To the east of Plymouth, Bantham works on an E or NE wind,with a swell from the south. A rivermouth break, it is frustratingly fickle as it suffers from a constantly changing bottom. There can be a perfect bank one day and the next, it's gone. Its hard to catch it right but when you do you're in for a treat of a cranking right hander. The best stage of the tide depends on the swell; if it's a small swell then low tide is best when it's hollow and sucky; on a big swell high tide is best. Its very crowded all the time and the pollution from the river is bad.

Challaborough: just west of Bigbury, is a high tide shore dump which is popular with bodyboarders. Whereas Bantham will be messy on a S-SE, Challaborough at high tide will be nearly clean as it's protected from the wind by a very high cliff. The water is dirty and it gets very crowded.

There are other breaks along the south Devon and west Dorset coasts, but they are largely undocumented and closely guarded secrets by the locals. Seek and ye shall find.

Putsborough: is at the south end of Woolacombe Sand, works best at high tide, at low tide it drops off apart from on very big swells when it gets hollow. It works on all winds and is sheltered on a SW wind by a high cliff. A good alternative if Croyde is blown out.

Woolacombe: works on the same conditions as Croyde but picks up less swell and is not as hollow.

Saunton Sands: is a good a beginners beach. It works on all tides; is sheltered on a northerly and produces a long peeling wave, good for longboarding . Pollution can be a problem here though.

Lynmouth: produces a classic left point/river mouth break on a big SW storm. This is very rare, and should only be ridden by experienced riders.

Surf Cams and reports
Croyde
Bantham