Surfing in Rhosneigr

When to come

If you're after proper surf, the best months are October to February. That's when deep Atlantic low-pressure systems send long-period groundswell up into the Irish Sea and onto Anglesey's west coast. Late autumn, October and November, is the sweet spot: the sea still holds some of its summer warmth, but the winter swells have already arrived.

Summer is a different story. It's often flat or small, the water is at its warmest, and the beaches are busy with families. That makes it a great time to learn, with gentle whitewater and lessons running, but don't plan a summer trip around big waves.

Water temperature and wetsuits

The Irish Sea is cold for most of the year, and the right wetsuit is what keeps you in the water.

If you're hiring, the local shops have wetsuits, so you don't need to bring your own.

Reading the forecast like a local

A basic weather app won't tell you whether it's worth paddling out. Locals look at three things.

1. 1

   Swell period, not just size.

   Look for a period of around 8 to 9 seconds or more. Longer-period groundswell has the energy to push properly into the bays; short-period windswell tends to arrive weak and messy. Surf-forecasting sites such as Surfline and Surf-Forecast show this.

2. 2

   The wind direction, hour by hour.

   Rhosneigr's beaches face west to south-west, so you want wind from the east or north-east, blowing offshore and grooming the waves. A westerly blows straight onshore and turns everything ragged. Locals cross-check the wind models (such as GFS and WRF) on sites like Windguru and Windfinder to pin down the exact hour the wind swings round to the north-east.

3. 3

   The live view.

   Before packing the car, check Funsport's webcam on their website for the real state of the water. A good tell: if the kitesurfers are out on small kites, it's blowing hard, and the surf is probably blown out.

The tide matters too, and differently on every beach. The table in the next section shows which tide suits each break.

The breaks

1. 01Traeth CymyranImprovers and experienced
2. 02Traeth CrigyllBeginners and improvers
3. 03Traeth Llydan (Broad Beach)Improvers and experienced
4. 04Porth Tyn TywynExperienced only
5. 05Porth Trecastell (Cable Bay)Intermediate and experienced
6. 06Porth CwyfanExperienced only, never alone
7. 07Traeth Mawr, AberffrawBeginners when small, experienced in big swell

Sharing the water

In Rhosneigr, surfers share the bay with windsurfers, kitesurfers and wing foilers, and on a windy day there can be a lot going on. Most local riders are friendly and look out for paddlers, and a bit of awareness keeps everyone happy.

• Remember the speed difference. Wind-powered riders move far faster than you and can't stop instantly. Give them room, and don't paddle across their path.
• Choose your spot. On busy wind days, surfers tend to stick to the breaking waves near the shore, while the kites and sails use the open water further out. If the kites are out in force, Traeth Llydan or Cable Bay may be the quieter choice.
• Make eye contact. If a rider is heading towards your wave, catch their eye. Most will turn away or jump the back of the wave to leave it for you, as long as you're not dropping in blind.
• The usual surf manners apply. The surfer closest to the peak has priority, don't drop in, and don't let go of your board in a crowd.
• Look out for kite lines on the beach and in the water. They're thin, hard to see, and can cut.

Lessons, hire and surf shops

Two local businesses cover everything from your first lesson to a new board.

Both are listed in our directory, with opening details and links.

Related guides

• The Beaches of Rhosneigr
• Things to do
• Walks and trails
• Where to eat
• Getting here