Croyde links live surf and coastal conditions with surf work, community search and the session planner.
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Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Croyde. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Next to nothing in the water. Check back tomorrow. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong onshore blowing everything out. Give it a miss. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Croyde is a highly acclaimed, immensely powerful beach break located on the north Devon coast. The bathymetry consists of an exceptionally steep gradient of compacted sand flanked by rocky headlands. This severe slope forces incoming westerly Atlantic groundswells to decelerate abruptly, jacking into thick, top-to-bottom plunging barrels, particularly on the low tide. An easterly offshore wind is crucial to hold the heavy lips open and maintain the cylindrical structure of the wave. The sheer speed of the drop and the violent hydraulic force of the shorebreak make Croyde strictly suitable for advanced surfers. Miscalculations frequently result in heavy impact with the shallow sandbars. It demands immediate rail engagement, rapid acceleration, and proficient tube-riding skills to successfully navigate the heavy, spitting A-frames before they detonate completely across the bay, frequently snapping surfboards in half under the immense lip pressure.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season, and rocks exposed at low tide.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 60% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 09:12
Moderate water clarity: ~5m visibility
Updated 10:33
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Croyde
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Croyde is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Croyde
Croyde is one of England's best and heaviest beach breaks, a steep, punchy wave on the north Devon coast. The sand is incredibly compact and the gradient severe, which forces incoming swells to jack up and throw thick, hollow barrels. On its day this rivals many reef breaks for power and consequence. The beach is relatively short, framed by rocky headlands, and the waves break close to shore. It has earned a fierce reputation.
Needs a solid westerly Atlantic groundswell paired with an easterly offshore wind. Best at low to mid tide when the steep banks are fully engaged. The 4-8ft range is where Croyde shows its true character, producing heavy, top-to-bottom barrels. Above that it becomes a survival exercise. Works September through April with the biggest swells in winter.
The main peak shifts but generally breaks in the central section of the beach. The take-off is steep and fast, requiring precise positioning. Too far out and you will miss the wave; too far in and you will be under the lip. Sit at the same depth as the competent locals and wait for your waves patiently.
The shorebreak is genuinely dangerous. Heavy lips slam onto shallow sand with enormous force. Broken boards, dislocated shoulders, and held-down wipeouts are common on bigger days. Strong rip currents form either side of the main bank. The take-off is critical; hesitation results in going over the falls with the full weight of the lip. This is not a wave for intermediates on solid days.
Pay car park (or National Trust) right behind the beach. Very short walk to the sand. Gets absolutely rammed in summer with tourists, surfers, and vans. Arrive early on good days. Surf hire, cafes, and showers all close by.
Very busy. Croyde attracts serious surfers from across the south-west and beyond. Good swells bring 50+ people to a short stretch of beach. The local crew are aggressive and skilled. Drop-ins and collisions happen when it is crowded. Dawn patrol midweek in autumn is your best shot at manageable numbers.
Respect this wave. It has hospitalised people. If you are not comfortable taking late drops and surviving hold-downs over shallow sand, surf Putsborough around the corner instead. The wave looks more manageable from the car park than it actually is. A good strategy is to sit slightly to the side of the main peak and pick off the shoulders rather than competing for the heaviest section. The Thatch pub is a post-surf institution.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Croyde tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 33/100
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