Overview
Lyme Bay strings together a run of popular beach towns — Exmouth, Sidmouth and Lyme Regis — that each pick up surf when the conditions come together. These are sand-bottomed beach breaks offering both lefts and rights. The protected beach at Weymouth, tucked round the back of the Isle of Portland, is part of the same stretch; it's rumoured to hold a few reefs, but it sits beneath cliffs and is surrounded by treacherous water.
When It Works
The waves here are never big or powerful, but there are some decent set-ups for surfers willing to commit. The bay draws swell from east through south to southwest (E-S-SW), with a southwest swell the best match, and it's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. It really needs a big swell to come to life — think huge southwest swells or easterly Channel swells — and that mostly lines up with winter.
Wind and Tide
Look for a north offshore wind. It breaks across low, mid and high tide, with a rising tide the better call.
Access
These are well-served beach towns with full facilities, including restrooms, camping and a surf shop. Parking sits at a car park near the seafront; it's paid, but free in winter.
