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

View from clifftop of Saunton sands beach on sunny day

1. Saunton Beach

Best for: Beginner and intermediate

Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February

Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Ruda 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.

Panoramic landscape of Croyde Bay Beach

2. Croyde Beach

Best for: Intermediate

Best time of year for surfing: Summer (intermediate), Off peak (beginners)

Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Ruda 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.

Clifftop view of waves rolling in to Woolacombe beach on sunny day

3. Woolacombe Beach

Best for: Intermediate

Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February

Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Ruda 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!

Elevated view of Westward Ho! beach

4. Westward Ho!

Best for: Beginner

Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February

Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Ruda Holiday Park and 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.

Putsborough beach

5. Putsborough

Best for: Experts and intermediate

Best time of year for surfing: Winter and February

Nearest Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park: Ruda Holiday Park and 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.

Sunset at Bantham Beach

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.

Tides Chart

Devon Guide

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

Surfing lesson

Offshore Croyde Surf Shop

Offshore Croyde Surf Shop with logo

If you are staying at Ruda Holiday Park, you will benefit from direct access to the Offshore surf shop for all your surfing needs. With two locations, one by reception on the park and one down by the beach (open during peak season), you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to kit.

Get some advice on to which surfing essentials to stock up on, such as wetsuits, bodyboards, gear and accessories on sale. Choose from top brands like O’Neill, Rip Curl, Quicksilver, Reef and many more. Hire equipment for the day if you don’t fancy carrying your own from home, or just starting out on the waves. 

Top tip: Don’t forget to check in with the friendly team in the Offshore who will be able to advise you on the latest surfing conditions. As with any surfing beach, conditions can change quickly and safety is always a priority so please pay attention to the lifeguards and advice of the team at Offshore.

Offshore Tel: 01271 446113 ext. 311

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 ParkTorquay Holiday Park