(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Southerndown is my local spot, have surfed it for years and had some of my best waves there. When it is big it is a challenge, but had some beautiful 3ft evening, sunset waves afater a hard days work. The forecasts here are pretty accurate too!”
Tristan Davies from UNITED KINGDOM - 17 May 2010
Southerndown Ratings
Overall: 2.0. Based on 4 votes and 2 reviews. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.0(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: 2.8(1: Southerndown is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 3.0(1: Southerndown is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Wales - South East. 5: the best break in Wales - South East). |
Difficulty Level: 2.0(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 2.3(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Southerndown can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 2.0(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Southerndown, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 1.7(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Southerndown are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 1.8(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 2.8(1: Often too crowded. 5: Southerndown is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 5.0(1: Getting to Southerndown 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: 4.3(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: 2.0(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Southerndown for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 2.3(1: Camping at Southerndown 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: Southerndown is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 1.0(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 3.7(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Southerndown, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 3.7(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Southerndown where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
“Southerndown is a fairly consistent beach break with some low lying reef to the right of the car park. There is a rip around the point to the far left. Surf can be great when it is 3ft to overhead and winds are from the NNW to ESE, given some shelter from the backing cliffs. The tide needs to be on the push and is usually best from mid-tide upwards BUT watch out for a sketchy exit at high tide when the waves can thump into the steep storm bank. This is less of a problem on neap tides but springs are a different matter. Wave shape is strongly dependent on sand movements that vary through the year and dramatically affect the beach profile. Sometimes the waves can back off frustratingly then half an hour later as the tide moves they can steepen and even become quite hollow on occasion.
The wave is nearly always 1-2ft smaller than the indicator beach at Llangennith (Gower) due to the swell dragging on the sea bed in the shallow Bristol Channel. This is more noticeable for long period swells (>11s). The beach can often get crowded particularly in summer and autumn but winter days are much quieter when surf is often at its best.”
Q, VoG from UNITED KINGDOM - 04 Mar 2010
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