Surfing in Caithness
Surfing on the north coast of Caithness, from learners' lessons on the long sands of Dunnet Bay to Thurso East, one of the finest reef breaks in Europe.
Caithness has no palm trees and the water is cold, but its north coast is one of the great surfing coasts of Europe.
Swells roll in from as far as America and Iceland to break here, and the flat slabs of stone along the shore shape them into powerful, beautifully formed waves.
The most famous is Thurso East, a reef break on the far side of Thurso Bay, where on the right day the waves run hollow and fast. It is one of the finest in Europe, and strictly for experienced surfers who know reefs.
For everyone else there is Dunnet beach, a two-mile sweep of soft sand east of Thurso that picks up the swells and suits learners. North Coast Watersports runs its lessons here, with thick wetsuits and big foam boards, and its coaches include a Scottish champion. They offer paddleboarding under Dunnet Head too, and lessons elsewhere on the coast on request.
Lessons run at Dunnet beach and are booked through North Coast Watersports.
Thurso East is for experienced surfers only.
- Learn
- Dunnet beach.
- Experts
- Thurso East reef.
- Book
- North Coast Watersports.
Lessons on Dunnet beach, east of Thurso on the A836; Thurso East is on the east side of Thurso Bay.
Places to stay near the surf, and when each is next free.
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.