Sandymouth is a rugged beach just a few miles north of Bude on the North Cornwall coast, despite its close proximity it’s much quieter here and offers plenty of room to spread out at low tide.
There’s a large National Trust car park that sits on the hills above the beach making for convenient (but pricy) parking.
At high tide, the waves break onto a steep pebble slope with no sand in sight, but as the tide drops away the beach begins to stretch out to the left and right offering miles of sand at low tide.
Don’t miss our guide to surfing in Bude for other great surf breaks in the area.
Thinking of surfing Sandymouth Beach? This guide covers everything you need to know before your next surf trip!
Can you surf at Sandymouth Beach?
Yes, Sandymouth is a very exposed beach break that gets hit by the full force of any swell coming from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s offshore in any winds from an easterly direction and picks up any swell from the west.
Best surfed from low to about an hour after mid tide, much higher than this and the waves start to lose a lot of power and quality.
Check out some local shredders making the most of a head-high day at Sandymouth below:
What are the waves like at Sandymouth Beach?
Sandymouth can produce some quality waves under the right conditions. The beach here is very exposed to the wind once the tide drops out, so ideally you want offshore winds no stronger than 15mph to score the best waves here.
The banks here tend to favour groomed ground swell in the 4-6ft range. It can occasionally work when it’s bigger than this but you’ll be dealing with a hefty paddle out!
There are surfable banks all up and down the beach offering lefts and rights. Thankfully there’s loads of room to spread out here and if you walk far enough north or south you’ll probably find a set-up all to yourselves!
Try to avoid surfing Sandymouth if the winds start to pick up, onshore and strong offshore winds can really affect the waves here so you might want to consider heading for a more sheltered surf spot.
Can you surf Sandymouth at high tide?
No, at full high tide the waves form a shore break that explodes onto the steep pebble slope that leads up the beach and isn’t suitable for surfing.
Can you bodyboard at Sandymouth?
Yes, Sandymouth is suitable for all kinds of surfing craft including bodyboards, surfboards, stand-up paddle boards and kayaks.
Does Sandymouth Beach have lifeguards?
Yes, lifeguards operate daily from 14 May to 25 September from 10 am to 6 pm. If you’re a beginner or you’re not that comfortable in the water we recommend surfing during these periods.
Learning to surf at Sandymouth
There are two quality surf schools you can pick from if you want to learn to surf at Sandymouth Beach.
Sandymouth Surf School
Sandymouth Surf School provides surf lessons for all standards and abilities in either group or individual lessons. They pride themselves on a friendly, professional approach to teaching, and love nothing more than seeing a newbie catch their first wave.
If you’re looking for great value lessons from people who genuinely care about your progress and enjoyment, look no further than Sandymouth Surf School
Aloha Surf School
Aloha Surf School is a family-owned and operated surf school operating out of Sandymouth. They offer beginner and intermediate classes, as well as video analysis so you can watch yourself surfing and improve any issues with your technique!
Surf spots around Sandymouth
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to waves in the area.
Crackington Haven
If Sandymouth looks blown out and jumbled by southerly or northerly winds consider heading down the coast to a lesser-known surf spot called Crackington Haven. It’s surrounded on either side by large cliffs that provide excellent shelter when the main beaches are cross-onshore.
Head over to our guide on surfing Crackington Haven to get the low down on everything this spot has to offer.
Crooklets and Summerleaze
Heading south you’ll reach Bude which plays host to several great surfing beaches. If you’re just starting out Summerleaxe is the perfect beach for getting your first surfing fix.
Experienced surfers can head to Crooklets or Widemouth to find great banks and waves well suited for high-performance surfing. Don’t miss our guide to surfing at Widemouth Bay for more insight and local surf tips.
Bossiney Bay
When the swell gets too big for the main beaches Bossiney Bay is a great option. This small cove only works for around two hours on either side of the low tide but when it does it can produce fast barreling waves breaking into very shallow water.
Strictly for experienced surfers, you can find out more about surfing at Bossiney in our detailed beach and surf guide.
