Skip to main content

Bantham

Devon · Beach break · Faces SSW · Updated 5h ago
1ft
Next 24 hours
Swell 0.165m 10.15s WSW
Wind 8mph 12mph N · Cross-off
Weather 17°C Clear sky · 1018mb
Tide 08:51 4.9m Low 14:44 (1.0m) · Light 04:39–21:20
Water 19°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.

08:51 4.9m 21:02 5.2m 02:28 0.9m 14:44 1.0m
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1ft
0.194m 9.41s
0.134m 5.05s
Offshore
8mph 13mph
17°C
13:00
1ft
0.149m 10.41s
0.104m 4.89s
Cross-shore
13mph 22mph
24°C
19:00
1ft
0.169m 8.97s
0.093m 5.77s
Cross-on
10mph 11mph
20°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.129m 10.16s
0.053m 18.48s
Cross-off
20mph 12mph
17°C
13:00
1-2ft
0.122m 10.05s
0.05m 18.31s
Cross-off
15mph 20mph
20°C
19:00
1ft
0.248m 8.56s
0.07m 12.44s
Cross-on
8mph 16mph
20°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
04:00
1ft
0.138m 7.21s
0.078m 11.82s
Offshore
8mph 12mph
16°C
13:00
1ft
0.075m 14.24s
0.069m 6.58s
Cross-shore
10mph 13mph
24°C
19:00
1ft
0.088m 6.2s
0.079m 13.76s
Cross-on
10mph 12mph
23°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
13:00
1-2ft
0.092m 12.98s
0.068m 8.86s
Cross-shore
11mph 19mph
23°C
19:00
1ft
0.186m 7.68s
0.1m 7.03s
Cross-on
8mph 16mph
22°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
04:00
1ft
0.168m 6.82s
0.148m 4.38s
Offshore
7mph
--

Create a free account for the full 7-day forecast

Get the extended forecast, save your favourite spots, and set surf alerts. Completely free, no card required.

Sign up — it's free
Is this forecast accurate?
Thanks for your feedback!

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

2026-07-18
08:51 4.9m 21:02 5.2m 02:28 0.9m 14:44 1.0m
2026-07-19
09:28 4.7m 21:41 5.0m 03:08 1.1m 15:24 1.2m
2026-07-20
10:06 4.5m 22:19 4.7m 03:47 1.3m 16:03 1.4m
2026-07-21
10:45 4.4m 23:00 4.5m 04:26 1.5m 16:43 1.7m
2026-07-22
11:30 4.2m 23:46 4.3m 05:07 1.7m 17:29 1.9m
2026-07-23
12:23 4.1m 05:56 1.9m 18:29 2.1m

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

No photos of Bantham yet

Surfed here recently? Share a photo to help others see what it's like.

Know Bantham? Share tips on tides, wind shelter, hazards, or best conditions.

HomeForecast › Bantham
Bantham
Devon · Beach break · Faces SSW
1ft
Current surf height
Flat 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
0.165m 10.15s
WSW
Wind
8mph / 12
N · Cross-off
Weather
17°C
Clear sky
Tide
08:51
Low 14:44
Water
19°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.

Today
Flat
Best
Tomorrow
Flat
Monday
Flat
Tuesday
Flat
Wednesday
Flat
Rating
Surf
Swell
Wind
1am
1-2ft
0.168m 10.24s
10 / 10 Cross-shore
17°
4am
1ft
0.165m 10.15s
8 / 12 Cross-off
17°
7am
1ft
0.194m 9.41s
8 / 13 Offshore
17°
10am
1ft
0.144m 8.83s
15 / 23 Cross-off
21°
1pm
1ft
0.149m 10.41s
13 / 22 Cross-shore
24°
4pm
1ft
0.185m 9.2s
9 / 19 Onshore
22°
7pm
1ft
0.169m 8.97s
10 / 11 Cross-on
20°
10pm
1ft
0.163m 9.32s
12 / 9 Cross-off
19°
High 08:51 4.9m High 21:02 5.2m Low 02:28 0.9m Low 14:44 1.0m
Is this forecast accurate?
Thanks for your feedback!

Tide data from Salcombe

2026-07-18
08:51 4.9m 21:02 5.2m 02:28 0.9m 14:44 1.0m
2026-07-19
09:28 4.7m 21:41 5.0m 03:08 1.1m 15:24 1.2m
2026-07-20
10:06 4.5m 22:19 4.7m 03:47 1.3m 16:03 1.4m
2026-07-21
10:45 4.4m 23:00 4.5m 04:26 1.5m 16:43 1.7m
2026-07-22
11:30 4.2m 23:46 4.3m 05:07 1.7m 17:29 1.9m
2026-07-23
12:23 4.1m 05:56 1.9m 18:29 2.1m
Jan 10° 5/4
Feb 5/4
Mar 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.

No photos of Bantham yet

What's off?
Select any that apply — this helps us improve.