About Woolacombe Beach
Three miles of golden sand on the North Devon coast; and the story behind this guide.
The Beach
Three miles of golden sand between Morte Point and Baggy Point, with room for families and surfers alike.
About Woolacombe.net
An independent Woolacombe visitor guide with live surf, tide and weather updates; free, no sign-ups.
Data Sources
Where our surf, tide and weather figures come from, and how often they update.
Routes by road and rail, plus the sat nav postcode for the beach car park.
Nearby BeachesPutsborough, Croyde, Saunton and other beaches within an easy drive.
Live ConditionsSee today's surf, tide and weather before you set off.
Surf GuideWhere to surf at Woolacombe, when to go and how to stay safe.
When to visitChoose the right month for family beach days, quieter stays, value or autumn surf.
Guide
The Beach
Woolacombe Beach is a three-mile stretch of golden sand on the North Devon coast, situated between the headlands of Morte Point to the north and Baggy Point to the south. It sits within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and many visitors rate it among the best beaches in the UK.
The beach faces west-northwest into the Atlantic Ocean, receiving consistent surf from Atlantic swells. This westerly exposure, combined with the sandy bottom and gradual gradient, makes Woolacombe one of the most popular surfing destinations in England and an ideal place for families to enjoy the seaside.
Guide
About Woolacombe.net
Woolacombe.net is an independent Woolacombe visitor guide with live surf reports, tide times and weather forecasts for the beach. The figures update roughly every 10 minutes from recognised sources, including Open-Meteo weather and marine forecasts and ADMIRALTY UK tidal predictions.
We built this site because we wanted a fast, reliable and ad-light way to check conditions before heading to the beach. No app downloads, no account sign-ups; just open the page and see what's happening right now.
Live Data
Wave height, swell period, wind speed, temperature, UV index and rain probability updated roughly every 10 minutes from recognised weather and marine data providers.
Tide Times
Accurate high and low tide predictions from the ADMIRALTY tidal station at Ilfracombe (Station 0535), the nearest primary station to Woolacombe Beach.
Surf Rating
Our 1-5 quality rating combines swell height, period, wind direction and speed to give you a quick snapshot of current surfing conditions at Woolacombe.
24-Hour Forecast
Hourly forecast showing temperature, wave height, swell, wind and rain so you can plan the best time to visit the beach today or tomorrow.
Guide
Data Sources
The live figures on this site come from the following providers:
- Weather data: Open-Meteo Forecast API; temperature, wind, rain, UV, sunrise and sunset times
- Marine data: Open-Meteo Marine API; wave height, swell height, swell period, swell direction, water temperature
- Tidal data: ADMIRALTY UK Tidal API (Discovery); high and low tide times and heights from Ilfracombe station (0535)
Everything updates roughly every 10 minutes, and the weather and sea figures are read for Woolacombe Beach itself; so what you see reflects this stretch of sand, not a wider regional forecast.
Guide
Getting To Woolacombe
Woolacombe is located on the North Devon coast, approximately 4 miles west of Ilfracombe and 13 miles west of Barnstaple. The nearest train station is Barnstaple (on the Tarka Line from Exeter), and bus services run from there to Woolacombe, more frequently in summer; check timetables before relying on them.
By car, follow the A361 to Barnstaple, then the A3123 through Mullacott Cross to Woolacombe. Postcode for sat nav: EX34 7BG (main beach car park).
Guide
Nearby Beaches
The North Devon coast has many excellent beaches within easy reach of Woolacombe:
- Putsborough: The sheltered southern end of Woolacombe Beach. Quieter, good for families.
- Croyde: 3 miles south. A challenging beach break popular with experienced surfers.
- Saunton: 5 miles south. Three miles of sand, great for longboarding and kitesurfing.
- Barricane Beach: A small sheltered cove just north of Woolacombe village, famous for tropical shells.
- Combesgate Beach: A quiet sandy cove between Woolacombe and Mortehoe.