Surf and turf
Mumbles
How can you not love a place named Mumbles? The name of this picturesque Welsh village is derived from the French word mamelles meaning ‘breasts’ (cue teenage boy giggle) which French sailors used to describe the two offshore islets near the village.Located on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, the actual town of Mumbles nestles and falls into the steep cliffs that overlook the great sweep of Swansea Bay. The famous ‘Mumbles Mile’ is the seafront strip hosting a number of old pubs and restaurants, where you can sip on pints of bitter and watch as the tide recedes into the silver sands, framed by the pier at the bay’s end.However it’s not just the charm of Mumbles that will keep you returning to this magic part of the world. It is only a short walk over the hill to Langland Bay, where waves march in orderly lines from the Atlantic Ocean, as if tailor-madefor surfers. Surfers from all over the UK travel here, to ride one of the UK’s best waves, the infamous Crab Island. Alternatively you can also hop in the car and take in any number of pristine beaches, like the sweetly named Bracelet Bay and Limeslade beach. And of course a trip to the Gower is not complete without a visit to the far end of the peninsula at Llangennith, where walking trails on 300-metre-high cliffs provide amazing 360-degree views of the whole peninsula, buffet miles of sandy beaches. There is also a RYA-accredited yacht club in the nearby Swansea Marina, and horse riding.
Getting there:
The M4 runs parallel to the coast allowing easy access from England.
Places to Stay:
For guesthouse and hotel accommodation try Langland Cove Guest House (01792366003) and Coast House (01792368702) in Mumbles. For camping hit the Hill End camping site (01792386204) on the beach at Llangennith.
Activities:
GSD Surf (www.gsdsurf.com) is the only level 4 approved BSA surf school in Wales. There are women-only sessions and junior surf academies as well as half-day group lessons, costing £35 per person in a group of up to eight for one instructor. www.enjoygower.com
More information on the Mumbles area:
www.visitswanseabay.com
Woolacombe
Woolacombe is a sleepy village nestled in the rugged and unspoilt North Devon coastline. The hub of the village, and its main attraction, is the five-kilometre stretch of beach that splays from right out in front of the town and then runs along to the majestic headlands of neighbouring village of Putsborough – the only blue flag beach in North Devon.This part of north Devon is mainly known for the surfing centre of Croyde, the thatched village that lies only eight kilometres to the south of Woolacombe. And while Croyde has its attractions, a excellent surfing beach and a thriving social scene based around its two pubs, it tends to soak up most of the traveling trade, leaving the white washed buildings, tiny old pubs and breathtaking walks of Woolacombe to those in the know and the more adventurous. On sunny summer weekends Woolacombe beach comes alive as surfers, families and locals mingle and throng to the hard sands, clean water and gentle fun waves of the beach. You can walk on the nature reserve on Baggy Point, the headland at one end of Woolacombe beach. Or, it is only an hour’s drive to the rugged beauty of the Exmoor National Park.
Getting There:
Turn off the M5, via the A361 and Barnstaple. Be prepared though, the roads of North Devon tend to be quite slow, especially with summer traffic.
Staying there:
The B&B at Headlands Hotel (01271870320) is excellent while for self-catering Surfersworld (www.surfersworld.co.uk) is perfect for beachgoers. Finally for camping head to Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parcs (02171870381) open year-round.
Activities:
Nick Throne, surf rescuer and local legend, runs surfing lessons (£30 per person for a half-day with an eight-to-one student/instuctor ratio), and also NARS Beach Lifesaving courses, £275 for six days. Call 01271 871 337 to book. www.woolacombetourism.co.uk
How can you not love a place named Mumbles? The name of this picturesque Welsh village is derived from the French word mamelles meaning ‘breasts’ (cue teenage boy giggle) which French sailors used to describe the two offshore islets near the village.Located on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, the actual town of Mumbles nestles and falls into the steep cliffs that overlook the great sweep of Swansea Bay. The famous ‘Mumbles Mile’ is the seafront strip hosting a number of old pubs and restaurants, where you can sip on pints of bitter and watch as the tide recedes into the silver sands, framed by the pier at the bay’s end.However it’s not just the charm of Mumbles that will keep you returning to this magic part of the world. It is only a short walk over the hill to Langland Bay, where waves march in orderly lines from the Atlantic Ocean, as if tailor-madefor surfers. Surfers from all over the UK travel here, to ride one of the UK’s best waves, the infamous Crab Island. Alternatively you can also hop in the car and take in any number of pristine beaches, like the sweetly named Bracelet Bay and Limeslade beach. And of course a trip to the Gower is not complete without a visit to the far end of the peninsula at Llangennith, where walking trails on 300-metre-high cliffs provide amazing 360-degree views of the whole peninsula, buffet miles of sandy beaches. There is also a RYA-accredited yacht club in the nearby Swansea Marina, and horse riding.
Getting there:
The M4 runs parallel to the coast allowing easy access from England.
Places to Stay:
For guesthouse and hotel accommodation try Langland Cove Guest House (01792366003) and Coast House (01792368702) in Mumbles. For camping hit the Hill End camping site (01792386204) on the beach at Llangennith.
Activities:
GSD Surf (www.gsdsurf.com) is the only level 4 approved BSA surf school in Wales. There are women-only sessions and junior surf academies as well as half-day group lessons, costing £35 per person in a group of up to eight for one instructor. www.enjoygower.com
More information on the Mumbles area:
www.visitswanseabay.com
Woolacombe
Woolacombe is a sleepy village nestled in the rugged and unspoilt North Devon coastline. The hub of the village, and its main attraction, is the five-kilometre stretch of beach that splays from right out in front of the town and then runs along to the majestic headlands of neighbouring village of Putsborough – the only blue flag beach in North Devon.This part of north Devon is mainly known for the surfing centre of Croyde, the thatched village that lies only eight kilometres to the south of Woolacombe. And while Croyde has its attractions, a excellent surfing beach and a thriving social scene based around its two pubs, it tends to soak up most of the traveling trade, leaving the white washed buildings, tiny old pubs and breathtaking walks of Woolacombe to those in the know and the more adventurous. On sunny summer weekends Woolacombe beach comes alive as surfers, families and locals mingle and throng to the hard sands, clean water and gentle fun waves of the beach. You can walk on the nature reserve on Baggy Point, the headland at one end of Woolacombe beach. Or, it is only an hour’s drive to the rugged beauty of the Exmoor National Park.
Getting There:
Turn off the M5, via the A361 and Barnstaple. Be prepared though, the roads of North Devon tend to be quite slow, especially with summer traffic.
Staying there:
The B&B at Headlands Hotel (01271870320) is excellent while for self-catering Surfersworld (www.surfersworld.co.uk) is perfect for beachgoers. Finally for camping head to Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parcs (02171870381) open year-round.
Activities:
Nick Throne, surf rescuer and local legend, runs surfing lessons (£30 per person for a half-day with an eight-to-one student/instuctor ratio), and also NARS Beach Lifesaving courses, £275 for six days. Call 01271 871 337 to book. www.woolacombetourism.co.uk
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