Surf Businesses in Dorset

Surf schools, shops, camps and board repairs in 1 surf town across Dorset.

Dorset is best known for its Jurassic Coast, sandy resort beaches and some of the best sheltered water in the country for paddleboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing. The surf here is less consistent than in Cornwall or Devon, because the English Channel and the Isle of Wight block much of the Atlantic swell. That makes it a great place to learn on smaller waves, and when a proper southwesterly swell does push up the Channel, local surfers are ready and waiting.

Bournemouth and Poole

Bournemouth has seven miles of golden sand running from Southbourne to Sandbanks, backed by cliffs and lined with beach huts. The beaches face south, so they pick up swell from storms in the Atlantic and wind swell from the Channel, usually in autumn and winter. On small summer days the gentle waves suit beginners and longboarders, and the long promenade makes it easy to check several spots in one walk. Next door, Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, and its shallow, flat water is ideal for learning to paddleboard, windsurf or kitesurf.

The Purbeck coast

West of Poole, the Isle of Purbeck has rocky ledges and reefs that can produce quality waves on a good swell. Kimmeridge Bay is the best known, but access is limited and the reefs are shallow, so these spots are best left to experienced surfers who know the area.

When to surf in Dorset

The most reliable surf arrives between October and March, when deep Atlantic low pressure systems send swell up the Channel. Summer is mostly small and is the best time for lessons and other watersports. Always check the forecast for swell direction as well as size: a southwesterly is what you are looking for.