About

On a busy wekend the car park is a surfers' mecca. VW buses and every kind of surf vehical vie for space. Bemused day trippers mingle with surf-heads. A must for anyone with a board over 7'2".

Atmosphere:
Mellow. Long boarders and surf canoes are in their element. Long sweeping rides usually righthanders) can be had. great view from the cliff road above the bay - as lines stack up all the way to the estuary and out to sea. Makes it into numerous surf mag 'arty' photos. Shallows are safe for beginners. It is a huge flat beach, and the sands are a prime spot for sand yatchs and all kind of weird beach/sail cross over sports.

Additional Info:
A classic long boarders wave - slow waves that improve with a moderate offshore wind to steepen the faces. Works on all stages of the tide, but like many north Devon spots tends to be best on the 'push' as the incoming tide (the tidal rage of the Bristol Channel is one of the greatest in the world)can increase wave height dramatically. As the swell picks up, a rip develops alongside the cliff which is often the only way to get out back on big days. But treat it with caution - getting caught unawares leads to unpleaseant exits over the rocks! Helicopter rescues are not uncommon in summer, as novices get swept out. The cliff gives good protection from North and NW winds.

Location

Access

Access is from the coast road running along the North end of Saunton Sands, a huge 5km long stretch of sand running from the mouth of the estuary up to the cliffs at the North end. Sign posted from road - there is a large car park, which is free if you arrive very early morning or late in the evening, or in the middle of winter! £4 pounds the rest of the time.

Wave Characteristics

Ideal Conditions

Crowd

Dangers

Rips / undertow

Videos

None