Ilfracoombe surfing any good?
Discussion
Anyone here from Ilfracoombe?
What's the surfing like there? I'm going down there for a long weekend in a couple of weeks, and I'm wondering if it's worth taking my surf board, or just a body board, or nothing at all? Seems like a good location for waves, but would appreciate some local knowledge?
Cheers guys.
What's the surfing like there? I'm going down there for a long weekend in a couple of weeks, and I'm wondering if it's worth taking my surf board, or just a body board, or nothing at all? Seems like a good location for waves, but would appreciate some local knowledge?
Cheers guys.
Ilfracombe is not generally known for surfing, its tucked away around the coast a bit so doesnt pick up much swell.
However just 10 minutes down the road you have Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands, which do pick up the swell.
I was at Woolacombe back in mid July and was surfing in 5-7ft swells, it was a bit lumpy but one day saw offshore winds which helped a bit.
Woolacombe tends to surf best at low-mid tide on the push, with the better breaks on the right hand side of the beach as you look out to the sea, but it all depends on the wind direction and how the sand bars are.
Its definetly worth taking your boards.
Im back down there this weekend, it'll be busy but I need my fix.
However just 10 minutes down the road you have Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands, which do pick up the swell.
I was at Woolacombe back in mid July and was surfing in 5-7ft swells, it was a bit lumpy but one day saw offshore winds which helped a bit.
Woolacombe tends to surf best at low-mid tide on the push, with the better breaks on the right hand side of the beach as you look out to the sea, but it all depends on the wind direction and how the sand bars are.
Its definetly worth taking your boards.
Im back down there this weekend, it'll be busy but I need my fix.
Cool, thanks for the info - I'm going down with my mate (also into surfing) and 2 girls (who aren't) - we're only down for a long weekend so it depends whether we can persuade the girls to go down there as opposed to seal spotting (they've already suggested day trips etc to fill our time
)
Oh, and they moan about wetsuits/boards putting sand everywhere. Bloody girls. Think the boards will have to come though!

Edit: Oh, what are the rips like? Is it prone to them, at Woolacombe? Only I was on Crantock in July, and I've never felt rips like it - There were 3 of us down there, all strong, experienced swimmers, and we all agreed the rips were proper scary. Scary enough to make me wary...

Oh, and they moan about wetsuits/boards putting sand everywhere. Bloody girls. Think the boards will have to come though!

Edit: Oh, what are the rips like? Is it prone to them, at Woolacombe? Only I was on Crantock in July, and I've never felt rips like it - There were 3 of us down there, all strong, experienced swimmers, and we all agreed the rips were proper scary. Scary enough to make me wary...
Edited by Opulent on Thursday 27th August 08:22
I was at Woolacoombe last weekend and the surf was on the small side but stil quite nice. Definitely picked up as the tide turned to come back in. There were lots of surfers around and not so much rip at all- more a case of wind drift i think. If the weathers nice enough leave the girls to work on their tans on the beach while you go surf for the day (or exchange them for girls who dont mind sand/surf etc). If the weathers not so great theres not so much to do in woolscoombe- you could sen them to play crazy golf etc though.
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