Surf South West
PO Box 39 Croyde EX33 1YP
Welcome to a cradle of English surfing, fed by south-westerly swells pumped in from the Altantic. For novices, numerous hire companies in Croyde and Woolacombe rent buoyant ‘foamie’ boards and wetsuits for around £18 per half-day. Better still, you can sign up for lessons with a surf school. Surf South West offers everything from two-hour tasters to week-long courses. With your own gear, Croyde has Devon’s most powerful waves but is busy. Nearby Saunton is mellower, its slow wave suited to longboarders, and Woolacombe Sands offers space galore. Putsborough at its south end receives shelter from south-west winds.