Escape to the (inland) surf

A guy with bare feet weaves effortlessly on a skateboard down the gently sloping track, surfboard tucked under his arm.

The gentle sound of waves rolling into shore can be heard as we follow and approach the entrance to the big wooden building ahead one sun-soaked afternoon.

We may be barely out of Bristol, but it feels like a different world at The Wave. The inland surfing lake at Easter Compton first opened its doors in October 2019 and went on to launch a glamping site just in time for the rise in people seeking holidays close to home.

It is a vast, fully-furnished ‘tent’ nestled in the meadowland that is to be our home for the night. They may be called tents, but the reality is a far cry from the traditional camping scene – no wrestling with poles, no missing pegs, no desperately clinging on to flapping canvas in the midst of a howling gale.

‘Tents’ at The Wave are nestled among the meadow – photo by Ellie Pipe

On this serene site, wooden walkways lead up to the private decking area of each individual canvas-coated hut. Beyond the sturdy zip-up doors, our ‘tent’ boasts a fully equipped kitchen, wood burner, a comfy sofa and separate bedrooms.

More on the creature comforts later but first it’s time to dump bags, fish out a cossie and wetsuit and head over to check out the waves. There’s no contending with nature here, as wave after perfect wave rolls across the deep blue water with rhythmic regularity.

Shrieks of delight and encouragement can be heard from the beginner classes, while more seasoned surfers ride the surging waves at the back.

The beginner class begins on land, where we go through the basics of safety and how to hop up and catch the surf. All so far so good in theory, although trickier to master in real life on actual moving water.

Successfully catching a wave and riding it into shore is indescribably exhilarating. The beauty of surfing though is that it’s still fun even when you’re epically failing and falling headfirst into the water’s welcoming embrace. The session is over all too soon and we head back to dry land to hang up our red and yellow helmets, wet-through, weary and happy.

A dramatic evening sky at The Wave – photo by Ellie Pipe

Too hungry to contemplate cooking in the well-equipped kitchen, we head straight up to the clubhouse where the menu offers proper post-surfing fodder of burgers. The fish finger burger and crumb-coated cauliflower burger were soon ready – served with chips in boxes with a side of haloumi fries for good measure. Sauces come in small plastic sachets, presumably a Covid-related precaution but still a shame to see single-use so prevalent again.

The meal is accompanied by plastic cup-fulls of red wine and a stunning view of the lake in the evening sun, where surfers are still making the most of the rolling waves while children coast around the site on skateboards.

Post-surfing fodder in the form of burgers are served at The Wave – photo by Ellie Pipe

It’s a picture-perfect scene that could be a million miles away from the hustle of city life. The weather holds out for a final lingering nightcap outside before faint but distinct rain drops start to fall on the wooden walkway. It provides the perfect excuse to take refuge under our canvas roof, light the wood burner and spend a peaceful hour or so watching the flickering flames before bed.

A relaxing evening spent watching the flickering flames inside a ‘tent’ at The Wave – photo by Tom G photo (courtesy of The Wave)

Waking to the sunshine filtering in through the canvas, there’s time to get a hot coffee and breakfast brioche bun in view of the tranquil inland lake before reality beckons. It’s less than 24 hours since we left the city behind to travel to, well, the outskirts of the city – but what a welcome escape it’s been.

A stay at The Wave will cost £120 per night mid-week and £180 at weekends from September 10. Prices per night are £180 for the October half term and for the rest of October, weekend prices drop to £150 per night while the mid-week cost is £120 per night.

The Wave has a two-night minimum stay policy. From September 12, a ‘Sunday Sleepover’ deal is available offering visitors an option to stay for one night for £95. Find out more via https://stay.thewave.com/

A 90-minute beginner surf lesson (with all equipment) starts from £50 for adults and £40 for juniors (six to 16).

After a beginners surf session, sit back, relax and watch the experts show how it’s done – photo credit Image Cabin

Main photo courtesy of The Wave

Read more: Adaptive surfing championships return to The Wave

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