Barnstaple tides today
- Tide now 15.1 ft ↑ rising · high 7:44 am (17.4 ft)
- Best time to fish 4:20–5:30 pm good day · 8/10
- Beach day Not today Not a beach day · 0/10
- Waves · water 3.1 ft · 57 °F slight · 8.9 s from the west
- Wind · air 2 mph · 45 °F from the SE, gusts 4 · overcast
- Sun 7:03 am–4:56 pm 9 h 52 min of daylight
- Moon 85% · 6:42 pm waning gibbous · rises at 6:42 pm
- Best time to dive 12:20–3:20 pm good day · 8/10
Today in Barnstaple there are high tides at 7:44 am (17.4 ft) and 8:07 pm (16.5 ft) and low tides at 4:57 am and 5:19 pm. Tide coefficient 97. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 7:44 am. The sun rises at 7:03 am and sets at 4:56 pm: 9 h 52 min of daylight. The moon is 85% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 6:42 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:42 am to 3:42 am and from 2:15 pm to 4:15 pm. The next spring tides arrive from November 9 to 11. The sea is slight, with 3.1 ft waves. There's a light air from the southeast (2 mph). Overcast, 45 °F.
Fishing in Barnstaple today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 5:19 pm
- Sunset at 4:56 pm, golden hour from 4:08 pm
- Steady pressure (30.33 inHg), light offshore wind (8 mph) and some swell (2.4 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 97 (spring tides)
- A major period lines up with sunset
Your day at a glance
The best window, 4:20 pm to 5:30 pm, combines the 5:19 pm low tide, sunset and some swell. Also worth a try from 6:40 am to 7:50 am, with the 7:44 am high tide, sunrise and some swell, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: European plaice, common sole, whiting and small-spotted catshark. October is one of the months when these are seen most: European plaice and common sole. What you can catch
Beach day in Barnstaple
Is it a beach day?
- Cloudy (100% cloud cover)
- Feels like 56 °F: chilly for the beach
- Light offshore wind (8 mph): it blows floats and inflatables out to sea
- Swim with care: 3.0 ft waves every 9 s; moderate rip current risk
- Water at 57 °F (very cold)
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 3.0 ft
3.0 ft waves every 9 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Moderate rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 57 °F
Very cold: ease in and keep swims short.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 1 · SPF 15
Max UV 1 (low): SPF 15 sunscreen.
- Wind 8 mph
Offshore breeze (8 mph). Watch floats and inflatables: offshore wind carries them out to sea.
- Tide & sand 5:19 pm
Low tide at 4:57 am and 5:19 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 7:44 am and 8:07 pm. Coefficient 97 (spring tides): little sand left at high tide.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Barnstaple
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Basett's Ridge 2.9 mi · W
- Parking
- Instow Beach 5.6 mi · W
- Restrooms
- Parking
- West Appledore 6.1 mi · W
- Restrooms
- Parking
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Barnstaple
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Barnstaple
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 4:57 am 3.2 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 7:44 am 17.4 ft · coef. 97
- ▼ Low tide 5:19 pm 3.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 8:07 pm 16.5 ft · coef. 92
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 40 min to high tide at 7:44 am.
Tide coefficient 97 for the 7:44 am high tide and 92 for the 8:07 pm high tide. Spring tides. The water rises and falls 14.4 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on October 27 (18.0 ft) and the lowest, on March 30 (0.4 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above chart datum: the lowest astronomical tide (LAT), the zero of nautical charts in Europe. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. chart datum (LAT)
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 27 to 28 (coefficient 104, 14.8 ft range). The smallest, on October 20 (coefficient 28, 3.7 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Thu 29 | 7:03 am · 4:56 pm | Low tide 4:57 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 7:44 am · 17.4 ft | Low tide 5:19 pm · 3.0 ft | High tide 8:07 pm · 16.5 ft | Coef. 97 | 85% | Major periods 1:42 am · 2:15 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:05 am · 4:54 pm | Low tide 5:40 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 8:30 am · 15.9 ft | Low tide 6:03 pm · 2.9 ft | High tide 8:55 pm · 14.4 ft | Coef. 86 | 76% | Major periods 2:47 am · 3:19 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:07 am · 4:52 pm | Low tide 6:23 am · 3.2 ft | High tide 9:21 am · 13.7 ft | Low tide 6:48 pm · 2.9 ft | High tide 9:51 pm · 11.9 ft | Coef. 72 | 65% | Major periods 3:50 am · 4:20 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 7:09 am · 4:50 pm | Low tide 7:09 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 10:22 am · 11.6 ft | Low tide 7:41 pm · 3.0 ft | High tide 11:02 pm · 9.9 ft | Coef. 58 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:49 am · 5:16 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 7:10 am · 4:49 pm | Low tide 8:06 am · 3.4 ft | High tide 11:40 am · 10.1 ft | Low tide 8:56 pm · 3.1 ft | — | Coef. 47 | 43% | Major periods 5:42 am · 6:08 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 7:12 am · 4:47 pm | High tide 12:28 am · 9.2 ft | Low tide 9:29 am · 3.3 ft | High tide 1:02 pm · 10.0 ft | Low tide 10:24 pm · 2.8 ft | Coef. 44 | 32% | Major periods 6:32 am · 6:55 pm | Medium |
| Wed 4 | 7:14 am · 4:45 pm | High tide 1:43 am · 9.7 ft | Low tide 10:52 am · 3.0 ft | High tide 2:12 pm · 10.8 ft | Low tide 11:35 pm · 2.3 ft | Coef. 51 | 23% | Major periods 7:18 am · 7:41 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above chart datum (LAT). Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Barnstaple station (Environment Agency), 0.3 mi from Barnstaple. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: This uses Environment Agency flood and river level data from the real-time data API (Beta): Barnstaple (50198), https://environment.data.gov.uk/flood-monitoring/id/stations/50198. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/). Modified: harmonic constants fitted by TidePlanet from the measured tidal levels of 2025-10-29 to 2026-10-22 (356 days).
The sea at Barnstaple
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.5 ft
- Significant3.1 ft
- Highest expectedHighest6.2 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 6.2 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 6.2 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-offshore wind. The coast faces west and the wind comes off the land at an angle: calmer water near the shore, and bait and boats drift out to sea.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Thursday 29: 3.9 ft with a period of 9 s, from the west (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water cools over the next few days: about 55.7 °F by Wednesday 4.
Water warmer than normal for late October (+1.3 °F).
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 7:04 am (local time).
Nearest buoy
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from South West Coastal Monitoring, National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes (NNRCMP), via the E.U. Copernicus Marine Service. Generated using E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (doi:10.48670/moi-00036).
Diving in Barnstaple today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: fair- 2.1 ft swell at 9 s from the west: some surge on the bottom
- Light offshore wind (8 mph)
- 0.2 mph current toward the northeast, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 4:57 am (4:42–5:12 am), high tide 7:44 am (7:29–7:59 am), low tide 5:19 pm (5:04–5:34 pm) and high tide 8:07 pm (7:52–8:22 pm)
- Likely visibility: fair. Swell (up to 5.2 ft at 10 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 57.0 °F: a 7 mm semi-dry suit, with hood, gloves and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 5:30 pm. Waning gibbous (85%), rising at 6:42 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 12:20 pm to 3:20 pm, combines light wind, weak current and the sun high.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Rossekop II 6.9 mi
- Springtide 9.6 mi
- Stan Woolaway 11 mi
- Wreck 6.7 mi
- Wreck 8.0 mi
- Wreck 8.1 mi
- Wreck 8.2 mi
- North Devon Coast National Landscape 8.9 mi
- Easy Divers 6.1 mi
- Ilfracombe Dive Club 9.1 mi
- Lundy Diving 9.3 mi
- Ilfracombe and North Devon Sub Aqua Club 9.3 mi
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Wrecks: EMODnet Human Activities (AND-International), from UK Hydrographic Office data, CC BY 4.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weather in Barnstaple
Now in Barnstaple
- Low / high
- 45 / 59 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 100%
- Humidity
- 98%
- Dew pointDew point
- 45 °F
- Visibility
- 10.0 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Fair · 37
- Saharan dust
- No
- Pollen
- None
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady · now Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Steady now (+0.00 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: +0.09 inHg. Steady pressure: anglers expect normal activity. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Overcast | Fog | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 52° | 48° | 46° | 51° | 59° | 59° | 53° | 51° |
| Wind (mph) | 3 SSE | 3 E | 2 SE | 4 SE | 8 SSE | 8 SE | 7 SE | 8 SE |
| Gusts | 6 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 |
| Waves | 3.9 ft | 3.5 ft | 3.1 ft | 2.9 ft | 2.7 ft | 2.6 ft | 2.4 ft | 2.3 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 am 51° 4 SE 2.9 ft
- 12:00 pm 59° 8 SSE 2.7 ft
- 3:00 pm 59° 8 SE 2.6 ft
- 6:00 pm 53° 7 SE 2.4 ft
- 9:00 pm 51° 8 SE 2.3 ft
- 12:00 am 50° 7 SE 2.4 ft
- 3:00 am 49° 6 ESE 2.4 ft
- 6:00 am 52° 8 ESE 2.4 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 29 | 45 / 59 °F | 8 mph SE | 3.9 ft | 7:44 am · 8:07 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 49 / 60 °F | 11 mph ESE | 3.0 ft | 8:30 am · 8:55 pm | |
| Sat 31 | 44 / 56 °F | 9 mph ESE | 3.0 ft | 9:21 am · 9:51 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 43 / 55 °F | 3 mph ENE | 2.0 ft | 10:22 am · 11:02 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 45 / 51 °F | 10 mph E | 1.9 ft | 11:40 am | |
| Tue 3 | 44 / 52 °F | 13 mph NE | 1.6 ft | 12:28 am · 1:02 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 47 / 55 °F | 11 mph ENE | 2.2 ft | 1:43 am · 2:12 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 45 / 51 °F | 14 mph E | 2.2 ft | 2:45 am · 3:10 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 44 / 51 °F | 18 mph E | 2.0 ft | 3:37 am · 3:59 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 43 / 54 °F | 17 mph ESE | — | 4:23 am · 4:43 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 52 / 57 °F | 11 mph ESE | — | 5:04 am · 5:23 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 54 / 60 °F | 9 mph ESE | — | 5:43 am · 6:00 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 55 / 59 °F | 9 mph S | — | 6:19 am · 6:35 pm | |
| Wed 11 | 52 / 56 °F | 10 mph SSW | — | 6:53 am · 7:10 pm |
- Fri 30 Overcast 49° / 60° 3.0 ft
- Sat 31 Partly cloudy 44° / 56° 3.0 ft
- Sun 1 Fog 43° / 55° 2.0 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 45° / 51° 1.9 ft
- Tue 3 Light drizzle 44° / 52° 1.6 ft
- Wed 4 Overcast 47° / 55° 2.2 ft
- Thu 5 Mainly clear 45° / 51° 2.2 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+3.5 °F; normal high: 56 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 7:04 am (local time).
The sun in Barnstaple
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 5:50 am
- Full dark 6:09 pm
- Civil dawn 6:29 am
- Civil dusk 5:30 pm
- Solar noon 12:00 pm (25° high)
- Daylight 9 h 52 min (−4 min)
- Evening golden hour 4:08 pm
- Full dark 6:09 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,335,278 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Barnstaple
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,641 mi away and looks 32′ 45″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:42–3:42 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:15–4:15 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 11:17 am–12:17 pm Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 6:12–7:12 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 8:29 pmNov 1 in 3 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 amNov 9 in 11 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 11:48 amNov 17 in 19 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 2:54 pmNov 24 in 26 days
Next perigee (the moon at its closest to Earth): November 25, 223,281 mi away.
Where to fish in Barnstaple
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Instow Barton Jetty 5.4 mi
- Blakewell Fisheries 1.6 mi
- Castle Quay 0.3 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 0.4 mi
- Boat ramp 4.1 mi
- Boat ramp 5.7 mi
- Ilfracombe Harbour 9.3 mi
- Barnstaple Bait & Tackle 0.1 mi
- North Devon Tackle 0.1 mi
- Pj's Fishing And Golf Sales 0.3 mi
- The Braunton Bait Box 4.9 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Shallow, gradualShallow, gradual bottom: 16 ft at 650 ft from shore and 3.9 ft at 0.6 mi. Right off the beach it already drops to about 9.8 ft.
From the shoreline (0.5 mi from Barnstaple) out to sea, heading west.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep650 ft
- 33 ft deepnot within 0.6 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 0.6 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 0.6 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. About 9.8 ft of water 330 ft out: long casts help, and so does a rising tide, which brings fish closer in.
- Swimming. The bottom drops quickly near the shore and you are soon out of your depth. Keep an eye on kids and weak swimmers.
- Diving. Shallow: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 0.6 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
Inside bays, estuaries and harbors the bottom changes a lot from spot to spot (channels and shoals): use this only as a rough guide. There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 0.6 mi out.
Source: EMODnet Bathymetry DTM 2024 (CC BY 4.0), cells of about 380 ft; depth at the lowest astronomical tide. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Instow Rear Lighthouse 5.2 mi west
- Light
- White light that goes dark once every 10 s · Oc W 10s
- Range
- 15 nautical miles (17 mi)
- Light height
- 125 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 28 ft
- Built
- 1820
Other lighthouses nearby: Instow Front Lighthouse (5.4 mi west), Crow Point Lighthouse (5.8 mi west).
Light details: NGA List of Lights (USA); the rest from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near BarnstapleTides nearby
- Fremington3.5 mi
- Braunton4.9 mi
- Instow5.6 mi
- Appledore6.5 mi
- Northam7.6 mi
- Bideford7.9 mi
- Croyde8.0 mi
- Combe Martin8.3 mi
- Woolacombe9.1 mi
- Ilfracombe9.2 mi
Barnstaple at a glance
- Town or city of about 31,616 people. Coordinates: 51.080° N, 4.058° W.
- It is 34 mi northwest of Exeter, the main place in Devon. The sun rises 3 min later and sets 1 min later than in Exeter.
- The nearest tide station, Barnstaple, is 0.3 mi to the west.
- Its coast faces west.
Questions about BarnstapleQuestions
What time is high tide today in Barnstaple?
Today in Barnstaple there are high tides at 7:44 am (17.4 ft) and 8:07 pm (16.5 ft) and low tides at 4:57 am and 5:19 pm. Tide coefficient 97.
What time is sunset today in Barnstaple?
At 4:56 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 5:30 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Barnstaple?
At 7:05 am. First light comes at 5:51 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 85% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 7:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From November 9 to 11.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:42–3:42 am, Minor 11:17 am–12:17 pm, Major 2:15–4:15 pm, Minor 6:12–7:12 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Barnstaple?
Fog, from 45 °F to 59 °F, with a light air from the southeast (2 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Barnstaple?
Slight (Douglas 3): 3.1 ft waves with a period of 8.9 s from the west. The water is 57.0 °F.
When is the best time to visit Barnstaple?
The best time to visit Barnstaple is from June to August: highs of 65 °F to 68 °F, about 11 rainy days a month and 6 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: Barnstaple tidal level station of the Environment Agency (England). This uses Environment Agency flood and river level data from the real-time data API (Beta), under the Open Government Licence v3.0; constants fitted by TidePlanet from a year of its readings. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).