Bigbury-on-Sea
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m SW
Wind: 16 km/h NE (offshore)
Beach faces: SSW
Offshore wind (blowing from land to sea). Ideal conditions, holding up wave faces for cleaner surf.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:02Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 13°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Strong winds on some days. Check the forecast each morning.
Today's briefing
0.5m swell at 7s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 13°C.
AI-generated summary for Bigbury-on-Sea. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Bigbury-on-Sea
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Today around 4pm (score: 1). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
Record your session, conditions and gear.
Sign up to save favourite spots and get surf alerts
Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 10:02
Daily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bigbury-on-Sea.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 4 days of logged conditions.
About Bigbury-on-Sea
Bigbury-on-Sea is a sprawling beach break situated on the southern coast of Devon, United Kingdom, overlooking Burgh Island. The bathymetry consists of an expansive, shallow gradient of fine sand, which dissipates wave energy gently as it approaches the shoreline. This location relies heavily on south-westerly groundswells travelling up the English Channel, and functions optimally when styled by a north-easterly offshore wind. Due to the very gradual slope of the seabed, the waves here typically break with a soft, crumbling lip rather than pitching top-to-bottom. This structural characteristic produces forgiving, slow-rolling faces that are ideal for beginner surfers looking to master foundational skills such as pop-ups and early trim generation. The presence of the Burgh Island tombolo naturally fragments the incoming swell, creating multiple distinct peaks across the bay and diffusing crowded line-ups. While the surf rarely reaches the critical power required by advanced riders, it remains a highly reliable training ground for novices.
Working in Bigbury-on-Sea this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Bigbury-on-Sea find you.
Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bigbury-on-Sea. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Bigbury-on-Sea?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.