Surfing winter waves at Mawgan Porth
It’s a season for both the stillest scenes at sea and inhospitable, crashing surf. For Peter Abell, of Mawgan Porth’s Kingsurf, when the conditions are right it makes for unbeatable moments in the water…
“It’s a swell magnet. There’s waves all year round. We haven’t had to cancel a lesson for three years now due to there being no swell, which is rare. Sometimes there can be too much swell though.”
Peter Abell, owner of Kingsurf, is talking about one of the reasons this surf school has been offering surf lessons at Mawgan Porth for 30 years. Peter took over 20 years ago and is only too happy to pull on a wetsuit, boot and gloves to make the most of the quiet sets during the autumn and winter months of Secret Season.
“There’s something really nice about getting cold, putting the kit on, actually realising that once you’ve got the kit on and you’re in the sea, you really aren’t cold in the slightest.”
“The winter, you know like right now, if you look out the window, it’s four foot, it’s clean,” he says, “The wind’s light, it’s a little bit drizzly. I 100% prefer to go out there now and have the sea to myself with these perfect conditions.”
For Peter it’s a time of year of “stillness as well as the storms, the lulls between the storms”.
“Stepping onto this huge beach with nothing but ocean around you is so calming,” he adds.
During this time of year, the team at Kingsurf run private lessons where they can “offer a guided service on how to stay safe in the sea, as well as teaching surfing” and spend a little more time on different aspects of board riding, from surf forecasting to board design to location choosing.
EXTRA EXHILIRATION
Pulling on a winter wetsuit, taking to the colder, peaceful water, then finding a spot to warm up, all makes for an unbeatable time in the water, explains Peter:
“There’s something really nice about getting cold, putting the kit on, actually realising that once you’ve got the kit on and you’re in the sea, you really aren’t cold in the slightest. The wetsuits and boots and gloves are just so incredible these days.
“And then you get that euphoric buzz from being outside with no one around you, which I love.”
Ending up in a warm pub, sat around the fire, makes for a surf experience Peter would vote for above any of his summer outings.
And Mawgan Porth isn’t short on places to call in on, for sustenance or supplies, after being out in the fresh air or exhilarating sea.
“We’ve got the cafe, which is great, a really nice restaurant, Catch. We’ve got a really lovely pub, the hotels have great restaurants within them, so we’re definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to food,” says Peter.
Along the seafront, Cornish Fresh is a “mini supermarket”, there’s the fish and chip shop too, and Peter recommends walking into the valley to visit the bar at Retorrick Mill.
MAKE THE MOST OF MAWGAN
For visitors arriving in Mawgan Porth, Peter suggests coastal and inland walks and – unsurprisingly – a surf to make the most your time by the sea here.
“If I was here for a day or just 48 hours, and I wanted to get the most out this visit, I’d highly recommend walking to Bedruthan Steps. It’s only a 40 minute walk there and back, but it’s lovely. You’ve got Carwenas, a lovely National Trust Café, with one of the best cream teas in Cornwall, I think.
“And then I think one of the nicest walks is into our village itself, St Mawgan village, where you’ve got the lovely Falcon pub, the Japanese Gardens, which is a little hidden gem.
“Then obviously go surfing. How could you not? Can’t go to Disneyland without seeing Mickey Mouse.”
Find the star attraction of your #SecretSeason in Mawgan Porth, your secret reason to be by the sea at this time of year…
