However generous/funny/strange your best mate is, and however fond of them you are, if you’re planning a surf trip to any European destination, this book will automatically replace them as your new best bud.

Where this second edition of Surfing Europe (completely revised and redesigned for 2008) surpasses the efforts of your real life friends is that it will never, ever get drunk and tell you exaggerated tales of surfing success and bullshit stories about make belief surf breaks. It will only ever tell you the truth and answer questions you actually want to hear the answers to.

Practically laid out and easy on the eye, Surfing Europe gives you a thorough breakdown of the conditions required to make Europe’s finest breaks (and a whole load of lesser known ones too) work; the best way of getting to them; detailed maps; reliable accommodation options with realistic budgets for travelling surfers; the most suitable board for the way each wave works; where to get your board fixed; what to eat; what to avoid and so on. Surfer’s tales, stories of discovery and adventure, bring the continent’s wave-rich coastline to life while stunning photography from the world’s leading lensmen will have you pining for your next trip. 

In fact, the pros and cons of surfing in Europe (and can we say that the pros definitely outweigh the cons) have never been so accessible in one book. It’s clearly written by surfers who have been travelling far and wide for long enough to know exactly what makes a good trip… and what can ruin one. That’s the beauty of it really; it’s 100% informed by experience, understanding and an impressive attention to detail.

For this reason, if you’re lucky enough to have the chance to pack it all in, stock up the van and ‘live the dream’ for a while – which is how this series was researched and written by Porthtowan based writers (and Stranger contributors!) Chris Nelson and Demi Taylor – you’re going to treat this book like a new member of your family. Essential reading for the hardcore surfer, but also for those who are heading to Europe for holiday and just want to know if there’s any chance of a cheeky continental surf. (Tim Hill)

Countries featured: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and new for the second edition: Italy and Northern Ireland. 

We’ve got two sets of Surfing Europe and Surfing the World – one for planning, one for dreaming – to give away to two lucky readers. Just log on to www.halfnelson.co.uk and answer the simple question: Is this a shot of Thurso OR Mundaka?

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