Weekly reports, local knowledge and guides for Bantham, Bigbury & Salcombe — straight from the water.
This is the week we've been waiting for since summer went flat. A long-period Atlantic groundswell is due into Bigbury Bay on Thursday, the biggest of the autumn so far, and the wind looks like swinging offshore just in time for Friday morning. We've also got the tail end of the spring tides early in the week, which is good news if there's a lure rod in the van.
Last Friday's forecast had this peaking around 7ft early on Thursday. The latest surf-forecast.com run for Bantham, checked Sunday evening, has nudged it later and a bit bigger. It now shows around 2.5m, so roughly 8ft, of west-south-west groundswell at 13 seconds on Thursday afternoon. The catch is the wind. It's south-westerly at around 12mph all day, which is onshore at Bantham. So Thursday will be big, powerful and messy. Great to watch from the hill, not much fun to paddle out in.
The start of the week isn't flat either. Monday and Tuesday have around 5ft at 11 to 12 seconds, but the wind sits west to south-west at 12 to 15mph, onshore or cross-on most of the time. On Tuesday evening it eases off to a light west-north-westerly, so keep an eye on the webcams for a late window. Wednesday drops back to 3 to 4ft with a fresh south-south-westerly. Not one to rush down for.
This is the one. Overnight Thursday the wind swings north-north-west at about 15mph, which is cross-offshore at Bantham. The swell drops to around 3 to 4ft at 12 seconds, but it's leftover groundswell, so it should be lined up and clean. High water at Salcombe is 09:32 on Friday and low water is 15:48. Bantham usually works best on the lower half of the tide, so I'd be looking at late morning into early afternoon as it drops away. Sunrise is around 07:39 if you want a first light look.
Saturday is smaller again, about 2ft at 12 seconds, but the wind goes light north-easterly, dead offshore. Small, glassy and fun. Longboard weather, and a good day for anyone still learning. The forecast doesn't reach Sunday yet, so check the surf page nearer the time.
Bantham: the most consistent spot in the bay and the obvious call for Friday. It'll be busy, so get there early and be patient in the lineup.
Challaborough: Chally faces more directly down the Channel and picks up more swell than Bigbury. On Thursday that means maxed out and closing out, so I'd leave it alone. Friday and Saturday, with less swell and a northerly breeze, it comes into its own. Worth a look if Bantham is packed.
Bigbury: tucked in behind Burgh Island, so it gets less swell than its neighbours. That helps on Thursday. If you really want to get wet on the big day, Bigbury will be smaller and more manageable, though still onshore and choppy.
An 8ft groundswell on a sandy bay is a different beast from the summer stuff. A few things before Thursday.
Lifeguards: the daily RNLI patrols finished at the end of September. Local reports say Bantham may have weekend cover into early November, but don't count on anyone being on the beach midweek. Check the RNLI's Bantham page before you go.
Sets: long-period swell comes in sets. It can look half the size for ten minutes, then a big set rolls through and clears the lineup. Watch for a good twenty minutes before you go in.
Rips: more water moving means stronger rips. The Avon mouth at Bantham is the big one, especially on the ebb. On Thursday the ebb runs from 09:05 high water down to 15:19 low.
Basics: surf with a mate, stay with your board because it floats, and if you or someone else is in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you're not sure, don't. Watching from the hill with a flask isn't a bad morning either.
We're coming off springs after the new moon, so Monday and Tuesday have the biggest tides of the week, around 5.2m at Salcombe. High water is 19:52 on Monday and 20:22 on Tuesday, so the evening flood runs right into dusk. That's my favourite window. Add 5ft of swell and some white water round the rocks at Challaborough and Burgh Island, and that's bass weather, as long as the onshore wind lets you get a lure out.
By the weekend the tides have dropped back towards neaps, about 4.4m on Saturday, and after Thursday's swell the water will be coloured for a day or two. My autumn bass guide has the marks and the kit. Check the current bass rules on GOV.UK before you go.
Thursday is a no for the bar. A big south-westerly groundswell over the bar on the ebb is exactly when it breaks across the harbour mouth, and Thursday's ebb runs through the middle of the day. Stay inside the harbour or stay in the pub.
Friday morning there'll still be leftover swell, so even with an offshore wind I'd treat the bar with respect. Cross on the flood (low water 03:28, high water 09:32), and if in doubt, call Salcombe Harbour on VHF Channel 14. Saturday, with small swell and a light north-easterly, looks like the best day to get out beyond the bar, with high water at 10:05. The sailing page has the live wind and tides.
The sea is still 17.1°C at Bantham, which is lovely for mid-October. Air temperatures drop after Thursday, down to 11 to 14°C by the weekend, so a 3/2 is fine for now but I'd dig the 4/3 out for a Friday dawn session. And the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, so the after-work sessions are about to vanish. Make the most of the next fortnight.
An evening lure session at Challaborough on Monday or Tuesday, fishing the top of the tide into dark. Thursday I'll be on the hill at Bantham with a coffee, watching it pump. Friday it's boards in the van, a first light check, and in the water as the tide drops. Saturday, the longboard and a pint at the Sloop after.
I'll post what Thursday's swell actually does on Instagram at @hamisurf67. Forecasts are forecasts, so always check on the day. If you're heading down, the stay page and the pubs page will sort you out for after.
Neil
Surf, SUP, fishing and sailing from Bigbury Bay and Salcombe, week by week.
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This is one of those split-personality weeks. Monday and Tuesday look like the last of summer, flat calm and sunny with the sea still around 17 to 18°C. Then the wind swings round, the rain turns up on Friday, and by the weekend we've got real swell in Bigbury Bay on top of the biggest tides of the month. Something for everyone, as long as you pick your day.
If you can sneak out of work early, do it. Winds are barely 7mph on Monday and Tuesday, sunshine on Monday, cloud creeping in Tuesday, and highs of 17 to 19°C. The sea is basically a lake, with well under a foot of wave at Bantham. That's SUP weather, plain and simple.
My pick is the Avon estuary on the flood. High water at Salcombe is around 14:00 on Monday and 15:42 on Tuesday (Bantham runs a touch earlier), so an early afternoon push up from the river mouth towards Aveton Gifford gives you the tide behind you on the way in and a gentle drift back as it turns. For something more open, the stretch from Challaborough round to Burgh Island and across to Thurlestone Rock is stunning in this sort of light. Have a look at the SUP page for launch spots.
Water at 17 to 18°C means a shortie or even boardies if you're brave. Enjoy it, because it won't last much longer.
The wind swings northerly on Wednesday and picks up to the mid to high teens, then goes north-west on Thursday. Temperatures drop to 14 to 15°C and Thursday turns drizzly. Offshore at Bantham, which sounds great, but there's just no swell to groom. A knee-high wobble at best.
These are good estuary days if you stay tucked in out of the gusts. Salcombe harbour and the creeks up towards Kingsbridge are sheltered from a northerly if you choose your side. Otherwise, it's a fishing window. Light offshore winds and a building tide is classic bass weather along the Bigbury Bay rocks. My autumn bass guide from last week has the marks.
Here's the change. Friday brings proper rain (around 10mm) and a south-westerly around 20mph. Wave height builds to roughly 1.5 to 2m by Friday afternoon, but it's short-period wind swell, 5 to 6 seconds, so Bantham will be bumpy and onshore. Not one for me.
Saturday is the day to watch. The wind backs off a little and swings west to north-west around 16mph, with 1.2 to 1.5m still in the water. If it goes more north-west early, Bantham could clean up nicely for a dawn session. Sunday looks bigger again, close to 2m, but with a fresh south-westerly in the mid 20s it's likely to be messy. Check the webcams before you load the van, and keep an eye on the surf page for the live forecast.
We're heading into springs with the new moon. By Saturday and Sunday high water at Salcombe is pushing 16.5ft, around 06:30 and 18:40, with low water dropping to under 2ft around lunchtime. A couple of things to think about:
Bantham: big tides really change the break. The low tide push and the first part of the flood are usually the pick. At high water on a big spring it can go fat and swamp out.
The Avon mouth: the current on a big spring ebb is no joke. If you're paddling, swimming or launching anything small, stay well clear of the river mouth on the outgoing tide.
Burgh Island causeway: the tide comes over fast on springs. Know your times before you walk across.
Salcombe sailing: strong streams across the bar and through the harbour. With a fresh westerly against the ebb, the bar can kick up a nasty chop. Pick your windows carefully.
The sea is sitting at around 17 to 18°C in Bigbury Bay right now. It's been holding up nicely, but with cooler nights and the first autumn blows, expect it to slide gradually through October. A 3/2 is perfect for most of the week, and a shortie will do for the flat days if you're paddling rather than swimming. Don't forget the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, so those post-work sessions are numbered.
Monday afternoon SUP on the Avon on the flood. Midweek, a couple of evening sessions with the lure rod off the rocks at Challaborough. Saturday dawn, I'll be stood on the hill at Bantham with a coffee, hoping that north-westerly turns up early. If not, it's a walk on the beach, a pint at the Sloop, and back for Sunday. Not a bad way to spend a week.
I'll post what the weekend swell actually does on Instagram at @hamisurf67. Forecasts are forecasts, so always check on the day. If you're heading down, the stay page and the pubs page will sort you out for after.
Surf, SUP, fishing and sailing from Bigbury Bay and Salcombe, week by week.
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If you want to catch bass in South Devon, October is the month I'd book off. The summer crowds have gone, the water is still warm enough to hold fish, and the bait is pushing in hard along Bigbury Bay. This is how I fish it from Challaborough, and where I'd point a mate who's new to the area.
Summer bass fishing here can be hit and miss. Boats, swimmers, SUPs and dogs all over the sand mean the fish keep their heads down in the daylight. From late September that changes. The beaches empty out, the evenings draw in, and bass start feeding properly on sandeels, small mackerel and whitebait along the edges of the bay.
The water is also at its warmest of the year. It's a slow cool-down from the summer peak, which keeps the fish close in and active. If you've been waiting for a reason to get the rod out again, this is it. It's the same time of year the surf starts to pick up too, so I'm often rigging a rod after a morning in the water. Check the live conditions on hamisurf.com before you set off.
Bigbury Bay is a big, gently curving stretch of coast, with sand, reef and rock all within a short walk of each other. That variety is why it fishes so well. Here's how I think about it.
Challaborough and the rocks at either end. The beach itself is a lovely sandy stretch, and the rocky ground at the edges is where bass patrol, especially around the turn of the tide and at dusk. Fish the gullies and the edges of the white water, not the middle of the beach. It's close to the caravan, so it's where I do most of my evening sessions. If the surf is up, it's worth a look at the surf page first, because a bit of white water is what you want for lure fishing.
Burgh Island and the Bigbury side. Plenty of weed and rough ground, which means bait and bass. Be careful with the tides on the causeway side and don't get cut off. If you're not sure, ask locally or look at the tide tables before you walk out.
Bantham and the river mouth. The estuary mouth has fast water and a lot of bait going in and out. It's a proper mark for bass on a moving tide, but the current is serious. Fish it with respect and never stand where you can't get back from.
I've plotted the marks I use on the hamisurf fishing marks map, and there's more on the main fishing page.
The Avon estuary is a different game. Sheltered water, a lot of bait, and bass that follow the tide up the channel. It's a good fall-back when the wind or swell blows out the open beaches, and it's better for beginners because you're not fighting the sea.
The best fishing is usually on the last couple of hours of the flood and the first of the ebb, when the water is moving and the bait is being pushed about. Slack water is quiet. Plan around the tide, not the clock. Soft plastics, small shallow-diving plugs and slim metals all work. Keep an eye on the sandbanks, as they shift and you can get stuck.
I'll often launch the Honwave T27E off the beach at Challaborough when the sea is flat. A small inflatable gets you to ground you can't reach from shore, like the reef edges and the tide lines off the headlands, and it's quick to set up. It's also a good way to find birds working over bait, which tells you where the bass are.
A couple of notes if you're thinking of doing the same. Wear a lifejacket, tell someone where you're going, and keep an eye on the wind. Bigbury Bay can change quickly, and an offshore breeze that feels gentle on the sand can be a different story a few hundred yards out. This is where the local webcams help, as you can see what the sea is doing before you leave the house.
My autumn bass kit is simple. A 9 to 10ft lure rod, a reel with 15 to 20lb braid, a fluorocarbon leader, and a small box of soft plastics, shallow plugs and a few metals. Sandeel patterns catch plenty. On bigger tides I'll switch to a heavier jig head. I'll write up a proper kit review soon.
One important thing: bass rules for recreational anglers change from year to year, covering bag limits, minimum size and closed periods. Check the current rules on GOV.UK before every trip, and put back anything you don't need. Bass grow slowly and the fishery needs looking after.
I post my sessions, conditions and catches (and the occasional blank) on Instagram at @hamisurf67. Follow along, and have a look through the rest of the hamisurf.com blog for surf, sailing and Devon coast guides. If you're heading down this autumn, the stay page and the pubs page will sort you out for after.
Surf, fishing and sailing from Bigbury Bay and Salcombe, week by week.
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Something shifted this week. The clocks go forward next weekend, the equinox has just passed, and — right on cue — a proper run of clean SW groundswell has been pushing into Bigbury Bay. After a winter of chasing windows between storms, Bantham is finally feeling like spring.
We've had a solid SW groundswell building since midweek, with set waves comfortably overhead at Bantham on the bigger tides. The period has been sitting around 10–12 seconds — proper Atlantic lines marching into the bay rather than the short-period chop we've been getting through February. The direction is bang on for Bantham too: anything from SSW to WSW funnels straight into the rivermouth and lights up the main break.
Water temperature is hovering around 10°C, so you're still in full winter rubber — a good 5/4, boots and gloves minimum. But the air temperatures are creeping up and the sun's got real warmth in it by midday now. Those post-surf car park coffees hit different when you can feel your fingers.
Bantham works on most tides, but this swell is big enough that low-to-mid tide has been the sweet spot — the sandbars are well-defined after the winter reshuffling and there's a beautiful left running off the main bank at low. On the push, the inside section fills in and you get those classic Bantham walls that let you link turns all the way to the rivermouth. High tide has been a bit washy with the bigger sets closing out, so if you're timing a session, aim for the first three hours of the incoming.
Wind-wise, early mornings have been glass — getting out before 9am has been rewarded with barely a ripple on the face. The sea breeze has been kicking in from the SW around midday, which chops things up, so dawn patrol is very much the call right now. The forecast for the rest of the week looks like more of the same: light offshore in the mornings, onshore by afternoon.
If Bantham is maxing out on the bigger sets, Thurlestone offers some shelter and holds a cleaner shape when the swell gets overhead-plus. The reef at the south end has been working nicely this week. Bigbury itself has been messy — it picks up more wind chop than Bantham and the banks are less defined — but it's worth a look on a dropping tide if you want to avoid the crowd.
For the SUP crew, the estuary behind Bantham has been flat as a millpond on the incoming tide. A paddle up towards Aveton Gifford on a spring flood is one of the best things you can do on a calm March morning — wading birds, total silence, and barely another soul about. Just watch the ebb if you go up that far; the current through the narrows can properly shift.
The long-range models are showing another pulse of swell arriving around midweek, possibly bigger than this one, with the wind looking favourable through Thursday and Friday. If that comes off, it could be the best surf week of the year so far. Spring at Bantham is all about these windows — the swells are still powerful from winter but the winds start to ease off and go offshore more often. This is the season. Get in.
Swell, wind, tides and a plain-English Worth the Drive verdict — updated hourly.
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After a slightly shorter winter break than usual, Batson Boat Park was a hive of activity as 19 boats rigged up and launched into a blissfully empty harbour for the Salcombe Yacht Club 2026 Commissioning Race. The season is officially underway — and it feels like a good one coming.
There's something about the first sail of the year at Salcombe that never gets old. The smell of fresh antifoul, the clatter of halyards on masts that have been silent all winter, the slight nervousness of whether you remembered to fit the bungs. Nineteen boats made it out for the SYC Commissioning Race this year, which is a decent turnout for what was a crisp but perfectly sailable mid-March day on the estuary.
The fleet launched into an empty harbour — no visitors' yachts clogging up the fairway yet, no RIBs buzzing around — just the racing fleet and the quiet satisfaction of being back on the water. Light NW winds made for a tactical race through the estuary channels, rewarding those who know the tidal flow around Snapes Point and the Bag. Proper Salcombe sailing.
If you've spent any time around Salcombe sailing, you'll know the yawl fleet is the heart and soul of racing on the estuary. These gorgeous traditional boats — designed specifically for the quirks of the Kingsbridge Estuary — have been growing in numbers year on year, and 2026 looks like it'll be the strongest season yet. Several new boats have been built over the winter, and the existing fleet has been getting serious attention in the boat park.
The Solo fleet is also building on a strong 2025 season. There's real depth in the fleet now, with competitive racing week in, week out through the summer series. If you've been thinking about getting into dinghy racing at Salcombe, the Solo class is a brilliant way in — one-design, manageable single-handed, and a proper workout on the estuary's shifty winds and tidal currents.
The 2026 Salcombe sailing calendar is stacked. The big dates to mark down are Merlin Rocket Week from 5–10 July, the Salcombe Town Regatta from 25 July through to 1 August, and the SYC Regatta from 2–7 August. Regatta week in particular is unmissable — the racing is fiercely competitive, the social side is legendary, and the whole town comes alive. If you've never experienced Salcombe in regatta week, put it on the list this year.
Before the big events, there's the steady rhythm of Wednesday evening and weekend racing through the spring and summer series. These are the bread and butter of Salcombe sailing — short, tactical races on the estuary with the town as a backdrop and a pint at the yacht club afterwards. It doesn't get much better.
Mid-March on the Kingsbridge Estuary is a quiet, beautiful time. The water temperature is around 11°C and still rising slowly. Spring tides are running hard through the narrows — if you're heading up to Kingsbridge or Frogmore Creek, give yourself plenty of water and respect the ebb. The bar has been behaving itself in the recent settled spell, but we're still early season — always check conditions on VHF Ch 14 before crossing.
The Salcombe Maritime Museum reopens on 30 March with a cracking exhibition on the Spanish Armada and the Siege of Fort Charles — worth a visit on a lay day or if the wind drops. And if you're after something different, there's SUP yoga running in Kingsbridge through the spring, which is about as South Devon as it gets.
Wind, tides, bar state and a plain-English verdict — updated every 20 minutes.
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March is the shoulder season on the South Devon coast. The summer crowds are months away, the mackerel haven't arrived yet, and most people assume there's nothing doing. They're wrong. If you know where to fish and what to target, March can be quietly brilliant — especially on lures.
Sea temperatures around the South Hams are sitting at about 10–12°C — still cold, but warming slowly as the days lengthen. This is the tail end of the winter pattern: the cod and whiting have largely moved off, the mackerel and garfish won't show until late April at the earliest, and the summer bass haven't switched on properly yet. But that doesn't mean the fishing is dead.
Pollock are reliable year-round residents on the rocky marks between Bolt Tail and Prawle Point, and they're feeding well right now. Wrasse are waking up in the kelp beds around Hope Cove and Thurlestone. And for the lure anglers — bass are catchable through the winter and early spring on the right marks, particularly around the Bantham rivermouth and the rocky ledges east of Salcombe.
The Bantham rivermouth is always worth a look when the tide is pushing. Bass sit in the current waiting for food to wash past, and a well-presented soft plastic or paddle tail lure on a jig head can pick them up on the flood. Fish the channel edges rather than the main flow — that's where the fish hold. Early morning and late afternoon sessions are best, ideally around two hours either side of low water as the tide starts to fill.
Hope Cove is a cracking pollock and wrasse mark in March. The rocky ground on the south side of the outer cove holds good numbers of pollock to 3lb+, and they'll smash a Savage Gear Sandeel or similar on a slow retrieve through the mid-water. Wrasse are in the kelp beds closer to shore — drop a lure tight to the weed and be ready for a proper scrap. They're not big fish but wrasse on light tackle are genuinely good fun.
East Portlemouth, across the estuary from Salcombe, has some excellent rocky ledges that produce bass and pollock. The ferry isn't running yet this early in the season, so you'll need to walk down from the car park — but the lack of access keeps the pressure off these marks and the fishing can be surprisingly good.
You don't need heavy gear for March shore fishing in South Devon. A 7–9ft lure rod rated 10–40g, a 3000-size spinning reel loaded with 15lb braid, and a small selection of soft plastics and metals is all you need. Paddle tail lures in natural colours — white, silver, sand eel green — are the most versatile. A few surface lures are worth carrying too, in case you spot bass feeding on the surface in the estuaries.
Dress warm. March mornings on the South Devon coast can be properly cold, especially on exposed rock marks with a NE wind blowing. Layering is key, and a decent pair of rock boots with good grip are essential on the ledges around Prawle and Bolt Tail.
From here it only gets better. April brings the first garfish — spectacular on ultralight tackle — and by May the mackerel arrive in proper numbers. The bass fishing improves dramatically through April and into May as the water warms and the fish start feeding more aggressively in the estuaries and along the beaches. By June, the Bantham rivermouth and Bigbury Bay are alive with baitfish and everything that follows them.
But don't wait for summer. March has its own charm — empty beaches, no competition for marks, and the satisfaction of catching fish when everyone else assumes there's nothing out there. Get out there while the coast is still yours.
Tide times, sea temperature, wind and a species forecast — updated daily.
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A solid NW groundswell has been working Bantham and Bigbury all week. We break down what's been happening, what this weekend looks like, and whether spring is going to bring anything worth getting excited about.
The North Atlantic has been busy. A series of low-pressure systems tracking NE across the Atlantic through late February delivered consistent NW groundswell to the South Devon coast, with Bantham seeing 3–4ft sets on the better days. The rivermouth sandbar has been producing some genuinely good lefts on mid-to-low tide with a light SW breeze — classic Bantham when it works.
Bigbury has been a bit more inconsistent. The bay needs the swell to wrap around Burgh Island, which means it works best on a solid W or WNW direction. The NW angle this week has kept it a bit lumpy on the north end, though the south corner near the island has had some cleaner moments at low tide.
The swell is expected to hold through Saturday before easing Sunday as a high builds in from the west. Saturday morning looks like the standout session — the groundswell should still be 3ft+ with a light offshore NE breeze forecast before 10am. Low tide at Bantham is around 7:30am Saturday, so the rivermouth bar should be firing for an early session.
By Sunday the swell has backed off to 1–2ft and the wind has shifted SW — still surfable on the better banks but you'll need to pick your spot. Bigbury's protected corner near Burgh Island might actually be the better call Sunday afternoon if it stays light.
Bantham is famously tidal — it's not a beach that works at all states. The rivermouth bar, which produces the best lefts, needs low to mid-incoming tide to show properly. At high tide the break closes out and loses its shape entirely. For Saturday, aim for the 7:00–10:30am window. For Sunday, the afternoon low around 1:30pm gives you another shot, though the swell will be smaller by then.
Always check the live tide times on our surf conditions page before heading down — Bantham's tidal range is over 4 metres at springs so timing really matters.
March and April are genuinely good months for South Devon surf. The big Atlantic fetch that drives winter swells is still active but the winds are starting to become more settled. You get fewer blown-out days and more of those clean, lined-up swells that make Bantham such a special wave. The water temperature is still around 10–11°C so a 4/3mm wetsuit is still essential, but spring surfers often have the beach to themselves.
Keep an eye on the extended forecast — any low-pressure systems tracking NE between Iceland and Scotland through March will send groundswell straight at the South Devon coast. NW groundswell at 12+ seconds is the magic formula for Bantham.
Real-time swell, wind, tide times and a verdict — updated every 20 minutes.
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Spring tides this weekend make for some interesting bar timing. Saturday morning is straightforward, but Sunday evening is one to watch. Here's the full picture for skippers planning a Salcombe visit this weekend.
We're building towards springs this weekend with the tidal range increasing through Saturday and Sunday. High water at Salcombe sits around 4.8–5.0m at springs (Plymouth datum), so expect a lively ebb and flood on the estuary. The bar gets progressively better to cross as you approach and leave high water — ideally within 2 hours either side of HW for comfortable clearance.
Always verify against the live tide predictions on our sailing page before departure — our harmonic predictor is calibrated specifically for Salcombe and is typically accurate to within 10–15 minutes.
Saturday morning looks clean for bar crossings. High water around 09:45 means you can depart from Salcombe from around 07:30 outbound with good water, or arrive inbound up until 11:30 without any anxiety. The forecast shows a light NW breeze Saturday morning — the bar behaves well in northerly winds since there's no onshore swell pushing over it.
Sunday evening is a different story. If you're planning to return to Salcombe on Sunday afternoon, be aware that the combination of a residual SW swell (still 1.5–2ft at 10 seconds) and the ebbing tide on the bar through the 14:00–18:00 window can create confused, breaking water. Either time your arrival for the 19:30–22:30 window around high water, or if you must cross mid-afternoon, stay on the western channel side and don't rush it.
With spring tides and some residual swell, Bag End (the main pool inside the bar) is perfectly sheltered and the obvious choice for overnight. It'll be busy Saturday night — Salcombe is always popular even in early spring — so get your hook down early if you want a good spot away from the fairway.
East Portlemouth on the east bank is excellent in SW winds and gives you a lovely dinghy landing for the evening. If you want more solitude, push further up the estuary to Frogmore Creek — well out of the tidal chop and genuinely peaceful. Carry at least 5:1 scope at springs — the range is significant and the ebb runs hard through the narrows.
Saturday is looking like a pleasant sailing day — SW 10–14 knots building through the afternoon, ideal for a beam reach across Bigbury Bay or a gentle pootle up to Kingsbridge. Sunday is more of a mixed bag with the breeze backing to SE and freshening to 18–22 knots by afternoon. Estuary sailing on Sunday will be perfectly fine but an offshore passage is one to think carefully about with that SE developing.
Wind, tides, bar state and a plain-English verdict — updated every 20 minutes.
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Bigbury Bay is one of South Devon's most versatile outdoor playgrounds. A wide, sweeping bay with a sandy rivermouth break, a tidal island, flat estuary water and easy access — here's everything a surfer, sailor, SUP paddler or angler needs to know.
Bigbury Bay sits on the south Devon coast between Bolt Tail to the east and the River Erme to the west. The bay faces broadly SW, which means it catches the Atlantic swell that Cornwall famously hoards but lets enough through to keep South Devon surfable. The two main beaches — Bantham on the western side and Bigbury-on-Sea on the eastern side — sit either end of the bay with Burgh Island standing guard in the middle.
The bay is around 4 miles wide and remarkably unspoilt. There's no pier, no promenade, no arcades. Just sand, sea, a pub or two and one of the most photogenic tidal islands in England.
Bantham is the headline act. Situated at the mouth of the River Avon, the rivermouth sandbar creates a consistent left-hander that breaks from 2ft up to double overhead in the bigger swells. It's one of the best beach breaks in South Devon — long walls, rideable for all levels on the right day, and genuinely excellent when a NW groundswell hits on a low incoming tide.
Bigbury beach itself is broader and more exposed. It picks up more swell than Bantham but can be messier — it works best on a solid W or WNW swell direction. The south corner near Burgh Island gets a bit of protection from the island and can produce cleaner waves when the main peak is blown out. Beginners and intermediates tend to prefer Bigbury when the swell is under 3ft; Bantham rewards the surfer who knows how to read the bar.
NW swell, 3ft+ at 10–14 seconds, low to mid incoming tide, light SW or offshore NE wind. When all of those line up, Bantham is extraordinary. Check the live Bantham surf forecast before you make the drive.
W or WNW swell, any size from 2ft upward, mid tide, light winds. The south corner near the island works in a range of conditions and is the go-to when everywhere else is marginal.
The River Avon estuary behind Bantham beach is one of the finest SUP spots in South Devon. Sheltered from most wind directions, with flat water, stunning scenery and a tidal current that creates interesting paddling on the ebb and flood, it's a very different experience from the ocean beaches.
The estuary is best paddled on a flood or slack tide — paddling against a spring ebb up the River Avon is hard work. High water reveals beautiful hidden creeks and channels that are completely inaccessible at low tide. Give yourself 2–3 hours around high water for the best estuary session.
For wave SUP, when the wind is light and the swell is running at 2–3ft, Bantham produces some rideable runners on a longboard SUP. Keep well clear of the surfer peak — there's usually a mellow section further along the beach that's less crowded and more SUP-friendly.
Bigbury Bay itself is open anchorage — good in settled conditions but exposed to any SW through to SE. In summer, many boats bound for or departing Salcombe stop here for lunch on a neap flood. The holding is good sand in the southern part of the bay but depths vary — sound carefully before anchoring and don't stay if the forecast turns SW.
For powerboats, Bigbury Bay is a fantastic day trip from Salcombe. The passage from Salcombe Bar around Bolt Tail into the bay is beautiful in calm conditions — rocky headlands, dramatic cliffs and the Burgh Island hotel looking like something from an Agatha Christie novel (it is, as it happens — she wrote several of her novels there).
The River Avon dries significantly at low water but a shoal-draft boat can get up on the flood and anchor or pick up a buoy behind Bantham. It's a lovely stop and the Sloop Inn at Bantham is very much worth the dinghy trip ashore.
The bay is productive for bass, particularly around the Bantham rivermouth where the tidal flow concentrates baitfish on the ebb. Mackerel arrive in numbers from May onwards and can be caught from the beaches or on a short boat trip outside the bay. The rocks around Burgh Island hold wrasse year-round and there's good flatfish fishing on the sandy bay bottom.
Check the live fishing forecast for conditions, tides and species advice before you head down.
Bantham has a National Trust car park above the beach (pay and display, busy in summer — arrive before 9am). Bigbury-on-Sea has a large cliff-top car park with views across to Burgh Island. There's a seasonal sea tractor service to Burgh Island when the tide is in, or walk across the sand at low water.
Neither beach has a cash point, and mobile signal on the beach is patchy. Download the tide times before you leave.
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