Surfing in Croyde is some of the most reliable surfing in the whole of England. In winter, it’s about big, bombing barrels. In summer, the whole region is one of the top places to learn in Old Blighty. Read our complete guide right now…
An introduction to surfing in Croyde
If we’re being honest, it’s the trio of Saunton, Croyde, and Woolacombe that really catapulted North Devon into the company of World Surfing Reserves a la Ericeira and Malibu.
Of those, Croyde is unquestionably the best.
It’s not that wide for a bay on the edge of the Devonshire Atlantic coast, measuring just 700 meters across. But it’s got the right sand shelf, good shape, and good protection from the south and the north, and it’s enough to set it apart from the crowd.
As ever with the English Southwest, it’s the conditions that determine what you’ll get.
Croyde is probably known to the biggest crowds as a good summer learner location, and there’s plenty in the way of mini leg breakers and whitewash to enjoy between May and September.
But when the serious swells start pushing through in September, the spot can churn out slabby barrels at low and long fat walls at high that are a performance surfer’s dream. All the while, those points to the south and north offer rare wind protection.
The town itself is small but full of action; it’s actually one of our fav surf towns in England, with just a few coffee shops, a pizza joint, and plenty of hotels/places to stay.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in North Devon and surfing in England
Surfing in Croyde at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Croyde?
Where is Croyde?
Croyde is located in North Devon, England.
It’s situated on the west coast, nestled between Braunton and Woolacombe. This coastal village is renowned for its beach, Croyde Bay, which is bordered by sweeping sand dunes.
The bay faces the Atlantic Ocean, making it a popular spot for surfing because you basically get all of the SW-NW swells.
Croyde surf spots
If you’re heading to Croyde to surf then you’re almost certainly looking to surf on Croyde Beach itself. We’ll talk about what to expect from the waves there in detail below, but also take a look at neighboring breaks in the North Devon region, some of which might offer something better for different swell directions or types of surfer.
Woolacombe
Long Woolacombe is the first and the most exposed of the North Devon beach breaks. It’s a real regional classic with heavy pounding sets and a nightmare paddle out in the winter, but small chest-high breaks that tend to stay nice and clean for the logger crowd in the warmer, less-windy month. Woolacombe itself is a touch more beginner-friendly than Croyde because it doesn’t have the crews.
We have a complete guide to surfing in Woolacombe right here
Putsborough
Putsborough is the sheltered south end of Woolacombe. Basically, this is the part of Woolacombe Beach that hides behind Baggy Point, getting rare protection from S and SW winds – a gift in this part of Devon. Often, it’s messy AF up on Woolamcombe and along Croyde but clean for 50 meter peelers on Putsborough. Will be crowded. If you can, score a pitch at the campsite on the clifftop above.
Check out our complete guide to surfing in Putsborough
Croyde Beach
Croyde Beach loves a SW swell in the 4-8 foot range and a E offshore in winter. When that’s the forecast, you can come here and watch as corduroy lines march into the bay, peaking at the various points between the two headlands on the north and the south. The place becomes even more special as the water peels back, because heavy barrelling pits can emerge to offer something akin to the French Basque country.
On fuller tides, the waves mellow considerably, to the point when even the biggest of days can transform into decent sessions for intermediates. The peaks do shift around a lot, but there are two main take-off zones. One’s on the south-middle part of the beach, and it’s a higher tide A-frame peak that has fatter shoulders. The other is known as Boneyards and it’s the low-tide barrel, usually with a crew of security that won’t be nice to any traveling surfers.
To be honest, there’s enough space and enough reliability in Croyde to entertain everyone. There’s certainly no need for the localism but even with it you can usually find a nice spot to call your own and nab a shoulder for a good hour or two.
Down End Point
Down End Point (also known as Downend) is like a reverse Impossibles in the cold water of the Celtic Sea. It only works about 30 minutes either side of full low tide. Swells hit the jagged rock reef that spreads under the cliffs to the south of Croyde proper. They’ll shape into clean, straight lines that are semi hollow on anything over 5 foot and very nice for ripping. Kick out at the right time or you’ll land on the rocks. Always busy with local crews who didn’t get the memo that the Southwest is supposed to be welcoming.
Saunton Sands
There are two sides to lovely Saunton Sands. The first, out back, which you can often only reach thanks to the sucky channel along the northern cliffs od Down End Point, is for scoring overhead walls in the winter and long peeling logger waves by summer. Then there’s the inside, which has proven to be the learner spot extraordinaire of many a beginner. It’s a gorgeous beach that has ultra reliability and loves an E or NE offshore.
Read our full guide to surfing in Saunton Sands
Where to stay when surfing in Croyde?
One of the standout things about Croyde is the town. We’d say it’s especially good for learn-to-surf family jaunts in the summer, what with its fantastic array of self-catering cottages, pubs, and local shops and surf schools.
There’s loads on offer, but our picks would be…
- Beach Cottage – A lovely Southwest family beach home with a big garden, BBQ space, and spacious interiors. This one puts you a short walk from the main beach, close to loads of pubs and shops. Can sleep up to six people at any one time.
- Seascape – There are few self-catering family surf escapes as alluring as Seascape in the whole of the UK. The views alone make it worth the price tag. Then throw in the massive bathrooms, the gorgeous master suite, and those sun-kissed patio dining spaces. Yea, it’s a good one for a family hol!
Step-by-step guide to planning your surfing in Croyde trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the surfing in Croyde…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Croyde?
Croyde, like much of North Devon, has a consistency that can match the best surf destinations in the world. Basically, if there’s swell in the Atlantic then it will be showing here. That means there’s never really a bad time to surf. It’s just a case of different seasons suiting different surfers.
The summer is designated learner time. Even the local crews of rippers tend to cool it a little and permit the odd camp coming over from London or Bristol. The waves then typically hover between 3-7 foot and will be great for getting your first taste of surfing.
When autumn and winter come around, the Atlantic NW and W swell channels fire more regularly. Low-pressure systems in the Bay of Biscay whip up huge SW swells and Croyde will go off, showing its low-tide barrels and overhead bombs. This is the time to come if you’re a more advanced surfer, but do some paddle practice first – it’s never easy.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
