Surf Businesses in Yorkshire

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

The Yorkshire coast is one of the most underrated surf destinations in Britain. Its bays, reefs and points face the North Sea and can produce excellent waves on the right swell, while the seaside towns along the coast have a long history and plenty of character. It is a place where you can learn on a sandy beach in the morning and watch experienced locals ride a reef break in the afternoon.

Scarborough and the coast

Scarborough is the main surf town in Yorkshire. Its two bays, North Bay and South Bay, sit either side of the castle headland and offer different options depending on the wind and swell. Just south of the town, Cayton Bay is a popular sandy beach that works on most swells and is home to surf schools and a surf shop. Further along the coast, Filey Bay and Whitby also see good surf, and there are reef and point breaks between them that are best explored with local knowledge.

Where the waves come from

Surf in Yorkshire is driven by North Sea low pressure systems. Swells from the north and northeast are the most productive, and they can arrive and fade within a day or two, so it pays to watch the forecast. Westerly winds blow offshore along much of the coast, which helps clean up the waves.

When to surf in Yorkshire

Autumn and winter bring the most consistent and powerful surf, with spring a close second. Summer tends to be smaller and is the best time to learn, with lifeguards on several of the main beaches. The North Sea is cold for much of the year, so a 5mm wetsuit with boots and gloves is standard from late autumn to spring.

A surf trip with more to do

Yorkshire combines surf with the North York Moors, historic fishing towns, fish and chips and long cliff top walks, so there is plenty to do on flat days.