North Coast of Scotland- The Ultimate Surf Guide
The beautiful, remote North Coast. You'll find dramatic cliffs, remote beaches and world class waves. Below you can find lots of handy info to help plan your trip and fall in love with this magical area- Don't forget to grab one of our T-shirts on the way out.
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Swells from America and Iceland travel thousands of miles to reach Scotland’s north coast, delivering waves year-round. To the west, beaches are framed by rugged rocky headlands; to the east, the Caithness coastline is carved from flat slab stone, creating powerful and beautifully shaped waves. The variety of breaks means there’s often surf for every ability level — and more often than not, plenty of space.
The remoteness and cold temperatures keep the crowds to a minimum, which is exactly what makes surfing here so special. It’s raw, wild, and guaranteed to be an adventure.
Where to surf?
The main town of Thurso is known as the cold water surfing mecca of the world. On its beach front you'll find:
Thurso beach- This can be a great spot for learning with a predominantly sandy bottom and only the occasional rock mainly towards the Western corner. Holborn head helps shelter the beach from big West swells, whereras North swells flood in more easily.
Shit Pipe- Just along from Thurso Beach is Shit Pipe, a powerful A-frame reef break. Its name comes from an old sewage outflow that once ran through the area — thankfully no longer in use. The reef is made up of boulders that form both a right and a left, ideal for turns and best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers. After heavy rainfall, the nearby river can create a noticeable current that can push surfers away from the peak.
Thurso East- Probably the most famous wave in the area, Thurso East is regarded as one of the best reef breaks in the UK — and even Europe. When conditions align, it produces hollow, barreling waves and can handle swells up to 15 ft. This wave is only suitable only for very experienced surfers with solid reef knowledge.
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To the East of Thurso is Dunnet bay which is where we're based:
Dunnet beach- Dunnet Beach is a two-mile stretch of sand backed by dunes and forest, looking out toward the cliffs of Dunnet Head. It’s the best beginner surf spot in the area — and one of the best learner beaches we’ve come across anywhere in the world. With minimal rocks, gentle currents, and a shallow, low-gradient sand bottom, it produces mellow, forgiving waves. Its slightly west-facing orientation allows it to pick up North Atlantic swells with ease. We’re here every day throughout the summer offering lessons and equipment hire, or just a five-minute drive away at our base overlooking the bay.
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To the West of Thurso are beachbreaks dotted all the way to Durness (the end of the North Coast):
Strathy- Around a 30-minute drive west of Thurso, Strathy Beach sits below large sand dunes and rolling hills. Open to northerly and north-easterly swells, it features multiple sandbanks that can create fun, punchy peaks. Currents can be strong, particularly in larger swell, so this spot is best suited to intermediate surfers — though in smaller conditions it can also work well for beginners.
Farr- As the name suggests this beach is farther away from Thurso, just before you get into the village Bettyhill. Surrounded by hills, distinctive headlands, and views toward Neave Island, it’s an incredible setting. A stream enters the sea at the western corner, creating a rip current in that area. Wave shape is heavily influenced by swell size and tide, but Far can often offer a couple of really nice peaks. Knowing which beach is best on the day is always hard to tell so the best thing to do is to check the waves out and see what you find.
Ceannabeinne- Just before reaching Durness you'll find Ceannabinne beach (roughly pronounced can-o-beans.) Set in a dramatic, remote landscape, it picks up the Northernly swells best. The Golden Eagle Zipline crosses above the beach, offering a unique way to take in the view. It’s rare to encounter crowds at any of these beaches — just waves, space, and the wild north coast.
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Seasons and surf conditions: When is the best time to surf/ visit the North Coast of Scotland?
The weather in Scotland is always very unpredictable. You can easily have Winter weather in Summer and Summer weather in Winter, but below is a rough guide of what is more common.
Spring: March to May
As winter’s grip loosens, the heavy swells begin to calm. You’ll find consistent, manageable surf at the beach breaks, though the reefs become a bit more temperamental—sleeping through the smaller swells and only waking up on select days. The water is at its coldest in March before a slow climb begins. The air is bright and the days are stretching out rapidly. This is the season of extremes: you might find yourself dodging a hail shower in March or catching sunburn in May.
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Average water temperature: 6-10 degrees celcius
Average air temperature: 8-14 degrees celcius
1st March sunrise & sunset time: 07:10 / 17:43
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Summer: June to August
The waves are generally at their calmest in the summer, though there’s always the chance that a larger swell or storm can reach Scotland. Most of the reef breaks rarely see any waves at this time of year, but the beach breaks continue to offer consistent, mellow waves—ideal for learning. Flat days can happen but they’re uncommon. Wind is a regular feature of the weather year round, but especially in the Summer, you can enjoy the occasional calm, glassy day.
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Average water temperature: 11-15 degrees celcius
Average air temperature: 11-17 degree celcius
1st June sunrise and sunset time: 04:16 / 22:09
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Autumn: September to November
A season of change, autumn marks the shift from the lingering warmth of summer to the arrival of powerful Atlantic storms. With this transition comes more consistent swell. Days with big waves at the reef breaks will start appearing and daylight will start quickly fading. The sea is at its warmest in September, making it an especially inviting time to get in the water.
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Average water temperature: 10-15 degrees celcius
Average air temperature: 6-14 degrees celcius
1st September sunrise and sunset time: 06:12 / 20:14
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Winter: December to Febuary
This is the season for experienced surfers. Big Atlantic storms send 15ft+ swells marching toward our shores, pushing beach breaks to their limits and turning the reefs into world-class setups.
While you can expect 70 mph winds and the occasional dusting of snow, winter often surprises us with crisp, offshore days and crystal-clear skies. When the sun goes down at mid-afternoon, the show isn't over—the long, dark nights and lack of light pollution make this the best time to witness the Aurora Borealis. Winter is a time to embrace the elements and experience the coast at its most powerful.
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Average water temperature: 6-10 degrees celcius
Average air temperature: 0-6 degrees celcius
1st December sunrise and sunset time: 08:38 / 15:28
What to wear while surfing on the North coast of Scotland?
A wetsuit is needed for surfing year round. The thickness depends on the season and your tolerence to cold water but our general recommendation is a 5 or 6mm wetsuit in the Winter- a hood, gloves and boots are also needed. In the Spring, Summer and Autumn a 5 or 4mm is best- with gloves and boots optional. With the right wetsuit you can happily stay in the water all day. We provide 5mm wetsuits, boots and gloves in our lessons and hires and our customers are always very surprised by how warm they are in the water.
Transportation
How do I get to the North coast?
There's no quick way of getting here- but thats part of the adventure. The closest airport is Inverness aiport. From here you can rent a car and drive to Thurso (the main town on the North coast) which takes just over 2 and a half hours.
Or take a 30 minute bus to the city centre before catching the Stagecoach X99 bus to Thurso (3 hours 15 mins).
Or jump on the Scotrail train to Thurso (4 hours).
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However Inverness Airport has limited flights so the next option would be flying into Glasgow or Edinburgh airport. From here it takes roughly 5.5- 6 hours drive to Thurso. Or a 3.5 hour train/ bus to Inverness followed by your method of travel from Inverness to Thurso.
How do I get around the North Coast?
Public transport is very limited so we'd recommend having a car- especially if your hoping to explore different surf spots.
If this isn't possible and you arrive into Thurso by public transport, there are still various surf spots and places you can access. Thurso itself is a small town and its an easy walk to acess the beach front, where you can surf thurso beach, shit pipe or Thurso East.
Stagecoach bus route 80 offer regular buses East from Thurso where you can jump off at Dunnet and meet us at the beach for surf lessons/ hire. Or if we are not at the beach, its a further 10 minute walk to get to our base for rentals.
Sadly there are no simple bus routes to go West from Thurso.
Food
Where to eat out:
For more info on our restaurant and cafe recommendations on the North coast, click to our "Where to Eat' page
Where to buy food:
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Midgey Bites Farmshop: Organic vegetables, baking, eggs and pies (open weekends)
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LMR trading: Local vegetables (open fridays & Saturdays)
Activities: What can you do on the North Coast of Scotland?
Folk night at the Comm
The Golden Eagle Zipline
Yoga session- Flow North Yoga
Sauna session- Sea view sauna or Clach Mara
Whisky or Gin tasting tour- Old Pultney or Rock Rose
Hike a mountain- Ben Hope
Farm Buggy Tour
Above and Beyond Tour
Folk night at the comm
Trip to Orkney
Get more ideas on what to do on Kayak
Explore & experience the benefits of water and wellness
From stand up paddling boarding and surfing on Scotland’s coasts, to booking a well-earned wellness break, we want to share how participating in watersports improves our wellbeing.
We’re situated in the Scottish Highlands in Caithness. Our main location is the long sandy Dunnet beach and its cold sea air, clear waters and world-class waves make it the perfect place to experience the best of Scottish water.
There are thousands of great water wellness experiences you can try yourself when travelling around Scotland but here are just a few you might want to indulge in after your lessons with us.
Waterfall walks
Scotland has some quiet locations where you can walk towards glittering waterfalls and listen to the soothing sounds of the water falling down the landscape.
Visit them at different times of the year, from when they’re at full power after heavy rain, to the summer months when water levels are lower and gentler.
Wild swimming
Did you know Scotland has ‘blue spaces’ across the country where you can go wild swimming? From Loch Lomond to the River Tay, there’s lots of stunning places to take a refreshing and calming swim in the open water.
Scottish Seafood
From welcoming fish and chip shops to Michelin star restaurants, there is a wide variety of places to try some great seafood sourced within Scotland. We would also recommend stopping by a seafood shack if you’re in need of a water wellness boost. There’s nothing better than a warm meal after outdoor activites!
