Long, mellow, rolling waves that glide rather than pitch. Saunton is the North Devon wave for walking a longboard and drawing out a smooth ride.
Surf hub arrow_forward
The unhurried, gently sloping beach is a superb place to catch your first green waves, with plenty of room and no punchy, heavy sections to worry about.
Nearby: Woolacombe arrow_forwardThe gently shelving sand holds a wave across a wide range of the tide, so Saunton is a dependable call when steeper beaches nearby have gone quiet.
All destinations arrow_forwardSaunton is a huge, gently sloping beach that stretches for roughly three miles, and its waves are long, mellow and rolling rather than powerful. That drawn-out, forgiving shape is exactly what makes it a classic UK longboard wave: the swell folds over softly and the ride keeps going, giving you time to find your feet, trim along the wall and, once you have the confidence, walk the board. It is not a wave for the hollow, high-performance surfing you would chase at a steeper beach break, and that is precisely the appeal.
View on Google Maps open_in_newFor anyone learning, Saunton is a gift. The waves are forgiving and unhurried, so there is time to read what is coming, paddle onto it and get to your feet without being rushed or hammered. The beach is so wide that you rarely feel crowded even on a busy day, and there is room to move away from other surfers as you practise. It is a natural next step once you have found your feet in the whitewater and want to start linking clean, unbroken rides.
View on Google Maps open_in_newBecause the sand shelves so gently, Saunton holds a rideable wave across a wide range of the tide, which makes it a reliable fallback when the punchier beaches nearby fall between tides. The shape and the length of the walk to the water shift through the cycle, so it is worth a quick check of the tide times before you head down. On the bigger days the wave has more push, but it stays a good deal more forgiving than the heavier breaks along this coast.
The gentle, rolling nature of Saunton makes it a favourite for surf schools and beginner lessons. Instructors start you on the whitewater with a soft foam board, run through the safety basics and the beach flags, then guide you towards catching your first green waves. Because the waves are so forgiving, progress here tends to feel less daunting than at a steeper, heavier break. Our surf hub is a good place to prepare before a lesson.
Saunton is the ideal place to try a longer board. The extra length paddles into these gentle waves easily and glides beautifully along the mellow walls, which is why the beach draws so many longboarders. Local schools and shops hire out boards and wetsuits, so it is easy to step up from a foamie to a longboard and feel the difference for yourself as you improve.
Saunton is backed by Braunton Burrows, one of the largest dune systems in the country and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The dunes give the beach a wild, open feel with almost nothing but sand and marram grass behind the surf. It is a fine place for a walk to stretch out between sessions, and the sheer scale of the setting is a big part of what makes a day at Saunton feel a world away from the busier resort beaches.
The village of Braunton, just up the road, is one of the largest in Devon and a proper little surf town, with shops, cafés, surf shops and places to stay. It makes a handy base for exploring the whole of North Devon's coast, with Saunton on the doorstep and Woolacombe and Croyde only a short drive away. Our Woolacombe guide covers the next beach along.
Driving is the simplest option. Leave the M5 at Junction 27, follow the A361 to Barnstaple and then Braunton, and take the coast road out towards Croyde: Saunton is only a few miles beyond Braunton. There is a car park right above the beach. As with the whole coast, it fills quickly on sunny summer days, so an early start pays off.
The nearest station is Barnstaple, on the Tarka Line from Exeter. From there, local buses run out through Braunton towards Croyde and Saunton. Travelling with hired boards keeps things light, but if you are bringing your own gear the car is far more practical.
Exeter is the closest airport, with Bristol a larger hub a little further along the M5. Both suit picking up a hire car for the run down to North Devon.
Summer brings small, clean, mellow waves and the warmest water of the year, which is perfect for beginners and longboarders alike. A 3/2mm wetsuit is all you need. The beach is busy but so large that it never feels crowded on the water.
Autumn sends more regular Atlantic groundswell while the water still holds some warmth, and the crowds ease once the holidays finish. A 4/3mm covers most sessions. For many longboarders it is the sweet spot of the year, with cleaner, longer walls to draw out.
Winter is cold and can be sizeable, so a 5/4mm with boots, gloves and a hood is essential as the water drops to around 8 to 9°C. Even so, Saunton stays more forgiving than the heavier breaks nearby, which makes it a good cold-water option. Spring gradually warms and quietens down before summer. Always check the RNLI beach flags and pick your conditions honestly before you paddle out.
The waves are long, mellow and rolling rather than powerful, which lets a longboard glide and gives you time to walk the board and work on your trim. That gentle, drawn-out shape is exactly what makes it a classic UK longboard wave.
Yes. The forgiving, unhurried waves and the gently sloping beach make Saunton one of the best places in North Devon to catch your first green waves. Surf schools run lessons here through the season.
It handles a wide range of the tide well thanks to the gently sloping sand, though the shape and the walk to the water change through the cycle. It is a reliable option when steeper beaches nearby are between tides.
North Devon guidance applies: a 3/2mm through the summer and a 5/4mm with boots, gloves and a hood from late autumn into spring, when the water sits around 8 to 9°C. See our surf hub for more.
See how Saunton Sands compares to the rest of the region in our Cornwall & Devon surf guide.