ruin small surf.
Three Peaks, which is a long walk up the beach, is the best spot around mid to high tide and as a result it is often crowded here. On rare days brief tubes are possible.
The quickly shifting tide means that for most of the beach it can go from poor to very good and back to poor in any one spot over an hour or less and full spring tides generally cause the surf to back-off.
Apart from the surf, there is a busy but mellow camp site at hand and a cafe on site too. The local pub, The Kings Head, is deservedly popular with surfers. PJ's surf shop is in the village too and there are dozens more breaks to explore within a short drive so if it is big and onshore here, somewhere else not far away may be firing.”
webmaster from UNITED KINGDOM - 05 Mar 2010
