Surf Businesses in Scotland

Surf schools, shops, camps and board repairs in 1 surf town across Scotland.

Scotland has some of the most spectacular and least crowded surf in Europe. Its coastline is longer than that of England and Wales combined, and it faces both the open Atlantic and the North Sea, so there are waves to be found somewhere in almost any swell. The water is cold and the weather can be wild, but the reward is quality surf in breathtaking surroundings.

The north coast and Thurso

The north coast of Caithness and Sutherland is the jewel of Scottish surfing. Thurso East, a powerful right hand reef break beside the mouth of the River Thurso, is one of the best waves in Europe and has hosted international contests. Nearby reefs such as Brims Ness are equally serious. These waves break over shallow, flat rock and are for experienced surfers only, but Dunnet Bay, a few miles east of Thurso, is a long sandy beach that is much better suited to beginners and improvers.

Elsewhere in Scotland

The islands of the Outer Hebrides and Tiree catch huge amounts of Atlantic swell and offer empty beaches with white sand and turquoise water. On the west coast, Machrihanish on the Kintyre peninsula is a long, exposed beach. On the east coast, Belhaven and Pease Bay in East Lothian are within easy reach of Edinburgh, and Fraserburgh and Aberdeen have their own surf communities.

When to surf in Scotland

Autumn and spring are often the best seasons, with good swell and more daylight than in deep winter. Summer brings long days, with daylight late into the evening in the far north, but smaller surf. Winter can be excellent but is cold and dark. The water ranges from around 7 degrees in winter to about 13 in late summer, so a 5mm wetsuit with boots, gloves and a hood is needed for much of the year.