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Saunton Sands

Devon · Beach · Faces NW · Updated 5h ago
1-2ft
Next 24 hours
Swell 0.352m 3.03s NW
Wind 6mph 13mph NNE · Cross-shore
Weather 16°C Clear sky · 1019mb
Tide 08:37 7.5m Low 15:16 (1.1m) · Light 04:35–21:24
Water 18°C 2mm wetsuit
Sand All tide 2-8ft All levels — gentle, peeling waves ideal for longboarding and learning Best swell W - NW

Saunton Sands stretches for three miles along the North Devon coast, backed by Braunton Burrows sand dunes. The beach faces north-west and produces long, peeling waves perfect for longboarding and mellow surfing. Works on all tides and rarely gets too powerful. Less crowded than nearby Croyde and Woolacombe. The flat beach gradient means waves break far from shore on low tide.

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.

08:37 7.5m 20:49 7.7m 03:12 0.7m 15:16 1.1m
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.273m 2.89s
0.129m 8.0s
Cross-shore
5mph 8mph
15°C
13:00
1ft
0.206m 3.56s
0.129m 7.94s
Cross-shore
10mph 23mph
24°C
19:00
1-2ft
0.129m 4.41s
0.12m 7.39s
Cross-on
20mph 20mph
22°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.162m 4.46s
0.099m 9.68s
Cross-off
14mph 12mph
17°C
13:00
1ft
0.124m 4.84s
0.088m 9.4s
Cross-shore
14mph 17mph
22°C
19:00
1ft
0.1m 10.1s
0.057m 7.61s
Onshore
16mph 22mph
21°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.205m 3.33s
0.106m 9.52s
Cross-shore
12mph 10mph
16°C
13:00
1-2ft
0.258m 5.93s
0.091m 10.03s
Cross-on
8mph 21mph
20°C
19:00
2-3ft
0.164m 6.22s
0.127m 7.75s
Onshore
15mph 21mph
21°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.19m 3.37s
0.148m 10.78s
Cross-off
12mph 5mph
17°C
13:00
1-2ft
0.158m 10.24s
0.078m 11.64s
Cross-shore
13mph 13mph
23°C
19:00
1-2ft
0.158m 10.09s
0.072m 11.36s
Onshore
16mph 15mph
22°C
Time
Rating
Surf
Swell
Swell 2
Wind Gusts
Weather
07:00
1-2ft
0.173m 9.99s
0.06m 9.65s
Cross-on
19mph
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Saunton Sands Surf Spot Guide

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

Break typeBeach
SeabedSand
Best swell directionW - NW
Optimal wave size2-8ft
Best tideAll
Ability levelAll levels — gentle, peeling waves ideal for longboarding and learning

Hazards & Safety

Rips can develop on bigger swells. Long beach — know your position relative to the car park.

Local Tips

Works on all tides. The flat gradient produces long, peeling waves — perfect for longboarding. Walk south along the beach for better banks and fewer people. Braunton Burrows dune system behind the beach is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Getting There

Car park at the north end of the beach. Direct access to sand.

Parking: Large pay & display car park at beach entrance.

Facilities: Toilets at car park. Saunton Sands Hotel nearby. Limited other facilities — bring what you need.

Crowds

Less crowded than Croyde and Woolacombe. The long beach absorbs the numbers.

Water Temperature by Month

Jan 9°C 5/4
Feb 8°C 5/4
Mar 9°C 5/4
Apr 10°C 5/4
May 11°C 4/3
Jun 13°C 4/3
Jul 15°C 3/2
Aug 16°C 3/2
Sep 15°C 3/2
Oct 13°C 4/3
Nov 11°C 4/3
Dec 10°C 5/4

Water temperatures and recommended wetsuit thickness by month

Tide data from Saunton

2026-07-18
08:37 7.5m 20:49 7.7m 03:12 0.7m 15:16 1.1m
2026-07-19
09:13 7.2m 21:27 7.4m 03:49 1.0m 15:48 1.4m
2026-07-20
09:49 6.8m 22:05 7.1m 04:23 1.4m 16:19 1.7m
2026-07-21
10:30 6.4m 22:48 6.6m 04:56 1.7m 16:54 2.2m
2026-07-22
11:21 6.0m 23:42 6.2m 05:34 2.1m 17:44 2.6m
2026-07-23
12:30 5.8m 06:28 2.4m 19:01 2.9m

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

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HomeForecast › Saunton Sands
Saunton Sands
Devon · Beach · Faces NW
1-2ft
Current surf height
1-2ft today
Next 24 hours

Saunton Sands stretches for three miles along the North Devon coast, backed by Braunton Burrows sand dunes. The beach faces north-west and produces long, peeling waves perfect for longboarding and mellow surfing. Works on all tides and rarely gets too powerful. Less crowded than nearby Croyde and Woolacombe. The flat beach gradient means waves break far from shore on low tide.

Swell
0.352m 3.03s
NW
Wind
6mph / 13
NNE · Cross-shore
Weather
16°C
Clear sky
Tide
08:37
Low 15:16
Water
18°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
1-2ft
Tomorrow
1-2ft
Monday
1-2ft
Best
Tuesday
1-2ft
Wednesday
2ft
Rating
Surf
Swell
Wind
1am
1-2ft
0.304m 4.65s
10 / 11 Onshore
17°
4am
1-2ft
0.352m 3.03s
6 / 13 Cross-shore
16°
7am
1-2ft
0.273m 2.89s
5 / 8 Cross-shore
15°
10am
1ft
0.224m 3.29s
7 / 7 Cross-shore
20°
1pm
1ft
0.206m 3.56s
10 / 23 Cross-shore
24°
4pm
1ft
0.136m 4.73s
15 / 23 Onshore
23°
7pm
1-2ft
0.129m 4.41s
20 / 20 Cross-on
22°
10pm
1-2ft
0.364m 4.86s
18 / 18 Cross-on
19°
High 08:37 7.5m High 20:49 7.7m Low 03:12 0.7m Low 15:16 1.1m
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Tide data from Saunton

2026-07-18
08:37 7.5m 20:49 7.7m 03:12 0.7m 15:16 1.1m
2026-07-19
09:13 7.2m 21:27 7.4m 03:49 1.0m 15:48 1.4m
2026-07-20
09:49 6.8m 22:05 7.1m 04:23 1.4m 16:19 1.7m
2026-07-21
10:30 6.4m 22:48 6.6m 04:56 1.7m 16:54 2.2m
2026-07-22
11:21 6.0m 23:42 6.2m 05:34 2.1m 17:44 2.6m
2026-07-23
12:30 5.8m 06:28 2.4m 19:01 2.9m
Jan 5/4
Feb 5/4
Mar 5/4
Apr 10° 5/4
May 11° 4/3
Jun 13° 4/3
Jul 15° 3/2
Aug 16° 3/2
Sep 15° 3/2
Oct 13° 4/3
Nov 11° 4/3
Dec 10° 5/4

Water temp & wetsuit by month

Average daily wave height and wind speed from past forecast data

Break Beach
Seabed Sand
Best swell W - NW
Best tide All
Size 2-8ft
Level All levels — gentle, peeling waves ideal for longboarding and learning
Hazards

Rips can develop on bigger swells. Long beach — know your position relative to the car park.

Local Tips

Works on all tides. The flat gradient produces long, peeling waves — perfect for longboarding. Walk south along the beach for better banks and fewer people. Braunton Burrows dune system behind the beach is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

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