Putsborough is the quieter southern end of the Putsborough-Woolacombe three-mile beach in north Devon — the section preferred by surfers wanting a less crowded line-up than Woolacombe village provides. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Putsborough Sands car park to the water, which keeps the casual day-trippers further north.
What to expect
A consistent beach break that picks up the same swells as Woolacombe but breaks slightly differently because of the southern headland’s shape. The wave is gentler than Croyde a mile south and similar in character to Woolacombe — suitable for intermediate surfers and longboarders. Big swells can produce some of the cleanest waves on the north Devon coast at this end.
Practical notes
Year-round; September-March for biggest swells. Wetsuit: 5/4/3 winter, 4/3 autumn, 3/2 summer. Putsborough Sands car park (paid) and the small cafe at the top of the beach access are the only on-site facilities. The Putsborough Manor holiday park gives self-catering accommodation. Combine with a Baggy Point walk, the Croyde village pubs, or a Lundy day trip. Parking fills early on a good swell — arrive before 8am or wait for the evening session.
Train, parking, drive…
- Train
- Barnstaple, then bus to Croyde and 20-min walk over the headland
- Parking
- Putsborough Sands beach car park, pay-and-display, often quieter than Croyde
- Postcode
- EX33 1LB
- Drive
- ~4h from London
- Car-free?
- Drive-only practically
Transport details are best-effort and worth double-checking on the day — rural buses and station services change with the timetable.
If you’ve got an extra day…
Plan it yourself.
The most authoritative sources we know of for this break — routes, conditions, governing bodies and operators. Open in a new tab.
