United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
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Local knowledge and community tips for Putsborough
Putsborough sits at the southern, sheltered end of Woolacombe sand on the North Devon coast. Where Woolacombe and Croyde catch full Atlantic fury, Putsborough is tucked into the corner beneath Baggy Point, receiving a filtered, gentler version of the same swell. The result is soft, forgiving waves on a wide sandy beach. It is the go-to spot for beginners and families in the area, and a genuine refuge when Croyde is too heavy.
Picks up westerly Atlantic swell but requires more size than Woolacombe or Croyde due to the sheltered position. An easterly offshore wind creates clean conditions. Works on all tides with the gentle gradient. Consistent from September through May. The 2-5ft range is ideal here; above that, Woolacombe is working better.
The beach is wide with peaks forming along its length. The section closer to Baggy Point (north end) picks up slightly more swell. The inside section is perfect for learners. The gradual slope means waves reform multiple times, giving beginners several opportunities per wave.
Very safe. Sandy bottom, gentle waves, sheltered position. The rocks around Baggy Point should be avoided but they are well away from the main surfing area. Minimal rip currents due to the sheltered nature. One of north Devon's safest beaches for water users of all abilities.
Private car park (pay) with direct beach access. Short walk to the sand. A seasonal cafe operates at the car park. The beach is popular with dog walkers year-round and families in summer. Well-maintained facilities.
Surf schools and beginners dominate. Experienced surfers rarely choose Putsborough over Croyde or Woolacombe unless they specifically want a mellow session. Summer is busy with families. Winter is quiet. The gentle nature means everyone coexists peacefully.
Putsborough is the perfect spot to send a beginner friend while you surf Croyde. The waves are genuinely forgiving and the sandy bottom means confidence grows quickly. If Croyde is scaring you, come here without shame. It is also excellent for longboarding on slightly bigger days when proper walls form across the wide beach. The walk to Baggy Point is stunning if the surf goes flat.
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Based on historical weekly averages
Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
How busy each week is based on school holiday overlap from feeder markets.
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 28 days of logged conditions.
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 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.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Putsborough. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical mid-June.
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).
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.
The best week for surf at Putsborough is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Breezy. Some surface chop to deal with. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
Looking clean - lifeguarded, sandy bottom, 14 C water.
Moderate water clarity: ~5m visibility
Updated 10:33
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Putsborough