With its sweeping stretches of sandy beaches and some of the clearest waters along the UK coastline, Woolacombe has long been known as one of the top surf destinations in the UK and with the recent news that North Devon is to become the first place in the UK to be selected as a World Surfing Reserve (WSR), joining a list that includes Malibu and Santa Cruz in California, and the Gold Coast and Manly in Australia, it’s clear that the region is getting the recognition it deserves.

The WSR was launched in 2009 with the aim of protecting surf ecosystems around the globe, it recognises the quality of surfing in North Devon as well as the sport’s importance to the wider community. Find out more about this surfing preservation programme and what it means for Woolacombe and the wider area.