Northumberland
Beach breakAll levels
Surfing below one of England's most spectacular castles, on an almost empty beach.
The coast faces east, so it works with the north or north-east swells generated by North Sea storms, and its big advantage is that the prevailing west or south-west wind blows offshore here. The swells are shorter-period than in the Atlantic, but when they line up there are high-quality waves. The water is cold most of the year, 6–8 °C in winter and about 14 °C in summer: a 5/4 or 6/5 hooded wetsuit, booties and gloves.
Map
Northumberland
Beach breakAll levels
A wild bay facing the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.
Whitley Bay (Tyneside)
ReefExpert
A powerful reef near Whitley Bay that holds big North Sea storms.
Tynemouth (Newcastle)
Beach breakBeginner
Newcastle's surf beach: lots of surf schools and plenty of waves for everyone.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea (Yorkshire)
Beach breakAll levels
Yorkshire's surf hub, with peaks on both sides of the Victorian pier.
Yorkshire
Point breakIntermediate
A right by the jetty of an old mining village, working with northerly swell.
Yorkshire
ReefExpert
A heavy slab left next to a picture-postcard fishing village.
Whitby (Yorkshire)
Beach breakAll levels
A long beach north of Whitby, sheltered from the northerly wind.
Scarborough (Yorkshire)
Beach breakAll levels
Scarborough's North Bay, with waves for everyone below the castle.
Scarborough (Yorkshire)
Beach breakAll levels
A wooded bay south of Scarborough, with sandbanks and reefs at either end.
Conditions at a glance
| Spot | Wave type | Level | Best swell | Best wind (offshore) | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamburgh | Beach break | All levels | N, NE, E | W, SW, NW | All tides |
| Embleton Bay | Beach break | All levels | N, NE | W, SW | Low to mid |
| Hartley Reef | Reef | Expert | N, NE, E | W, SW, NW | Mid to high |
| Tynemouth (Longsands) | Beach break | Beginner | N, NE, E | W, SW | All tides |
| Saltburn | Beach break | All levels | N, NE, E | S, SW, W | Mid to high |
| Skinningrove | Point break | Intermediate | N, NE | SW, S, W | Mid to high |
| Staithes | Reef | Expert | N, NE | SW, S, W | Mid |
| Sandsend | Beach break | All levels | N, NE, E | W, SW, NW | Mid to high |
| Scarborough (North Bay) | Beach break | All levels | N, NE, E | W, SW | Mid to high |
| Cayton Bay | Beach break | All levels | NE, E, N | W, SW, NW | Low to mid |
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.
Which wetsuit to bring
The water is around 7 °C in winter and 14 °C in late summer.
6/5 hooded wetsuit
For water below 7 °C.
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5 mm booties
Warm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
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Wetsuit gloves
In water this cold, your hands go numb first.
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Shapers in North-East England
Order a board designed for these waves from a local shaper.