Current Forecast & Tides

About this spot

Bantham is one of the most spectacular kitesurfing locations in the south west — a wide west-facing sandy bay at the mouth of the River Avon in South Devon, fully exposed to Atlantic swell. The beach is sheltered enough from directly northerly winds by the headland, but opens up perfectly for the SW–NW arc that is the area's dominant wind direction.

The tide window is critical here. Low to mid tide is the target: as the water drops, the sand exposed at the river mouth creates space to launch and ride without the beach narrowing too much. At high tide the beach shrinks significantly, the river mouth becomes turbulent where the ebb meets any swell, and launching becomes genuinely awkward. Devon's south coast has a tidal range approaching 5 metres — check the tide table before you load the car.

When conditions click — SW 20–30 knots, low to mid tide, 2–3ft Atlantic groundswell — the wave riding at Bantham is exceptional. Long right-handers peel off the river mouth and there's room to work back upwind along the bay. Outside those windows, the strong tidal rip in the Avon channel and submerged rocks to the south are unforgiving. This is an expert-only location with no kite school operating on the beach.

Hazards

Lessons

Richard Thompson is the local BKSA/IKO-qualified kitesurfing instructor at Bantham, also covering Bigbury and wherever the wind takes him. Richard is a Kitesurfing, Buggy and Land Board Instructor with PKSF South Devon, and has put a huge amount into developing the sport at Bantham. Call or WhatsApp 07778 395368 to get in touch.

Parking

The Bantham Estate car park is the only option — contactless payment only, no cash accepted. High-season rates run around £8.50 per day; off-season from £3.50. Weekly (£25), fortnightly (£40) and annual (£95) passes are available. Gates close at 6pm — vehicles still inside after closing incur a £100 release fee. Check current rates at the Bantham Estate car park page.

Water quality

Storm overflow data for Bantham is monitored in real time by South West Water via their telemetry network. Current water quality status — including active sewage discharges and recent spill alerts — updates automatically in the live forecast app.

Nearby spots

Bigbury on Sea is just across the Avon estuary — a more sheltered bay that can work in similar winds with a sandier, easier launch. When Bantham is blown out or too tidal, Saunton Sands on the north coast of Devon is the best alternative and is kitable at all tide states. Westward Ho! is also within an hour and catches the same SW–NW window.