North Devon : Croyde Bay

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Croyde Bay is Devon's stand out surfing beach and one of the best surfing beaches in the country, becoming hugely popular because of this and its famous pubs in the village. The beach itself is a bay about 1.5 kilometers wide with a fine golden sand beach backed by sand dunes. The bay has a headland at each end, each with their own associated peaks, shelter the beach from strong northerly or southerly winds.

The main surfing peak is in the centre of the beach and the waves are fast, plunging and under the right conditions, barrelling. This is most extreme at low tide and in large swells the waves can be very hollow. Novices should avoid Croyde when the swell starts building as it's fast and hollow waves, and the undercurrents that these can produce, aren't suitable for surfers still learning. However this isn't a negative view on the beach, merely an indication of the extremely high quality and challenging waves that it produces. One of the UK's best surfing spots.

Croyde's 'Thatch' and 'Billy Budd's' pubs have become very well known and in the summer these can be absolutely jam packed. They do provide an excellent social environment for after a day at the beach.

Details
Driving Access: Good minor road (B3231) into village
Car Park spaces: 200
Price: Less than £5
Beach facilities: Toilets, café, lifeguards
Beach type: Sand
Break type: Beach
Pub: The Thatch, Billy Buds
Sort of wave: Plunging
Peaks: Various shifting peaks
Left/Right: Both
Offshore wind direction: Easterly
Local highlights: The Thatch for après surf
National Trust: No

Ratings
Ability: Novice - Laird
Kids: 1 - They'll be fine with the beach
Other stuff: 2 - Top quality pubs
Access: 2 - 300 metre walk from car park
Urban proximity: Village life
Water quality: Pristine

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