Discover Surfing in Devon
Whether you are an experienced surfer, or you are a complete novice to surfing, you will find a huge range of beginner beaches and more challenging rippable waves in Devon. The perfect holiday destination for a group of surfers at all levels, you can choose from a sea of neighbouring coastlines and surfing locations to suit your skills and abilities.
Top 6 Surfing Spots in Devon
1. Saunton Beach
Best for: Beginner and intermediate
Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Bideford Bay Holiday Park
Take it easy at Saunton Sands, a popular beach for surfing newbies and slightly more experienced longboard surfers. It's widely recommended as one of the best locations for learning to surf in North Devon.
2. Croyde Beach
Best for: Intermediate
Best time of year for surfing: Summer (intermediate), Off peak (beginners)
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Bideford Bay Holiday Park
Up for a challenge? Croyde Bay Beach might be on the cards if you are a more advanced surfer practising your A-frame barrels at low tides. The best conditions can be found around an hour after low tide and the tide moves quickly as the sands are fairly level. The Atlantic-facing beach break offers both left and right-hand waves.
Don't worry if you're a beginner though, the experts at our local surf school Surf South West are on hand with lessons for all levels.
Tip: Watch out for the riptide at each end of the beach in certain conditions.
3. Woolacombe Beach
Best for: Intermediate
Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Bideford Bay Holiday Park
Voted as Britain’s Best Beach in 2015 and 2016, Woolacombe Beach offers a 3-mile stretch of sand and sea. This beach will work at all points of tide and is particularly popular with longboarders.
If you are new to surfing, you will find an array of surf schools ready to get you up, riding your first wave and saying ‘surf’s up!’ in no time!
4. Westward Ho!
Best for: Beginner
Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Bideford Bay Holiday Park
The best thing about visiting Westward Ho! is that you will typically never have problems with overcrowding.
Known for its long stretch of sand and pebble, surfing here is usually relaxed and casual, which is ideal for low-pressure learning and picking up brand new skills.
5. Putsborough
Best for: Experts and intermediate
Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Bideford Bay Holiday Park
Creating decent ramps to launch off and propel through the air, Putsborough is the perfect choice for expert intermediate surfers ready to try a trick or two.
The stunning backdrop of Putsborough beach will set the scene as you surf.
The swell window here is mainly from the west/south-west, and the swell must be of a certain size to wrap around into the bay where Putsborough is nestled. Waves tend to peak in size the further north you go.
6. Bantham
Best for: Beginner, intermediate and expert
Best time of year for surfing: Spring and April
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Challaborough Bay Holiday Park
Mount your surfboard and start catching those waves, because Bantham Beach is a bit of an all-rounder for surfers at all levels!
Pick up speed on a mix of groundswells and windswells or take it down a notch by learning how to surf with Bantham Surfing Academy.
Useful tide time websites
When is it the best time to surf? Check the below websites with daily updates to tide times.
Surfing Lessons
Whether you are a total beginner or an experienced pro trying to hone your skills, you’ll find a number of surfing schools and places to hire a high-performance surfboard.
If you are planning to paddle out for the first time, we recommend booking a surfing lesson to build your confidence and learn the basics. During windy conditions when the waves are a little more powerful, you may need an expert on standby to curb those nerves.
The beaches below offer surf lessons for groups, families, and individuals:
Croyde Bay Beach
Surf lessons: Surf South West
Bantham Beach
Surf lessons: Bantham Beach Surfing Academy
Challaborough Bay Beach
Surfboard hire: ABC Watersports
The Best Beaches for Watersports in Devon
If you are a sporty type looking for an active holiday, but want to try something other than surfing, you may want to visit one of the beaches below:
Challaborough Bay Beach
Perfect for: Surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking. Visit ABC Watersports for surfboard, paddleboard and kayak hire.
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Challaborough Bay Holiday Park
Mothercombe
Perfect for: Paddleboarding and cave exploration.
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Challaborough Bay Holiday Park
Teignmouth
Perfect for: Paddleboarding and kayaking.
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Torquay Holiday Park
Elbury Cove
Perfect for: Waterskiing.
Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Torquay Holiday Park
