Hope Ranch / California / United States

This is a good spot with a fun atmosphere, and you'll find a mixture of ages and abilities surfing here.  It is right between Santa Barbara and Goleta, so it's convenient for both places.

This is a private beach and you're going to need to know a friendly local to gain access as a card is required for the gate. Unsurprisingly, if you do have access you'll soon realise that it's a very quiet spot, with only a few other people out even on the best summer weekends.

The conditions here are best when the wind is coming from the north or north-east and the swell is coming from the west, south-west or south. It works when the tide is falling, at the mid or high tide position and the waves start working at 1 m to 1.5 m and hold up to just over 2.5 m. It is a beach break, both right and left, and the waves are usually pretty ordinary although they can get hollow. 50 m is a normal length here, though it can get up towards 150 m during the winter when the bigger swells are coming in.

Parking is at the end of Las Olas Drive, and is just a couple of minutes walk away from the beach. There aren't any facilities here though, so anything you need you are going to have to bring with you.

There aren't really any hazards here, just make sure you have got permission to be on the beach.