Museum of British Surfing

You'd expect a surfing museum in Devon to be a bit of a niche affair, but the Museum of British Surfing near Ilfracombe actually delivers something genuinely worthwhile. It traces how surfing culture took root in Britain - not just the sport itself, but the whole subculture, the boards, the fashion, the rebels who brought it over from California and made it their own. The collection includes vintage boards, wetsuits, photographs, and film clips that genuinely transport you back through decades of British beach culture.

It's absorbing if you're into the history of the sport or just curious about how a particular slice of British youth culture evolved. You'll get more from it if you're not completely indifferent to surfing, but even non-surfers find the social history angle compelling - it's really about post-war Britain discovering something new.

Allow a couple of hours if you're the thorough type, maybe ninety minutes if you just want the highlights. Worth checking opening hours before you go, and admission costs vary depending on what's on.

From any of the nearby camps - Hidden Valley, Ruda, Woolacombe Sands and the others dotted around Croyde Bay and beyond - you're well positioned for both the museum and the actual beaches. Combine it with a proper seaside day rather than treating it as a standalone mission. The north Devon coast has enough going on that this fits neatly into a broader trip, not an afterthought.