WA
11 posts
Am going to the UK in August/September, just wondering if its worth taking my kite gear? Any places recommended?
Cheers
671 posts
Where about's will you be going?,
My general advice is would be not to bother unless your new to the sport and gunning at every opportunity. having kited on, east, west, south west and coast's of wales there's some great scenery to kite in, lots of restrictions, but hey its a long way to lug your gear for a hamburger when there's a t-bone wedge of huey at home!
NSW
1348 posts
I would recommend the Cornwall and Devon coast as a kiting destination in the UK. The water is the warmest you'll find. But it is very fickle, the tides are massive 3m to 5m. Woolacombe Sands is a massive beach where they did training for the D day landing in Devon that is not to bad with the tides Also kited at a place called Bigbury on Sea but not a place to learn as the tide can run very fast. Over all I don't think I would lug my gear over to the Uk again as is is very fickle but would contemplate hiring gear if I was in Penzance and conditions where good. There are places to hire gear near London on the Channel coast but the water is so cold I don't think I would bother
WA
328 posts
so how come there's so many pommie kiters then?
671 posts
i dunno i learn't the 'hard' way on land, small island lots of kiteable cooatline!
VIC
1159 posts
I lived in London for 4 years and learnt to kite while I was over there. There are plenty of spots to go to, and one thing you can be sure about the UK coast, is that it is spectacular.
Devon and Cornwall are pretty good but often the suitable beaches have restrictions at that time of year. As mentioned before, the spots are very tide dependent and it is not uncommon to be at a location where the wind is pumping but the tide is not right. Generally you can't kite at locations 2 hours either side of high tide due to environmental concerns (high tide bird reserves), or just a lack of launch spot. Most beaches along the South Coast also have groynes which make spots unkiteable at high tide as well.
The great thing about the UK is that even if you can't go for a kite there are so many other things to see within any given location you can just grab your guidebook and check out the nearest thing. There is so much history crammed into such a small space that you won't end up feeling like you have wasted your time.
My favourite spot was Hayling Island, east of Portsmouth. The beach has a massive sandbar that runs out about 2km perpendicular to the beach, and you ride downwind of it. As the tide turns you get fun waves on the sandbar to have a play on. It gets very busy in the summer, esp on the weekends. You can't kite within 2 hours either side of high tide (this is regulated) and they were starting to get heavy on membership but that won't be an issue if you are visiting from OS. Make sure you go up to the Beach Inn afterwards and have a few jars with the old poleys and kiters, most of whom drink at the bar with their wetsuits still on!
WA
198 posts
was in england for a week a few weeks ago. had my kite gear but wasn't planning on using it. Stayed a night in Brighton on the South coast and there was some good wind for a long downwinder. saw some blokes on 12's cruising along. just gota watch out for the old and new pier.
WA
139 posts
yup plenty of spots to kite, take ya gear or if ya ready just buy new gear when your there, its cheaper and you would get the tax back when you bring it back to oz.
Also lets not forget you could do a long weekend and bugger off to egypt, france, spain, greece, turkey blah blah etc for the same price as a cab fair to the pub over here. if you are living in london it would prob be cheaper to take a cheap flight than go stay in cornwall (which is lovely).
you will need a wetsuit, whats weird is the water is actually quite warm in the south due to the thermal currents that go between uk and france, the air tempt is more the prob.
enjoy
70 posts
Plenty of good spots mate, where ever you are your never more than two hours from the sea. Other than Devon and Cornwall, Hunstanton on the Norfolk coast is one of my favourites. If you get a chance the isle of Tiree is fantastic.
Wind wise it's pretty much all frontal (sea breezes in the UK are as rare as rocking horse poo). So you can get 30 knots from the North one day and then 10 knots from the east the next, there is no real pattern or consistency to it, what ever time of year. Your best bet is to hook up with the closest shop/school to where ever you are and they'll recommend which beach is best suited to which ever wind direction is blowing at the time. If there is no wind and you like wake boarding there are loads of cable parks scattered across the UK.
Egypts closer to London than Perth is to Sydney, so Europe and North Africa are good bets, especially in September when you can get some amazingly cheap deals. Your in luck too these days with the Aussie Dollar, your gonna find everything cheaper here except Fuel.
WA
174 posts
Get on a plane to Tarifa, spain. Otherwise don't bother with your kites, Uk weather sucks beyond all imaginations and it will be damn cold.
WA
8407 posts
plenty of spots ,first thing to do is buy a good wettie the temps are a lot different than youll be used to unless your a pom , its not so much the water temp although it wont be that great compared to here its the wind chill factor although its august it can be pretty cold if your not aclimatised heres a list, essex redcar newquay,porthcawl,pembrokeshire, camber ,cornwall,exmouth,poolesouthend on sea,rhosneigr,swansea,hayling island, sussex, norfolk,,hayle,gwithian,poole,,dublin,southampton,fraserburgh ,tiree,isle of wight,heckmondwike,teeside, cumbria,antrim, brighton southport, ainsdale, blackpool, oh i forgot your only there for a couple of months
wind is fickle though........
