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Bantham

Devon · Beach break · Faces SSW · Updated 5h ago
1-2ft
Next 24 hours
Swell 0.113m 8.66s SSW
Wind 18mph 12mph NNE · Offshore
Weather 9°C Overcast · 1026mb
Tide 10:48 4.0m Low 04:21 (2.1m) · Light 07:23–18:36
Water 17°C 2mm wetsuit
Sand Mid tide 3-6ft Beginners to intermediate when small. Intermediate to advanced at 4ft+. The rips near the estuary can catch inexperienced surfers off guard. Best swell SW - WSW

South Devon's best-known surf beach at the mouth of the Avon estuary. Needs a decent SW swell to work but produces quality waves with a river mouth sand bar creating hollow lefts and rights.

AI Surf Overview

Conditions look mixed today with moderate onshore wind and a dropping swell period through the afternoon. Best bet is the early morning push before the wind picks up. Tomorrow looks cleaner with a slight shift in direction.

10:48 4.0m 23:35 3.7m 04:21 2.1m 17:01 2.3m
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.102m 8.94s
0.03m 19.73s
Offshore
16mph 15mph
10°C
13:00
2-3ft
0.087m 10.27s
0.067m 16.1s
Cross-shore
22mph 26mph
13°C
19:00
2-3ft
0.246m 6.83s
0.122m 11.67s
Cross-shore
14mph 14mph
11°C 0.8mm
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.305m 9.54s
0.149m 5.12s
Cross-off
10mph 12mph
9°C
13:00
1ft
0.264m 8.98s
0.082m 5.05s
Cross-shore
13mph 9mph
13°C
19:00
1-2ft
0.306m 8.67s
0.211m 5.46s
Onshore
18mph 22mph
13°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
4-5ft
0.803m 8.4s
0.192m 8.3s
Cross-shore
27mph 45mph
10°C
13:00
4-5ft
0.588m 9.6s
0.77m 10.57s
Cross-on
27mph 43mph
11°C
19:00
5-6ft
0.767m 9.45s
0.65m 10.22s
Cross-on
24mph 30mph
12°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
3-4ft
1.056m 7.08s
0.02m 4.25s
Cross-on
14mph 19mph
10°C
13:00
5-6ft
1.544m 8.63s
0.44m 11.04s
Onshore
22mph 18mph
14°C
19:00
8-9ft
0.912m 9.26s
0.87m 9.44s
Onshore
36mph 26mph
13°C 1.1mm
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
04:00
5-6ft
1.185m 7.07s
0.73m 6.83s
Cross-shore
30mph
--

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Bantham Surf Spot Guide

Everything you need to know before paddling out at Bantham, England.

Break typeBeach break
SeabedSand
Best swell directionSW - WSW
Optimal wave size3-6ft
Best tideMid
Ability levelBeginners to intermediate when small. Intermediate to advanced at 4ft+. The rips near the estuary can catch inexperienced surfers off guard.

Hazards & Safety

Strong rip currents along the river channel on the east side. The River Avon outflow creates unpredictable currents, especially on an ebbing tide. Submerged rocks at the southern end near Thurlestone.

Local Tips

Bantham needs a decent-sized swell to get in. SW groundswell wraps in best. Sheltered from prevailing westerlies, making it one of the cleanest options in Devon when everywhere else is blown out. Works best from mid to high tide.

Getting There

Access through the Bantham Estate private car park, then a short walk across the dunes to the beach.

Parking: Private estate car park with seasonal charges. Limited spaces and closes in the evening. Fills quickly on sunny weekends.

Facilities: Seasonal toilets near the car park. Seasonal food vans in summer. The Sloop Inn in the village is a short walk. No showers at the beach.

Crowds

Moderate to busy. Popular with the South Devon surf crowd and holidaymakers in summer.

Water Temperature by Month

Jan 10°C 5/4
Feb 9°C 5/4
Mar 9°C 5/4
Apr 10°C 5/4
May 12°C 4/3
Jun 14°C 3/2
Jul 15°C 3/2
Aug 16°C 3/2
Sep 16°C 3/2
Oct 14°C 3/2
Nov 12°C 4/3
Dec 11°C 4/3

Water temperatures and recommended wetsuit thickness by month

Tide data from Salcombe

2026-10-19
10:48 4.0m 23:35 3.7m 04:21 2.1m 17:01 2.3m
2026-10-20
12:10 3.9m 05:32 2.4m 18:28 2.3m
2026-10-21
01:27 3.8m 13:48 4.0m 07:10 2.4m 20:06 2.1m
2026-10-22
02:46 4.0m 14:58 4.3m 08:38 2.2m 21:15 1.8m
2026-10-23
03:42 4.4m 15:52 4.6m 09:38 1.8m 22:05 1.4m
2026-10-24
04:28 4.7m 16:37 4.9m 10:25 1.5m 22:49 1.1m

Average daily wave height and wind speed from past forecast data. Updates as more data is collected.

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Home › Forecast › Bantham
Bantham
Devon · Beach break · Faces SSW
1-2ft
Current surf height
1-2ft today
Next 24 hours

South Devon's best-known surf beach at the mouth of the Avon estuary. Needs a decent SW swell to work but produces quality waves with a river mouth sand bar creating hollow lefts and rights.

Swell
0.113m 8.66s
SSW
Wind
18mph / 12
NNE · Offshore
Weather
9°C
Overcast
Tide
10:48
Low 04:21
Water
17°C
2mm
AI Surf Overview

Conditions look mixed today with moderate onshore wind and a dropping swell period through the afternoon. Best bet is the early morning push before the wind picks up.

Best
Today
1-2ft
Tomorrow
1-3ft
Wednesday
3-5ft
Thursday
4-12ft
Friday
5-8ft
Rating
Surf
Swell
Wind
1am
1-2ft
0.14m 8.81s
18 / 15 Offshore
10°
4am
1-2ft
0.113m 8.66s
18 / 12 Offshore
9°
7am
1-2ft
0.102m 8.94s
16 / 15 Offshore
10°
10am
1-2ft
0.099m 11.05s
13 / 20 Offshore
9°
1pm
2-3ft
0.087m 10.27s
22 / 26 Cross-shore
13°
4pm
2-3ft
0.093m 8.51s
22 / 24 Cross-shore
13°
7pm
2-3ft
0.246m 6.83s
14 / 14 Cross-shore
11°
10pm
1-2ft
0.214m 6.53s
13 / 7 Cross-shore
11°
High 10:48 4.0m High 23:35 3.7m Low 04:21 2.1m Low 17:01 2.3m
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Thanks for your feedback!

Tide data from Salcombe

2026-10-19
10:48 4.0m 23:35 3.7m 04:21 2.1m 17:01 2.3m
2026-10-20
12:10 3.9m 05:32 2.4m 18:28 2.3m
2026-10-21
01:27 3.8m 13:48 4.0m 07:10 2.4m 20:06 2.1m
2026-10-22
02:46 4.0m 14:58 4.3m 08:38 2.2m 21:15 1.8m
2026-10-23
03:42 4.4m 15:52 4.6m 09:38 1.8m 22:05 1.4m
2026-10-24
04:28 4.7m 16:37 4.9m 10:25 1.5m 22:49 1.1m
Jan 10° 5/4
Feb 9° 5/4
Mar 9° 5/4
Apr 10° 5/4
May 12° 4/3
Jun 14° 3/2
Jul 15° 3/2
Aug 16° 3/2
Sep 16° 3/2
Oct 14° 3/2
Nov 12° 4/3
Dec 11° 4/3

Water temp & wetsuit by month

Average daily wave height and wind speed from past forecast data

Break Beach break
Seabed Sand
Best swell SW - WSW
Best tide Mid
Size 3-6ft
Level Beginners to intermediate when small. Intermediate to advanced at 4ft+. The rips near the estuary can catch inexperienced surfers off guard.
Hazards

Strong rip currents along the river channel on the east side. The River Avon outflow creates unpredictable currents, especially on an ebbing tide. Submerged rocks at the southern end near Thurlestone.

Local Tips

Bantham needs a decent-sized swell to get in. SW groundswell wraps in best. Sheltered from prevailing westerlies, making it one of the cleanest options in Devon when everywhere else is blown out. Works best from mid to high tide.

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