Bantham
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.2m SW
Wind: 17 km/h NE (offshore)
Beach faces: SW
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 08:34Expected 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 Bantham. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Bantham
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 6am (score: 4). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on low-mid tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastWater quality
5 nearby outfallsUpdated 08:34
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 Bantham.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 4 days of logged conditions.
About Bantham
Bantham is a dynamic beach and rivermouth break situated on the southern coast of Devon, United Kingdom. The bathymetry is defined by a complex interaction between the coastal sandbanks and the strong tidal outflow of the River Avon. This fluvial current actively shapes the silica sand, creating pronounced, structured banks that offer steep, high-quality A-frame peaks. The break operates optimally on medium-sized south-westerly groundswells travelling up the English Channel. An easterly or north-easterly offshore wind is crucial to groom the wave face and hold up the peaking sections. The interaction between the incoming oceanic swell and the outgoing river current frequently causes the waves to jack up abruptly, providing fast, hollow drops followed by workable walls. Due to the shifting nature of the rivermouth sandbars, the presence of strong rip currents, and the steepness of the take-off, Bantham is primarily suited for intermediate surfers. It demands excellent oceanographic reading skills to identify the safest channels and the technical proficiency to navigate the rapid, changing peaks effectively.
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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 Bantham. 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 Bantham?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.