BBC - Devon Surfing - Simon Alexander rates the best surfing beaches in Devon

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14 July 2009
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Devon's surfing beaches

Puttsborough: a popular choice with surfers

Surf's up and everybody's going board crazy as Devon's long relationship with surfing continues to go from strength to strength.

Simon Alexander reports on the best surfing beaches in Devon.

SEE ALSO

Latest surfing conditions for Devon and Cornwall

Latest surfing conditions for UK coast

World tour surfing photo gallery

News from the surfing competition circuit

Surfing Record Broken

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Surfing Croyde Bay

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FACTS

There are currently 250,000 surfers in the UK.

The biggest surf normally occurs on a pushing tide, especially on the Bristol Channel coast.

Croyde Bay in North Devon and Fistral Beach in Cornwall are two of the most popular surfing beaches in Britain.

The first ever degree in surfing was offered by the University of Plymouth.

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Not since the early 80s, when the county boasted its own English and British champions, has the sport attracted such large numbers eager to ride the waves which pound the county's beaches.

With a coastline as diverse as its landscape, Devon has waves to suit all abilities.

Croyde Bay, on the north coast, is one of the main draws courtesy of its hollow powerful low tide waves which on their day produce beachbreak waves as good as anywhere in the world. Winds from an easterly direction are offshore.

Croyde: catching the waves

Situated just a few miles from Barnstaple, and with a rich surfing history stretching back over forty years, Croyde has spawned some of the sports top competitors.

Former English and British champion
Richard Carter and Ralph Freeman are just two surfers who have contributed to Croyde's reputation in the British and European competition arena Scott Rannochan heads the new crew taking the sport to new heights.

With North Devon bearing the brunt of atlantic swells, the area boasts several other top surfing locations.

Puttsborough: waves can pack a punch

Travel north from Croyde and you are faced by the sweeping sands of Woolacombe Bay.
Nestled in its southern corner is Puttsborough.

It comes into its own when the south westerlies blow high cliffs diverting all but the strongest of gales away from the breaking waves.

Despite not having the same power as Croyde, the waves can pack a punch when they pass the mid-tide sandbanks.