Joss Bay

Broadstairs · Devon and the south coast · United Kingdom

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Joss Bay is a sandy cove between chalk cliffs near Broadstairs in Kent. No surf spot in south-east England is more popular. It faces north-east and catches North Sea swells, giving fun, short waves both ways. People have surfed here since the 1960s.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A longboard or fish most days; a shortboard on a good North Sea swell.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m north to north-east swell with a south-westerly wind, at any tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Easterly and northerly winds blow straight in, and south-west swells never reach it.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • crowds
  • localism

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March

Local tips

The North Sea swell is short-lived, so go when a northerly blow is easing. Locals can be protective on the good days.

Getting there

Take the coast road out of Broadstairs towards Botany Bay and Margate. The bay is just past the North Foreland.

History

Surfers have ridden Joss Bay since 1968.

Travel notes

How often it works
Inconsistent: it only works on North Sea wind swells, mostly in autumn and winter, and they rarely last long.
Crowd and vibe
Crowded in summer and on good days, with a strong local scene.
Facilities
A car park above the bay; Broadstairs, a few kilometres south, has shops, cafés and toilets.
Water quality
Rated excellent in the 2025 English bathing-water classification (Joss Bay, Broadstairs).

Ideal conditions

Swell
N–ENE best, NNW–E works
Size
1.2–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3 m
Period
6 s minimum, best from 8 s
Wind
Offshore SSW–W; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
ENE (60°)

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