Aberavon

Port Talbot · Wales · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Aberavon (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/aberavon.

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Aberavon is Port Talbot's long town beach, with the steelworks and the harbour breakwater at its south end. The best and most powerful wave is a left next to the breakwater, made by swell reflecting off the wall. More peaks break along the beach. When the swell comes from the right direction, it can be as big here as at Llangennith.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter
Boards
A shortboard for the breakwater peak, a fish or longboard along the beach.

When it works

✓ A 1.8–3 m south-west swell from mid to high tide with a north-easterly or easterly wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Low tide is weak. Near high tide on a big swell, backwash off the breakwater turns the line-up into chaos.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • pollution
  • crowds
  • rocks

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

Only strong surfers should use the breakwater peak: you climb over slippery rocks and share a tight take-off. On big days, be out of the water before high tide. Everyone else should surf the peaks further along the beach.

Getting there

Turn off the M4 at Port Talbot and follow the Aberavon Beach signs. You can park along the promenade.

Travel notes

How often it works
It needs a fair swell and a mid to high tide. In winter it works often; in summer it is mostly flat.
Crowd and vibe
Busy and competitive at the breakwater, where the local standard is high. The open beach is easier going.
Camping and vans
No campsite close by. Red Rock Camping is about 9 km away and Kenfig Pool Holiday Caravan Park about 10 km south. Nearest campsite about 9 km away.
Facilities
Promenade with parking, cafés and toilets; shops in Port Talbot.
Water quality
Aberafan is rated excellent in the 2025 Welsh classification, but the beach sits next to an industrial port and surf guides say the water can be poor after rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SW–WSW best, SSW–W works
Size
1.8–3 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 4 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–E; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, avoid low
Faces
SW (225°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Wales · All spots

Sources