Croyde is a popular, west-facing beachbreak with excellent tubey lefts and rights at low tide when it’s working. North Devon has a beautiful coastline, with stunning cliff top views and secluded sandy coves. The village of Croyde rests at the end of a sheltered valley with a stream running along its main street. The beach is a couple of miles long backed by sand dunes with a headland at each end which provides some shelter. It has excellent powerful waves and can be very crowded with talented surfers when the surf is good.

Croyde’s main peak is in the centre of the beach and produces fast, barrelling, hollow A-frames at low tide. It gets VERY crowded and is not for beginners when the waves are good. Mid to high tide offers a fuller more mellow wave.

Croyde is seen as one of the country’s best surf spots and surf holiday destinations, it’s also one of the closest surf breaks to the M4 which makes it easy to get to from London and from universities like Exeter. On good days, it can be quite crowded so head north to Lynmouth on huge swells (advanced surfers only) and Woolacombe where there’s more room to move. South is the big beach at Saunton Sands.

There’s a very rare righthand reef wave called Baggy End at the north which works on the highest tides in big swells and provides a fast hollow bowl on takeoff — advanced and respectful surfers only!

At the south end of Croyde is Downend Point, a reef which works on bigger swells as it’s a bit more sheltered. Righthand pointbreak reef at low tide preferably with an easterly wind. Rocky entry and exit. This isn’t a spot for beginners.

Croyde is a picturesque village and has many places to eat, buy gifts and hire beach equipment. The Thatch and Billy Budd’s are great for apres surf partying. The Gold Coast Ocean Fest takes place in summer and features music and surf competitions; well worth a visit.

Croyde has produced top surfers like Richard Carter, Ralph Freeman, Scott Rannochan, Kathleen Spears and big wave rider Andrew Cotton.

Surf Information

Break type: Sand
Offshore wind direction: Easterly
Swell direction: Westerly
Wave direction: Lefts and rights
Ability: All
Water quality: Good – EU award for high water quality
Lifeguard service: From 1 May to 30 September
National Trust: No

Hazards

Rips when four feet or over.
Unsuitable for beginners at low tide.
Crowds. Can be a real zoo during the summer.

Facilities

Surf shops.
Pubs and cafés
Camping.
Toilets.
General stores.
Lovely bakery.
Surf schools and hire
Campsites