Places

West Wales : Aberystwyth : Surf Breaks

The Harbour Trap

The Harbour Trap is the most well known and most consistent of the breaks in Aber. It is situated just to the North of the Harbour entrance. There's usually plenty of parking on the prom overlooking the break and access is gained either by paddling out from the concrete groyne on the beach, by wading around below the sea wall and then paddling around to the south end of the line-up, or, at high tide by jumping off the wooden jetty into the harbour mouth and letting the current from the rivers take you to the line-up. The rocky reef of the Trap picks up any swell going, and results in fast, steep and (under the right conditions) hollow waves. Its possible to surf at most stages of the tide, but at extreme high tide, the wave can be badly affected by backwash from waves reflected off the sea wall. (Those with a persuasion for boogie-boarding seem to have fun playing around on 'the Wedge' created by this phenomenon. The waves break both left and right from a relatively small take off area. The left-hander is the longest and hollowest wave, but the right-handers can be fun too. The high-quality (for this area of the world) and consistency of this wave does mean that it gets crowded. Early morning dawn-patrols with no-one else out are well worth missing some sleep for though.

The Harbour Trap, Feb 1996.

Bath Rocks

The Break of bath rocks is situated just outside the Glengower, towards the north end of 'Town Beach'. This break only works at high tide, when the rocky outcrop of Bath Rocks is just covered by the sea. The wave is predominantly a right-hander and breaks in shallow water forming a steep, fast wave. This wave is certainly not recommended for beginners. Select this link to see a

Richard Beere, Bath Rocks

Queens

Just to the north of Bath Rocks, again in front of the Glengower is the break known as 'Queens'. Essentially, this is a left-hander breaking of the north end of Bath Rocks. Although waves more akin to a beach break can be surfed in the little embayment between Bath Rocks and the North end of Town Beach. A quite popular wave, especially with the students living in seafront accommodation. It is also fairly well protected from many wind directions. Never a good wave, but often better than nothing at all.

Queens

The Wall

For an exciting, fast but short wave with a mad take off, try 'The Wall'. Situated alongside the sea wall just below the Castle and in front of the Old College, this wave is only surfable at high tide. Waves roll along the wall and break in very shallow water. Entry is gained by descending the spiral steps around a buttress of the sea wall. You take off literally touching the wall and surf a fast left-hander for short way before pulling out. Again, not a wave for beginners or the faint-hearted.

Castle Point

The rocks at the north end of South beach just below the Castle sometimes produce surfable right-hand waves. Entry is gained by negotiating the often fierce shore-break on the beach. This wave is rarely surfed.

Pier Rocks

The rocks seaward of the pier also produce some waves that on occasion look surfable. I however, have never surfed them, nor seen anyone surf them.

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