Surfing In Devon

North Devon has a plethora of beaches that are perfect for surfing with consistent waves throughout the year.  Croyde Bay is certainly the most famous place for surfing in north Devon as well as being a beautiful area to explore whether in or out of the water.  In additional to here you will find beaches around almost every turn on the north Devon coast with surf school operating out of most of them.

The best place to approach the north Devon surfing area from is through the village of Braunton.  Sometimes referred to as the gateway to surfing in north Devon this village has plenty of shops where you can buy or rent all the surf gear you’re going to need.  It’s even home to the British museum of surfing.  From here you can then carry on along Saunton road and will soon come to some of the finest beaches for surfing in Devon.

Westward Ho! beach, found on the north west coast of Devon, is fast becoming a poplar surf spot.  It’s a 2 mile long beach that is best surfed around low tide and is served by two surf schools.  This north Devon surf spot has ample parking, although try to get there early, and there’s a cafe right on the beach where you can fill up after a day in the water.

Check out the guide for more info

Saunton Sands is one of the best surf spots in north Devon and arguably one of the top places for surfing in Devon.

It’s a huge 3.5 mile long sandy beach located between Braunton and Croyde, has a car park that will accommodate a few hundred cars, a cafe and showers for when you want to get changed.

If you’re looking for surf lessons then you’ll want to check out Walking on Wave (details in the main guide) and if you need to hire a surf board then your in luck as there’s rental right from the car park.

View the guide for all the details.

Probably the most well known beach to surf in Devon is Croyde Bay.  It’s a stunning spot and often features as one of the best surfing locations in not only the UK but all of Europe.

In Croyde there are amazing facilities for a surf holiday with surf schools and camping just off the beach.  And if you’re looking for a bit more comfort there are plenty of other accommodate options as well as country pubs in the village.

Be prepared for small windy roads on your way to Croyde but once you’ve navigated these there is plenty of parking in the village.

So, for the best surfing in Devon check out our guide and get on down to Croyde.

Putsborough beach is usually a bit quieter than the other surf spots nearby as it’s a little further away facilities, however it’s well frequented by locals.  Whilst not the best known surfing in Devon on days where the wind flattens the waves at Saunton Sands, Putsborough beach often gives some quality sets.

There are less options for renting surf equipment here but there are a couple of surf schools that operate from the beach.

For all the details check out our guide.

Woolacombe beach is another beautiful area for surfing in Devon.  It has a 3 mile long stretch of sand and is found between Croyde and Ilfracombe on the north Devon coast.

Often it’s touted as a great place for beginners to learn to surf due to it’s long waves and clear beach that gives a lot of space for those picking up the sport.  And for a similar reason the waves are particularly good for those people surfing with a longboard as the wave sets are usually pretty clean.

To find out more about this great place for surfing in north Devon see our full guide.

Surfing in south Devon is not particularly well known however there are a few beaches that, on the right day, get top quality waves.  Whilst these won’t compete with the likes of Cornwall or even north Devon they are an excellent option if you are based in the south of the county and fancy saving yourself a few hours drive.

Also if you are on holiday in south Devon and want to give surfing a go for a couple of days then it’s definitely worth checking out the beaches on the south coast.  In general they are better suited to beginners looking for surfing in south Devon however when the waves are big they will challenge even some of the most experienced riders.

You might also be surprised to find that there are a number of surf schools based on these beaches where you can pick up a surf lesson or rent surf boards whilst in south Devon.

Bigbury beach is a top location for surfing in south Devon with easy access from the car park, good facilities including toilets and showers, and most importantly a bay that captures great surf.  It also as a unique island at the end of the beach that gets cut off when the tide comes in which has a hotel you can stay in if you’re looking for a bit of luxury.

If you’re looking for somewhere to learn to surf in south Devon then Bigbury beach should be near the top of your list.  There is a great surf school that operates directly from the beach where you can also hire boards and wetsuits if you want to teach yourself.

See the full guide here.

Bantham beach offers a really great set of waves that are suitable for surfers of all abilities.  When they are coming in big you’ll find the experienced surfers will want to catch them out the back whereas those learning surfing are still able to ride the waves when they come in over the middle sandbar.

In terms of places for surfing in Devon this is considered to be the best surf spot in south Devon and is referred to as the home of surfing in this region.

Check out all the info, including directions and surf forecasts for Bantham beach in our guide.

Interested in other places that you can surf in the UK?  Check out our guide with an interactive map showing all the surfing locations across the UK with links to guides for each place.  And if you have any questions feel free to send us a message.