Fornells / Menorca / Spain

Fornells is a popular stretch of coast situated in a natural bay, carved out by the Mediterranean sea, located on the north of the island. It is a popular spot for wind surfers and kite surfers of intermediate and expert abilities. It is not advisable for beginners because there is a large mole that needs to be avoided. It is also a busy passage for ships and boats. There is no real season here except that restrictions may apply during the busy summer months. The best time to surf however is from May to October, when the wind is in the right direction.

The beach is small to medium in size and hugs the bay. It gets pretty busy during the summer months, but out of season it is possible to pick your spot. To get here you simply drive north out of Mahon heading towards Fornells. When you get here you will see signs for the beach, follow it down to the water and there is parking.

The wind comes at you predominantly from a north northeasterly direction which is also the best direction for surfing here. The wind speed is a stiff 9-10 knots most of the time and is consistent. The water quality is crystal clear and is flat to choppy. The water temperature hovers somewhere between 16-26 degrees depending upon the time of year. Even in the winter you can probably get away with a normal wetsuit. During the rest of the year some shorts or a shorty will suffice.

There is ample parking here and the odd beachside bar where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat. The town itself is only a 5-10 minute drive and has everything that you need. The nightlife isn't too bad either.

Watch out for the mole situated in the bay and also keep an eye out for passing ships and boats. In the summer watch out for swimmers and bathers in and around the shoreline.