United Kingdom ยท Atlantic Europe
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 Woolacombe. 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).
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Full onshore mess. Not worth the paddle unless you are desperate. Conditions improving through the afternoon. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Woolacombe is an expansive, highly consistent beach break located on the North Devon coast of the United Kingdom. The bathymetric profile is characterised by a wide, exceptionally gradual gradient of fine silica sand, which dissipates incoming wave energy slowly rather than forcing an abrupt, pitching break. As westerly Atlantic groundswells filter across this flat platform, they generate long, predictable lines. An easterly offshore wind is required to groom the wave faces and prevent disorganised chop. The wave mechanics typically produce soft, spilling lefts and rights that offer extended rides, making it highly conducive to basic trim, pop-up practice, and longboarding. The consistent peeling walls allow for progressive rail work as the wave tapers towards the shoreline. Because the energy is spread across nearly three miles of beach, it disperses crowds and minimises localised hazards like severe rip currents. While larger winter swells can create steeper sections, the predominantly forgiving nature of the sandbars universally classifies Woolacombe as an ideal training ground.
Heads up: jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 47% 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, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 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: ~7m visibility
Updated 10:32
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Woolacombe
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. 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 Woolacombe is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Woolacombe
Woolacombe is a three-mile stretch of golden sand on the North Devon coast, one of England's finest beach breaks. It faces west-northwest into the Atlantic and picks up swell with outstanding consistency. The beach is vast, the scenery beautiful, and the waves reliably fun. Multiple peaks break across the entire length, from Putsborough at the south to Barricane Beach at the north. It caters to all levels depending on conditions and where you position yourself.
Picks up any westerly Atlantic swell. An easterly offshore wind provides clean conditions. Works on all tides. The gentle gradient at the southern (Putsborough) end produces softer waves; the middle and northern sections are steeper and more powerful. Consistent from September through May. The 2-6ft range is ideal for most surfers. Summer produces fun smaller waves.
The middle section has the most defined banks and produces the best waves for intermediate surfers. The southern (Putsborough) end is gentler and better for beginners. The northern end near the village picks up marginally more swell. Walk the beach and pick your level. The three-mile expanse means there is always space somewhere.
Rip currents on bigger days, as with any exposed beach. The length of the beach makes it easy to drift far from your starting point. The northern end can be more powerful. Lifeguards patrol the main sections in summer. Sandy bottom throughout means low consequence for falls.
Multiple car parks along the road behind the beach (pay). The main village car park, Marine Drive, and Putsborough all provide beach access. Short walks to the sand from all. Full facilities including surf hire, multiple cafes, and changing rooms. A well-developed surf infrastructure.
Busy in summer with tourists, surf schools, and families. The three-mile length means you can always find space by walking away from the car parks. Even on the busiest summer days, 10 minutes of walking reveals empty peaks. In autumn and winter, the crowd thins dramatically. Dawn patrol is reliably quiet year-round.
Woolacombe rewards walking. The main car park section is the most crowded by far. The peaks 10 minutes in either direction are often better shaped and empty. If it is too big at the main section, head south to Putsborough for a gentler experience. If it is too small, try the northern end or check Croyde (10 minutes by car) which picks up slightly more swell. The Red Barn pub (on the hill above) is excellent. The beach is dog-friendly in winter, leading to joyous post-surf chaos.
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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 Woolacombe tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 23/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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