Swell OtterEngland · Surf travel guide
Surfing in Devon
North Devon's long sandy bays catch the Atlantic, and South Devon lights up on big winter storms.
- Breaks
- 14
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar
- Sea temperature
- 9–18°C
- Consistency
- Medium
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North Devon surf spots
South Devon surf spots
The Swell Otter take on Devon
Croyde gets the headlines, but Devon's real trick is having a long, forgiving beach next door for every day Croyde is a mess.
Croyde is a proper wave: punchy, often hollow at low tide, and packed when it's good. It's also only at its best for a few hours around low water. Woolacombe and Saunton, either side of it, are the opposite. They're long, gentle and almost never closed out, which makes North Devon one of the best places in the country to learn, longboard or just get waves when the famous spot isn't playing.
South Devon is the wildcard. Most of the year it's flat or blown out, and then a deep winter low sends a long-period swell up the Channel and Bantham turns into a long, peeling rivermouth wave with the South Hams behind it. If you live within reach, keep an eye on our forecast for long-period south-westerly swells and drop everything when one shows up.
Our pick for a weekend: base yourself in Braunton, surf whichever of the three North Devon bays the wind favours, and leave a day spare in case the south coast switches on.
- When we'd go
- October, or a calm spring week once the winter storms ease.
- When we'd skip it
- Croyde on a summer Saturday at low tide, unless you want to count heads.
Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks.
Devon spot guides
Surfing in Devon
Most of Devon's surf is on the north coast, where Croyde, Saunton and Woolacombe face west into the Atlantic. Croyde is the famous one, a punchy beachbreak that can get hollow at low tide, while Saunton's long, gentle waves make it one of the best places in the country to learn or ride a longboard.
South Devon is a different story. It needs a big south-west swell to wrap into the bays, but when it does, rivermouths like Bantham can produce long, peeling waves with the hills of the South Hams behind. The best chances come from autumn to spring, when deep lows pass close to the south-west.
Positives
- Croyde and Woolacombe pick up most swells
- Long beaches that spread the crowd
- Good for learners
- South coast works in north winds
Negatives
- Croyde is crowded when it's good
- Onshore in the usual SW wind
- South coast is flat for long spells
- Big tides change the banks quickly
When to surf in Devon
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | ||||||||||||
| Typical size | 4ft | 3ft | 3ft | 2ft | 1ft | 2ft | 2ft | 2ft | 2ft | 3ft | 3ft | 4ft |
| Surfable days | 80% | 71% | 74% | 63% | 42% | 26% | 29% | 32% | 48% | 63% | 69% | 62% |
| Good days | 45% | 36% | 40% | 25% | 8% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 14% | 24% | 25% | 23% |
| Big days (8ft+) | 14% | 7% | 7% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 8% | 10% |
| Wind | ||||||||||||
| Average | 13mph | 13mph | 13mph | 12mph | 11mph | 11mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 13mph | 15mph |
| Offshore days | 30% | 28% | 31% | 35% | 34% | 18% | 9% | 15% | 28% | 25% | 25% | 24% |
| Water | ||||||||||||
| Sea temp | 10° | 9° | 9° | 11° | 13° | 16° | 17° | 18° | 17° | 16° | 14° | 12° |
| Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 5/4 |
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| Max air | 9° | 10° | 11° | 13° | 17° | 19° | 19° | 20° | 18° | 16° | 12° | 11° |
| Min air | 4° | 6° | 6° | 7° | 10° | 13° | 14° | 14° | 13° | 11° | 8° | 7° |
| Rain | 148mm | 118mm | 138mm | 112mm | 63mm | 71mm | 125mm | 93mm | 144mm | 138mm | 170mm | 163mm |
| Wet days | 16 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C.
Wetsuit by month
Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C.
The break lowdown
How the 14 breaks here compare.
Ability
Type
Bottom
Consistency
Crowds
Direction
Travel information
- Getting around
- The M5 and the A361 lead to Barnstaple and the north coast beaches. The A38 runs along the south side to Plymouth, and the A379 reaches the South Hams. Croyde to Bantham is about 2 hours by car.
- Where to stay
- Croyde, Woolacombe and Braunton for the north coast, Kingsbridge and Salcombe for the south.
- Hazards and hassles
- Rips beside the headlands, very busy line-ups at Croyde in summer, and strong currents at river mouths on a dropping tide.
- Handy hints
- Saunton handles onshore winds and small swells better than most, so it's a good fallback when Croyde is messy.
Devon surf questions, answered
Croyde or Woolacombe: which is better for surfing?
Croyde has the better waves and Woolacombe is better for most people. Croyde is a punchy, sometimes hollow beachbreak that is best around low tide and very crowded when it's good. Woolacombe is a long, gentle beach with room to spread out, which suits beginners, longboarders and families.
When is the best time to surf in Devon?
The best time to surf in Devon is January, February and March, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 71% of winter days and 29% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season.
What are the best surfing beaches in Devon?
Croyde, Woolacombe, Putsborough and Saunton Sands in North Devon are the county's best and most consistent surf beaches. Westward Ho! and Lynmouth add variety in the north, and Bantham, Challaborough and Wembury are the South Devon spots for big winter swells.
Is Croyde good for beginners?
Croyde is not ideal for beginners. Its low-tide waves are fast and dump on shallow sandbanks, and the line-up is competitive. Saunton Sands and Woolacombe, either side of it, are far better places to learn.
Where can you surf in Devon when it's windy?
Putsborough, at the south end of Woolacombe beach, is tucked under the headland and stays cleaner than most of North Devon in a south-westerly wind. Saunton's long, gentle waves also cope with onshore wind better than Croyde.
Does South Devon get surf?
Yes, but not often. South Devon needs a big south-west swell or a long-period swell up the Channel, which mostly happens from autumn to spring. When it works, Bantham is a long rivermouth wave and one of the best in southern England.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Devon?
Surfing in Devon needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 9°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 18°C.
More UK surf regions
Tom Otto
Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards.