The Best Surfing Beaches In Devon UK

Devon is renowned the world over for having excellent surf spots, whether you’re a novice or a veteran. Home to huge barrels and fun-sized swells, hollow tubes and regular sets that pound the sand in perfect rhythm, here are the best beaches in Devon for catching the waves.
You can now discover the wilds of Devon with Culture Trip on our six-day adventure led by a local guide. Packed full of outdoor activities like wild swimming, kayaking and even local cider tasting, you’ll get to experience the best this beautiful region has to offer in one go.

1. Putsborough

Natural Feature

Putsborough beach in North Devon, England UK

A 3mi (5km) stretch of sand that extends toward Woolacombe in the north and Baggy Point in the south, Putsborough can sometimes see some pretty big waves. On days when the surf is small, it offers a great wave for the beginner surfer, but in bigger swells it is perfect for the experienced rider. There is a strong rip current near the south end of the beach near the cliffs, which can be useful for some but dangerous for those with little experience, so, as with any day in the water, know your limits and be careful when surfing here. Remember to talk to the locals if you’re new to the area.

2. Saunton Sands

Natural Feature

This rather huge beach is a firm favourite among surfers in Devon. It can get a bit crowded at the weekends, but there is so much space that it’s hardly noticeable. Saunton has slow walls of water, which can offer beginners a good stead for getting up and riding the waves. There is a known rip current along the side of the cliffs, but it is a great place for a long board at low tide. The car park is free if you arrive in the morning for a dawn surf; late in the evening or during the winter months, and through peak times in summer, there is a charge.

3. Bantham

Natural Feature

A kite surfer makes the most of the conditions at Bantham beach in South Devon as Storm Ellen brings strong winds across the United Kingdom.

Bantham is probably the best beach in south Devon, with a swell range between 2ft and 12ft (0.6m and 3.6m). As such, it attracts a wide range of levels and abilities, with families flocking here during the summer holidays. There can be a strong rip due to the River Avon, but the swell is good here on all tides. Bantham is a great place to sit and while away the day, too, with stunning views of the coast and Burgh Island, which you can walk to when the tide is out.

5. Croyde Bay

Natural Feature

Baggy point Croyde bay devon england. Image shot 05/2010. Exact date unknown.

Most likely the most popular surfing spot in the southwest outside of Newquay, Croyde offers perfect barrels at low tide and has one of the best breaks in the whole of the UK if conditions are just right. It can get pretty busy here during the summer, so crowding can be an issue – as can rip tides and large swells – nonetheless, Croyde is a great spot for surfers of all abilities.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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