Speke's Mill Mouth

Hartland · Devon and the south coast · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Speke's Mill Mouth (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/spekes-mill-mouth.

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Speke's Mill Mouth is a remote rocky cove on the Hartland coast, just south of Hartland Quay, where a 15 m waterfall drops onto the rocks. Off the cove, a fast and powerful reef peak breaks both ways over ridges of rock. Many surfers call it the best and most consistent reef in North Devon.

Level
Advanced
Break
Reef break, rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Crowded
Season
autumn, winter, spring, summer
Boards
A shortboard; a step-up when it is solid.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m west swell with an easterly wind, from mid tide upwards.

When it doesn't

✕ Westerly winds, which blow straight in, and very big swells that max out the reef.

Watch out for

  • reef
  • rocks
  • localism
  • crowds

Best months

March, April, May, September, October, November

Local tips

Only for experienced surfers: the paddle-out is off the rocks and getting back in is hard at high tide. There are no lifeguards and it is very remote, so never surf it alone; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. The line-up is crowded and the locals guard it, so be patient and respectful.

Getting there

Park at Hartland Quay and walk about 20 minutes south along the South West Coast Path, then down rough ground and steps to the cove. Parking near the old mill is very limited, and the farm track to it is private.

Travel notes

How often it works
Very consistent: it faces straight into the Atlantic and picks up almost any swell, even small ones. It can work at all tides, but most surfers prefer mid to high tide.
Crowd and vibe
Often crowded since guidebooks made it famous, with a protective local crew. Don't add to the crowd on busy days.
Camping and vans
Stoke Barton Farm campsite is about 1.5 km inland near Stoke; more sites are around Hartland village. Nearest campsite about 1.5 km away.
Facilities
None at the cove. The Hartland Quay hotel has a bar and food, and Docton Mill has tea rooms; Hartland village has shops.
Water quality
Speke's Mill Mouth is not a designated bathing water; nearby Hartland Quay was rated excellent in the 2025 English bathing-water classification.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NNW works
Size
1–2.2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3.5 m
Period
8 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–ESE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid, high best
Faces
W (270°)

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