Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal — 80 FeetIt's also where the most enormous wave ever surfed was recorded, securing its place in the Guinness World Records. Swells here can tower up to an astonishing 75 feet and more.
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Mullaghmore Head might just be the biggest wave in the British Isles, it's certainly one of the biggest waves in Europe! Often whipped up by high winds and bracing rain, this left-hand beach break only forms at high tide. This is a rare wave, but when it strikes there are some epic slabs and truly wild drops.
Praia do Norte in Nazaré, PortugalBy all definitions, this is currently the top spot for producing the biggest waves in the world. The extraordinary liquid mountains of Praia do Norte in Nazaré can produce waves 50-100 feet high. If surfed successfully, the rider can travel up to speeds of 50 mph.
Praia do Norte is the largest wave in Europe (and the world). This psycho wave is the product of a deep-sea canyon (the Nazare Canyon) that cuts through a seabed almost five kilometres deep in some places.
For those into surfing, it is a well-known fact that Newquay in Cornwall is widely known as the surfing capital of the UK, but our data puts Croyde in Devon at the top. Read on to discover the other most sought-after surfing destinations throughout the country.
The most famous for surfers is the north coast, which includes the legendary spots of Bude and Newquay, mainly because it gets the full hit of the NW Atlantic swell system. That brings big waves and great consistency. Sometimes, when the stars align right, the south coast can also go off.
Cornwall - Pedn Vounder BeachFor our number 1 favourite secret beach, it's Pedn Vounder. So secret that at certain times its hidden beneath the shallow and clear azure waters. Beyond Penzance and only 4 miles from Landsend, Cornwall's secret beach is the found in almost the most south westerly point of England.
Top of the list is Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, with 464 of its 4,485 reviews mentioning the word 'busy'. This 750-metre- (half-a-mile) long stretch is known as the home of British surfing thanks to its 'golden sands, wild Atlantic swells and consistent crashing waves', the Cornish tourist board notes.
WHY ARE THE WAVES IN NAZARÉ SO BIG? This is possible because of the Nazaré Canyon, an underwater geomorphological phenomenon that allows the swell to form to perfect giant waves. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometers along the coast, reaching a staggering depth of 5,000 meters.