Woolacombe

Woolacombe stretches for miles, a broad expanse of sand with a forgiving, open beachbreak that peels both ways. The action here is mellow—clean, rolling peaks that offer plenty of space to roam, making it a go-to for beginners and longboarders alike. When the swell is clean, the waves are fun and flexible, with options for everyone. The northern end, closest to town, fires off a popular high-tide right-hander, given extra consistency by the nearby stream that helps shape and hold the sandbanks. Just a short walk north, Combesgate tucks into a small bay, where low-tide brings shapely peaks that can offer a bit more punch and form.

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Woolacombe is fundamentally an autumn and winter wave. Once the North Atlantic storm tracks fire up around October, the west-facing beach becomes a magnet for W and WSW groundswell. Average swell heights run 1.7-2.2m (5.6-7.2ft) with periods in the 9-11s range, delivering powerful, long-period surf that can easily go over 8ft (2.4m) when the low-pressure conveyor belt aligns. The main obstacle is the prevailing westerly wind, which all too often blows onshore from the same direction as the swell. The best windows come with high pressure to the east or a Scandinavian high pulling an ENE to SE offshore flow across the coastline. This is the time for guaranteed size, sandbar peaks and occasional epic sessions, though you will pay for it with cold air, short days and water temperatures between 8.3C and 14.7C.