North Wales

But when Northerners are looking for that little bit extra, they head to North Wales. Just 2-3 hours from Manchester or Birmingham, it’s not uncommon to find more English than Welsh at these spots. Rhosneigr is without doubt the main event, but like so often in Great Britain, just a few miles away you’ll find completely empty beach-breaks and reef-breaks. This area can get extremely windy due to its exposed position, so you’ll want to pack small sails and kites. Since several high-speed ferries sail to Ireland from here, it’s an ideal opportunity to combine a Welsh excursion with a trip to the Emerald Isle.