Bantham

Bantham works best on a south-west swell with a north-east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a rivermouth with lefts and rights over sand, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: Low to mid on the push; avoid the ebb at the river mouth. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 27% of days, and Bantham had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 42% of days.

January is the most reliable month at Bantham: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 44% of days. The best run of months is January, February and March, and winter (December to February) is the strongest season overall. Offshore winds are most common in May, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 52% of days. For good winter days, Bantham ranks 9th of the 14 Devon breaks we track. Winter is the most consistent, with 58% of days rideable, but the water is coldest then.

Often not: Bantham was flat on 47% of June to August days in 2023–2025, so keep a summer trip flexible. Good (3+ star) days made up 2% of summer, and August was the best summer month (24% rideable). The sea reaches about 17°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 10th of the 14 Devon breaks we track.

At Bantham you need a 5/4 from December to April, a 4/3 in May and in November and a 3/2 from June to October. Wear boots through the 5/4 months, and add a hood and gloves from February to March, when the sea is under 10°C. In March, the coldest month, Bantham had good surf on 32% of days, against 1% in August. The sea is coldest in March at about 10°C and warmest in August at about 17°C, while the air reaches about 11°C on a March afternoon.

On a typical day the best surf at Bantham is about 3.2ft in winter and 1.5ft in summer. It was 8ft or bigger on 3% of days in 2023–2025, most often in January. It was flat on 27% of days, most often in June.

Yes, on small days. Bantham has sandy footing and spots for learners, but it gets powerful as the swell builds. The gentlest months that still have surf are February, April and October.

Yes when it's small, but know this. Very strong currents in the river mouth, especially on the ebb. Lifeguards patrol in summer. Shallow sandbars at low tide. Lifeguards cover it in season (check RNLI dates).

Often busy. Busy when it breaks. For more room, try Thurlestone (3 km away) and Hope Cove (3 km away).

Follow the A379 or A381 towards Kingsbridge, then the lanes to Bantham. Plymouth is about 40 minutes by car. Totnes is the nearest station. No bus stops are mapped within a kilometre, so most people drive.

Holiday lets in Bantham, Thurlestone and Hope Cove, and more choice in Kingsbridge and Salcombe.

Close to Bantham: Thurlestone and Hope Cove along the coast, and Challaborough across the river.