What is Woolacombe famous for? Plenty! But its newest accolade is that it has been named as one of the outstanding surfing destinations within the new World Surfing Reserve of North Devon joining the likes of Malibu and Noosa in Australia.
But if you’re a beginner to surfing, where do you start?
Is Woolacombe good for learning to surf?
Yes! Just a board under your arm stroll from No.9 Putsborough , and voted the Sunday Times Best Beach 2021, Woolacombe Beach offers a variety of waves suitable for all levels of surfers but has a buzzy family friendly feel particularly suited for beginners. Backed by wild dunes and rolling hills it is also one of the most scenic beaches to start your surfing journey. Hit the waves in autumn or winter to avoid all the hoards on the boards or avoid the crowds even on the busiest of summer days as the beach stretches out for miles.
As Woolacombe is a relatively exposed beach break, when the onshore wind starts to blow it doesn’t take long for the wave quality to decrease. For beginners trying to improve, therefore, Putsborough Beach at the far end of the beach can often provide cleaner waves as it is more sheltered from southerly and south westerly winds. Alternatively, try Combesgate Beach (in the other direction towards Mortehoe) which is a small beach which becomes exposed from mid to low tide. Although the beach is more sheltered, watch out for the rather sharp rocks.!
Lifeguards patrol the main Woolacombe beach from Easter to September making it a great location to learn to surf or when you’re trying to improve as a beginner. Just remember to make sure you surf within the black and white flags.
The Lessons
There are several well established and professional surf schools in Woolacombe with two of the best being Woolacombe Surf Centre and Nick Thorn Surf Coaching who offer discounts to guests of No.9! Woolacombe Surf Centre is even an ‘accredited centre of excellence’ via Surfing England, the highest attainable level, and they have a photographer on hand to capture your wave riding prowess in action.
It can be worth investing in private lessons to get the most out of your time in the water as a beginner, or if you already have some confidence and want to take it up a level. Both schools offer private lessons and booking in advance is recommended, particularly in the summer holidays. All lessons (group and private) include surfboard and wetsuit hire – perfect for beginners who might not have their own gear!
Is Woolacombe good for body boarding? Yes!
Don’t fancy surfing but want to ride the waves? At No.9 Putsborough we’ve invested in a couple of high-quality handmade bellyboards from Dick Pearce so our guests can avoid purchasing unsustainable, breakable polystyrene boards that can end up littering our oceans.
The Surf Shed
If you are hiring boards for the week, or you’re bringing your own, No.9 has its own surf shed accessed from the Leisure Deck for storing your boards safely. Nick Thorn Surf Coaching will even deliver boards and suits to our surf shed making beach life easy for you!
In addition there’s a hot outdoor communal shower and a hose for sandy suits when you get home, so there’s no excuse not to get in the water.
Once you’ve mastered Woolacombe’s waves, there are multiple high quality surfing spots across the 19 mile stretch of the North Devon coastline including Croyde, one of the finest beach breaks in England, as well as the longboarding paradise of Saunton Sands. Meaning, move over Malibu, surfers will never get tired of staying at No.9 Putsborough!
