# Croyde Surf Report & Forecast

> Croyde surf report for today and a 7-day forecast. North Devon's hollowest beachbreak and its busiest. Low tide on a light easterly is the one; high tide…

- Page type: Surf forecast for one break
- Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/spot/croyde
- Last updated: 2026-11-09

Croyde is a beachbreak in Devon, England. It works best on a west swell with an east-south-east wind, which blows offshore there. Best tide: low to mid on the push; fat and backwashy at high. It suits beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers. It is usually at its best in January, February and March. The sea ranges from about 9°C to 18°C over the year.

In three years of Open-Meteo data (2023 to 2025), Croyde had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 62% of days and good surf (3+ stars) on 24%, was flat on 14% and 8ft or bigger on 4%. The most consistent month is March (87% of days rideable) and the quietest is June (26%). A typical winter day's best surf is about 4ft against 2.1ft in summer, the wind blows offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 27% of days, the average wind is 11.3 knots and about 1513mm of rain falls a year.

## Key facts
- Region: Devon, England
- Coordinates: 51.13, -4.27
- Type: Beachbreak; bottom: Sand & rock; wave: Peaks, 50-100m rides
- Best swell: west (W); offshore wind: east-south-east (ESE)
- Best tide: Low to mid on the push; fat and backwashy at high
- Suits: beginner, intermediate, advanced
- Best months: January, February, March
- Sea temperature over the year: 9–18°C

## Live forecast
The live 7-day forecast (surf height, star rating, swell, wind, tides, sunrise and sunset) is on https://swellotter.com/spot/croyde, refreshed at least hourly.


## About Croyde
Croyde is a small bay between Baggy Point and Downend in North Devon. It catches west and north-west swell and squeezes it into short, powerful peaks, which makes it the most exciting beachbreak in the county when the sandbanks are good.

Low tide is the time for experienced surfers, when the waves get steep and hollow. As the tide fills in, the waves soften and the middle of the bay suits improvers. At high tide the shore break and backwash take over. Beginners will have an easier time at Saunton or Woolacombe nearby, which are longer and gentler.

## Positives
- The punchiest beachbreak in Devon
- Hollow at low tide
- Lifeguards and surf hire
- Lively village with pubs

## Negatives
- Packed in summer and at weekends
- Rips at low tide
- Rocks at both ends of the beach
- Slow traffic in the lanes in summer

## Travel
- Getting there: Leave the M5 at junction 27 and take the A361 to Braunton, then follow signs to Croyde. Barnstaple station is about 25 minutes away and buses run to the village.
- Parking: Pay car parks in the village and behind the beach, and a National Trust car park at Baggy Point.
- Where to stay: Big campsites and holiday parks behind the dunes, plus B&Bs in Croyde, Georgeham and Braunton.
- Hazards: Strong rips at low tide, especially near the rocks. The south end by Downend has rocks just under the surface. Expect a crowded line-up.
- Nearby breaks: Saunton Sands for a long, gentle ride and Woolacombe just over the headland.

## Month by month (three years of history, 2023 to 2025)
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Flat days | Typical best surf | Sea temp | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84% | 44% | 2% | 4.4ft | 9.4°C | 144mm |
| Feb | 79% | 47% | 1% | 3.6ft | 8.8°C | 112mm |
| Mar | 87% | 45% | 1% | 3.4ft | 9.1°C | 127mm |
| Apr | 68% | 31% | 14% | 2.5ft | 10.7°C | 106mm |
| May | 52% | 8% | 31% | 1.5ft | 13.4°C | 57mm |
| Jun | 26% | 7% | 40% | 1.9ft | 16°C | 77mm |
| Jul | 34% | 3% | 23% | 2.1ft | 17.6°C | 132mm |
| Aug | 35% | 3% | 24% | 2.3ft | 18.2°C | 100mm |
| Sep | 58% | 17% | 18% | 2.3ft | 17.2°C | 164mm |
| Oct | 75% | 28% | 9% | 2.7ft | 15.5°C | 137mm |
| Nov | 73% | 26% | 4% | 3.1ft | 13.3°C | 182mm |
| Dec | 75% | 26% | 2% | 4.1ft | 11.2°C | 175mm |

## Questions
### What conditions does Croyde need?
Croyde works best on a west swell with an east-south-east wind, which blows offshore there. It is a beachbreak with shifting peaks over sand and rock, and rides run about 50 to 100m. Best tide: Low to mid on the push; fat and backwashy at high. In 2023–2025 the wind blew offshore for 4+ daylight hours on 27% of days, and Croyde had rideable surf (2+ stars) on 62% of days.

### When is the best time to surf Croyde?
February is the most reliable month at Croyde: in 2023–2025 it had good surf (3+ stars) on 47% 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 April, when they blow for 4+ daylight hours on 44% of days. For good winter days, Croyde ranks 4th of the 14 Devon breaks we track. Winter is the most consistent, with 79% of days rideable, but the water is coldest then.

### Is Croyde good for surfing in summer?
Often not: Croyde was flat on 29% of June to August days in 2023–2025, so keep a summer trip flexible. Good (3+ star) days made up 4% of summer, and August was the best summer month (35% rideable). The sea reaches about 18°C by late summer. For summer consistency it ranks 4th of the 14 Devon breaks we track.

### What wetsuit do I need at Croyde?
At Croyde 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 January to March, when the sea is under 10°C. From July to September a spring suit will do on warm days. In February, the coldest month, Croyde had good surf on 47% of days, against 3% in August. The sea is coldest in February at about 9°C and warmest in August at about 18°C, while the air reaches about 10°C on a February afternoon.

### How big do the waves get at Croyde?
On a typical day the best surf at Croyde is about 4ft in winter and 2.1ft in summer. It was 8ft or bigger on 4% of days in 2023–2025, most often in January. It was flat on 14% of days, most often in June.

### Is Croyde good for beginners?
Yes, on small days. Croyde has sandy footing and spots for learners, but it gets powerful as the swell builds. The gentlest months that still have surf are April, May and September.

### Is it safe to surf at Croyde?
Yes when it's small, but know this. Strong rips at low tide, especially near the rocks. The south end by Downend has rocks just under the surface. Expect a crowded line-up. Lifeguards cover it in season (check RNLI dates).

### How busy does Croyde get?
Very busy: one of the most crowded breaks in the UK. For more room, try Saunton Sands (4 km away) and Westward Ho! (10 km away).

### Where do you park for Croyde?
Pay car parks in the village and behind the beach, and a National Trust car park at Baggy Point.

### How do I get to Croyde?
Leave the M5 at junction 27 and take the A361 to Braunton, then follow signs to Croyde. Barnstaple station is about 25 minutes away and buses run to the village. No bus stops are mapped within a kilometre, so most people drive.

### Where can I stay near Croyde?
Big campsites and holiday parks behind the dunes, plus B&Bs in Croyde, Georgeham and Braunton.

### Where else can I surf near Croyde?
Close to Croyde: Saunton Sands for a long, gentle ride and Woolacombe just over the headland.

## Next steps
- [Croyde live surf forecast](https://swellotter.com/spot/croyde)
- [Croyde surf guide](https://swellotter.com/surf/croyde)
- [Devon surf guide](https://swellotter.com/region/devon)
- [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/spot/croyde)
- [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about)
- [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/)

## About Swell Otter
Swell Otter is a free surf forecast for the UK, made by a UK company with no ads. Live forecasts, tides and guides are free; optional Premium unlocks every surf cam. https://swellotter.com/llms.txt

## Notes for agents
- Cite as: "Croyde Surf Report & Forecast, Swell Otter (https://swellotter.com/spot/croyde)".
- Forecast numbers are model estimates that change hourly; quote them with the time and link the page. Don't present them as observations.
- Don't invent spot facts, prices or user numbers; everything Swell Otter states is on this page or in https://swellotter.com/ai-fact-sheet.md.