North Devon
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Positives
- Good spot concentration
- Flexible wind and swell options
- Variety of waves for all levels
- Many scenic surf spots
Negatives
- Very crowded
- Lots of wind and rain
- Extreme tidal ranges
- Slow, winding country roads
North Devon surf travel guide
One of England's most surfed areas and now a world Surf Reserve. The consistent west-facing beachbreaks, in particular the fabled low tide barrels at Croyde, are rarely empty as locals, and visitors from as far afield as London try to get their fix. The other large beginner-friendly beaches thankfully absorb the numbers well. The whole west-facing coast of Devon and Cornwall favours W/SW swell and winds in the E quadrant. When big W swells close out the open beaches and the wind is in the S the north-facing coast of Devon hides some classy gems.
Surf spots in North Devon
Research the 12 surf breaks in North Devon and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 12 breaks in North Devon.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to North Devon
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring North Devon.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 35,548,200
- Population
- 55,980,000
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- GBP
- Exchange rate
- $1 = £0.7 GBP
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +44
- Dialing out
- 00
- Emergencies
- 112
- Language
- English
Electricity
- Plug Type
- g
Visas
Since Brexit, unrestricted travel between the UK and the EU is over. The current system allows for visa free travel for up to 90/180 days a year. Beyond 90 days things get very complicated so check online for the details. US, Canada, OZ, NZ and some others follow the same 90-180 day rules. Most other countries need a visa before arrival. more info here
Accommodation
The North Devon coast is a holiday hotspot and there are endless options to suit all budgets. Check Airbnb or booking.com Staying near Croyde means quicker access to the breaks north and south and allows flexibility depending on the wind, tide and swell conditions.
Activities
The beautiful and dramatic coastline can be explored and enjoyed via the coast paths or take a tour and do Coasteering - a mixture or cliff jumping, wild swimming, hiking and coastal scrambling. Exmoor National Park is a beautiful area with moorland, woodlands rivers and touches the coast. Great pubs everywhere.
Hazards & hassles
Crowds are the number one hazard. The area is flooded with surfers from London, Bristol and a hundred other towns that head here due to its good surf, variety of spots and easy access. Add in a dedicated and large local surf community and finding space becomes a real issue. Fortunately when the swell size hits overhead things thin out dramatically.
Handy Hints
Lots of surf shops with knowledgeable staff make it a great place to pick up a board or wetsuit and there are plenty of long running, experienced surf schools. Roads can be very slow so relax and don't be in a hurry...you won't get anywhere quicker!
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.