Croyde is one of the UK’s most popular beach breaks, and with good reason. The beach is consistent, stunning and fairly easily to access (public transport sucks, so you’ll have to arrive by car). The beach has a reputation for quality waves and the village for a vibrant nightlife for much of the year. The season here seems to be a little more extended than at other breaks and it can be busy in spring and autumn as well as the hectic summer months. Of course spring and autumn are generally when the best waves can be had.

So what makes Croyde stand out from other beach breaks around our coast. It’s actually a question of bathymetry (the shape of the seabed as the swells approach). If you’ve ever been to Croyde on a big day at low tide, you may have seen the infamous ‘Oyster Falls’ big wave surf spot breaking a few hundred meters offshore. This is a fairly long section of rock which rears up out of the seabed causing big winter swells to break over it (up to 15-20 feet). It has been surfed by a couple of local legends, but really isn’t recommended. It’s the refraction of the swell off this reef which funnels a diagonal secondary swell towards the beach which then interacts with the main swell to cause defined ‘peaks’. This is why Croyde has clearly defined take off zones and peeling waves with plenty of power, especially at low tide. In fact if you’re good enough it’s perfectly possible to get barrelled here at low tide. As the tide moves up the beach the wave becomes more forgiving. There’s nothing like watching tourists standing in knee deep water at low tide with someone getting barrelled on a 6′ wave 20 meters in front of them.

So, regarding it’s suitability as a wave for the ‘ahem’ older surfer, it all depends on your level and fitness as well as what board you ride. Croyde really is a short boarding wave and only higher level surfers seem to get the most out of it. Having said that, bigger boards can be surfed well towards the higher state of tides. The paddle out tends to be ok (again, with smaller boards). The break can be pretty heavy so bigger boards are hard to manage in the breaking waves as you paddle out. This again comes down to experience, competency and fitness.

Amazingly there are loads of surf schools here teaching beginners. It’s definitely not a beginners wave and they do tend to mess around only in the white water. The RNLI know Croyde as one of the South West’s most potentially dangerous beaches with sudden rip currents taking tens of people out to see at once https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2019/july/22/rnli-renews-warnings-about-dangers-at-the-coast-following-mass-rescues

Parking is fairly easy, if a little expensive) at either Downend Car Park (as you enter the village from Braunton) or Baggy Carpark at the other end of the village. The sea does get very crowded, especially on those 2-3 foot sunny days when it seems every surfer from London, Birmingham and Bristol have descended for the weekend. However, if you are flexible you can still find times when the crowds thin out to catch a couple of quiet ones. In the depths of winter you can sometimes have a whole peak to yourself during the daytime.

Another bonus of Croyde is that very close by you have two other great surf spots which work on different conditions. This gives you options. Saunton has shelter from Northerly winds and Putsborough from the prevailing South West winds. All in all it’s a great place to visit and surf. There are plenty of campsites and other, nicer and warmer accommodation (although it can be pricey and does tend to book up). The nighlife can be pretty epic too with village pubs and bars heaving through the summer months and pleasantly full and warm during winter weekends.

There are RNLI beach lifeguards during the main season from April through to October, so if you go outside of these months then definitely err on the side of caution and don’t go out if you’re not in good form or with a couple of mates. When it is big however, it’s amazing to watch and photograph and some of the locals will give you an amazing display.

> READ MORE SPOT REVIEWS