Bigbury-on-Sea

The spot

Bigbury-on-Sea is a wide, gentle beach break overlooking Burgh Island on the south Devon coast. The seabed slopes gradually and the island itself splits the incoming swell, creating several distinct zones across the bay. It is predominantly a longboard and beginner wave, with soft faces and forgiving whitewater. The views of the Art Deco hotel on the island are a bonus.

When it works

Needs south-westerly groundswell funnelling up the English Channel. Works on any tide due to the gradual slope, though low to mid tends to offer more shape. A north-easterly offshore wind cleans things up. The best months are September through May, but even small summer swells produce rideable waves here.

Where to sit

The peaks closest to Burgh Island tend to have slightly more shape where the swell wraps around the landmass. The middle of the bay is wider and more spread out, good for learners who want space. On bigger days the section to the south of the island can produce more powerful waves.

Hazards

Very few. The sandy bottom is forgiving and the waves lack real power. The main thing to watch is the tidal causeway to Burgh Island, which creates a current as water flows around it. In bigger swells, rip currents can form along the edges of the bay near the rocks. Swimmers and paddleboarders populate the inside sections during summer.

Parking and access

There is a pay car park right behind the beach that works on a seasonal price structure. It gets extremely busy in summer holidays. The walk to the water is short and straightforward across flat sand. There are toilets and a cafe nearby.

The crowd

Surf schools dominate in summer but there is plenty of beach to spread out. In autumn and winter you will often have the lineup to yourself. The soft nature of the waves means advanced surfers rarely bother, so you are mostly sharing with learners and longboarders.

Local tips

Walk towards the island for slightly steeper waves with more push. The tombolo (sand causeway) to Burgh Island creates interesting wave patterns on bigger tides. If it is flat, the rock pools around the island are worth exploring. The Pilchard Inn on the island does a good pint if you time the tide right.