GUIDE TO SURF BEACHES ON THE SOUTH COAST OF DEVON

Summary:

This is the most consistent and one of the best quality waves on the South Coast.

Location:

From Exeter take the A38 road towards Plymouth. Just after South Brent turn left on to the B3210 and follow the signs to Loddiswell. About 2 miles after Loddiswell turn right on to the B3194 and go to Churchstow. After Churchstow go straight across the next roundabout and follow the signs straight to Bantham.

Name of Break:

Direction Of Break:

Best wind direction is NW round to E which is offshore. Best swells come from the Bay Of Biscay. Very strong NW winds will tend to mess up the waves.

Comments:

For the South Coast this is a good quality beach break offering plenty of options. It is surprisingly consistent, picking up many of the same swells that hit the West Coast, albeit a little smaller.

The break can work at all states of the tide but tends to be at its best from about 1 to 4 hours after low tide. Some good rights are said to break in to the river mouth at high tide but this will only be on bigger swells. On small swells the break stops working between 3 and 4 hours after low tide.

There is a good rip for getting out on the left hand side of the beach which is also useful for getting back out after a ride. Be warned that this rip can get quite strong.

When it is working well there can be some long rides at this break. The take off is often steep and fast with the rest of the ride a little slower but allowing plenty of cut backs.

In conclusion a good quality beach break with the added benefit of above average consistency for the South Coast.

Summary:

An adequate beach break in E swells.

Location:

From Exeter take the A380 road towards Torquay. Just before entering Torquay turn right at a roundabout onto the A3022. Follow this road for about 5 miles until it merges with the A379 where you should turn left back towards Paignton. Shortly after this turn right where sign posted to Broadsands.

Name of Break:

Direction Of Break:

Best wind direction is W round to S which is offshore. Best swells come from E blows along the English Channel.

Comments:

This is a very average beach break. It's one redeeming feature is that it can be a little sheltered from SE winds and so be a little cleaner than other breaks in Torbay in these conditions.

The main peak is at the South end of the beach breaking off a streach of pebbles. Most of the rides are rights and tend to be fairly slow. In my experience the break also tends to be smaller than other breaks in Torbay.

In conclusion an average beach break which you almost always catch in onshore conditions.

Summary:

A very average beach break in E or SW swells.

Location:

From Exeter take the A379 and after passing through Starcross take the left hand turn at Cockwood. Follow the road for about 2 miles and you will reach the holiday resort of Dawlish Warren. Parking is sign posted on the left by passing under the railway.

Name of Break:

Direction Of Break:

Best wind direction is W round to NE which is offshore. Best swells come from very strong SW blows up the English Channel. The break will also pick up E swells.

Comments:

This is a very average beach break. It needs a big SW swell to work as it is right on the fringe of the SW swell window and there a lot of shallow sand bars off shore to knock down the swell size at the beach.

There are peaks all along the beach although you need to watch out for the groynes which can get in the way. The best peak tends to be off the boulders at the Southern end of the beach by the life guard hut. I have never surfed this break much above 2.5 feet and on most visits it has been either flat or blown out.

In conclusion a very average beach break which in general is not worth checking out unless there is a very big SW ground swell running.

Summary:

Quality of beach breaks is below average but the best for miles around.

Location:

From Exeter take the A3052 east and after 12 miles take first sign post to the right for Sidmouth.

Name of Breaks:

Main Beach is on the sea front and contains the two big new breakwaters. These have only been built for a couple of years so the beach is still settling down. Jacobs Ladder Beach is west of the main beach around a small headland.

Direction Of Breaks:

Best wind direction is NW which is offshore although Main Beach is a little sheltered on a Westerly. Best swells come from the Bay Of Biscay.

Comments:

Both beaches are normally sandy bottomed and are backed by shingle. The shingle prevents any surfing at high tide with the breaks normally working about 3 hours after high tide though to low tide and back up to half tide. In the last 12 months Jacobs Ladder Beach has lost alot of sand and is becoming increasingly rocky with flat ledgy type sandstone.

To work well both beaches need a good SW groundswell. These are rare on the South Coast so most of the time Sidmouth is flat or has weak wind swell. When it works the average wave height is no more than about 3 foot. At its best the waves are unlikely to exceed 6 foot. Jacobs Ladder is the more exposed beach and gets the bigger waves. Main Beach is a little sheltered even on a SW wind but the waves tend to back off.

Weak waves are also possible if an Easterly swell is coming down the English Channel.

In conclusion, the waves are poor compared to the West Coast of Devon and Cornwall, however, there can be odd days of good offshore surf. If you don't want to travel 60 miles to the West Coast and must get wet then you can't beat Sidmouth.

Summary:

Inconsistent beach break which usually only works in Easterly swells.

Location:

From Exeter take the A380 road towards Torquay. Once over the top of Telegraph Hill follow the sign posts to Teignmouth.

Name of Breaks:

The main surfing area is next to the pier.

Direction Of Breaks:

Best wind direction is anything from the W which is offshore. Best swells come down the English Channel after Easterly blows.

Comments:

Most of the time this break is flat. However, if the Easterly winds blow strong enough then it will pick up any swell coming down the Channel. From the few times I have seen people surf in these conditions the waves have not been much cop. The best time to try is in the lower half of the tide around low tide. Be careful if you surf on the South side of the pier as there are strong currents coming out of the mouth of the River Teign.

In exceptional circumstances the break will pick up very big SW swells. In fact this happened on the only time I have surfed Teignmouth. However, that day there were force 10s blowing in the English Channel so it is very rare that it will break on a SW swell.

In conclusion, a poor wave which is just about worth checking out if you are on a surfari down the coast.