Bantham

Devon and the south coast · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Bantham (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/bantham.

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Bantham is a wide sandy beach at the mouth of the River Avon, looking across to Burgh Island, and the best-known surf spot in South Devon. The river builds sandbanks that give a right peeling like a point at low tide, plus peaks along the beach. The river also creates a very strong rip.

Level
Intermediate
Break
River mouth, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or a fish; a longboard on small, clean days.

When it works

✓ A 1–2.5 m south-west swell with a north-east wind, around low tide.

When it doesn't

✕ High tide, small swells, and southerly or westerly winds.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • currents
  • crowds

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March, April

Local tips

To reach the line-up, paddle out in the rip on the left side. Never walk across the river mouth: the current is strong and the sand is soft. Keep out of the marked boating lane. In summer the narrow lane to the beach gets jammed.

Getting there

Park in the one large car park near the beach. The walk through the dunes is short and nearly flat.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly consistent for the south coast: it faces south-west into the Channel swell, though summer is often flat.
Crowd and vibe
Crowded at weekends when it works, with surfers from Plymouth and Exeter; weekdays are calmer.
Camping and vans
Higher Aunemouth Farm is a basic campsite less than a mile from the beach. Nearest campsite about 1 km away.
Facilities
Toilets by the car park entrance and lifeguards in summer; the village has a pub and a shop.
Water quality
Rated excellent in the 2025 English bathing-water classification (Bantham).

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, S–W works
Size
1.2–2.5 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–E; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
low best, avoid high
Faces
WSW (245°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Devon and the south coast · All spots

Sources