Sandymouth.

Sandymouth is an exposed west-facing beach break sitting roughly three miles north of Bude, managed by the National Trust and separated from the town's busier breaks by a stretch of cliffed coastline. The wave breaks over shifting sandbanks that can produce well-shaped a-frame peaks when the banks align - fast-peeling lefts and rights with a hollow, punchy character that belies the beach's otherwise mellow reputation. It picks up both Atlantic groundswell and windswell reliably, giving it solid year-round activity. Low to mid tide is the window to target: as the tide climbs, submerged rocks become a genuine hazard and beach access tightens against the cliffs. West swell with a light easterly offshore is the ideal combination. The spot handles a 0.6-1.8 m range comfortably; at the top end, rip currents become the defining feature rather than the waves themselves, and the break ceases to be appropriate for beginners. In small, clean, low-to-mid-tide surf a surf school operates here and the waves are manageable for newer surfers, but that window is specific. Crowds are moderate relative to Bude's town beaches - Sandymouth draws surfers when it is working but the access path keeps casual visitor numbers down. Entry is via a steep, loose-stone path from the National Trust car park near Stibb.

Fast peaks across shifting banks that vanish when the tide fills in.