Surf: General: When a decent swell rolls in from the west, surfers from Plymouth and around will head for Whitsand Bay, with its nearly 4 mile long stretch of sand. Even with such a catchment area and surfing population on its doorstep, you can still escape the crowds and low tide offers plenty of room to spread out. Good banks can be found along the bay but often build up in the Boiler Beach and Freathy Rocks vicinity. Access to the area around Tregantle is regulated by the military (firing range) and closed when red flags flying. Best from low to mid tide. Parking and access can be tricky with only a few small car parks set back from the beach. Tides: Low to mid. Size: Thigh high to overhead. Wind: NE Swell: W/SW Bottom: Sand. Paddling: Can be rippy when size picks up. Spot Rating: One of the best spots in the area, good quality waves, with plenty of room to spread out. Access: Parking can be tricky. Biggest car park at Tregantle. Some of the access trails can be a bit sketchy. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Popular but loads of room to spread out. Local Vibe: Pretty chilled. Environment: OK. Hazards: Rocks at high tide; access can be steep and sketchy, rips when big. Season: September - February are best when the big swells roll into the Channel.