Kumkashla / Bulgaria

This spot offers fairly varied conditions that will appeal to kitesurfers, windsurfers and surfers of all ability levels.  It is within easy reach of a couple of nearby towns, and is certainly worth a look if you are in the general area.

The beach is big and sandy, and for most of the year you will have lots of room although in the summer months it can get very busy with holidaymakers. Water temperatures are pretty good, and shorts are all you need during summer while a normal wetsuit will do for spring and autumn.

The winds blow best here from May to October, and you'll get a combination of thermal and frontal winds. The best directions are when it comes from the north, north-east or east and it will pick up almost every day after about 1 PM and blow through until early evening. The water is shallow and very clean, and there is no tide here to have any effect on the conditions.  As far as the water surface goes, any conditions are possible from flat calm right through to good sized waves up to about 3 m high.

There is plenty of parking here, within just a couple of minutes' walk of the beach. Camping is allowed if you want to stay and soak up the atmosphere, and there is a school based here if you require any lessons. There is also a shop which will sell you any gear you need, and it also offers a repair service.

Lifeguards patrol the beach, so don't worry about getting into trouble if you don't have much experience. There aren't really any hazards here, except for the large numbers of visitors in July and August.