Swell OtterEngland · Surf travel guide
Surfing in Yorkshire
Reefs, scars and sandy bays below the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast.
- Breaks
- 11
- Best months
- Mar, Oct, Nov
- Sea temperature
- 7–16°C
- Consistency
- Medium
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North Yorkshire surf spots
East Yorkshire surf spots
The Swell Otter take on Yorkshire
Underrated, cold and genuinely good. Yorkshire has some of the best reef breaks in England, and its wind pattern works in your favour.
Ask most British surfers about Yorkshire and they'll mention the cold. Ask the ones who've surfed it on a good day and they'll talk about long, clean waves peeling over flat rock reefs below the cliffs, with nobody else out. The North Yorkshire coast has quality that most of England doesn't.
The reason it works is the wind. The south-westerly that blows out the west coast most days is offshore here. When a North Sea low sends swell south, Yorkshire is often the cleanest surf in the country. The reefs, or scars, are shallow and tide-sensitive, so check the tide as carefully as the swell.
If you're new, start on the sandy bays at Scarborough or Whitby and watch how the reefs behave before paddling out. The locals are friendly, but the rocks are not.
- When we'd go
- Late autumn and winter, on a northerly swell with a westerly wind.
- When we'd skip it
- The reefs at low tide unless you know them well.
Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks.
Surfing in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire coast runs from Staithes down past Whitby and Scarborough to the long beaches of Holderness. The northern half is the best for surf, with flat rock reefs called scars and sandy bays tucked between high cliffs.
Swell comes from the north and north-east, from storms in the northern North Sea, and the prevailing south-west wind blows offshore. Autumn to spring is the season. The water is cold, and some of the reefs are shallow, so pick your spot to suit the tide and your ability.
Positives
- Offshore in the usual SW wind
- Quality reefs and points
- Less crowded than the south-west
- Seaside towns with everything you need
Negatives
- Cold water
- Needs North Sea swell
- Rocky reefs need care
- Flat spells in summer
When to surf in Yorkshire
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | ||||||||||||
| Typical size | 3ft | 2ft | 3ft | 2ft | 2ft | 1ft | 1ft | 1ft | 2ft | 2ft | 3ft | 2ft |
| Surfable days | 67% | 48% | 68% | 52% | 44% | 29% | 43% | 30% | 49% | 69% | 76% | 60% |
| Good days | 38% | 23% | 32% | 20% | 12% | 4% | 13% | 11% | 19% | 35% | 41% | 33% |
| Big days (8ft+) | 8% | 3% | 4% | 2% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 7% | 7% | 4% |
| Wind | ||||||||||||
| Average | 14mph | 14mph | 13mph | 12mph | 11mph | 11mph | 11mph | 12mph | 12mph | 12mph | 13mph | 15mph |
| Offshore days | 59% | 55% | 39% | 30% | 21% | 42% | 39% | 50% | 37% | 50% | 51% | 56% |
| Water | ||||||||||||
| Sea temp | 7° | 7° | 7° | 9° | 11° | 14° | 16° | 16° | 15° | 13° | 11° | 9° |
| Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 4/3 | 5/4 | 5/4 |
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| Max air | 7° | 9° | 10° | 12° | 15° | 18° | 19° | 20° | 17° | 14° | 10° | 9° |
| Min air | 3° | 4° | 5° | 6° | 9° | 12° | 13° | 13° | 12° | 9° | 6° | 6° |
| Rain | 74mm | 50mm | 67mm | 73mm | 56mm | 56mm | 109mm | 67mm | 90mm | 99mm | 115mm | 95mm |
| Wet days | 13 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C.
Wetsuit by month
Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C.
The break lowdown
How the 11 breaks here compare.
Ability
Type
Bottom
Consistency
Crowds
Direction
Travel information
- Getting around
- The A171 links Whitby and Scarborough, and the A165 runs south to Bridlington. Trains reach Whitby, Scarborough and Filey.
- Where to stay
- Whitby, Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay all make good bases.
- Hazards and hassles
- Shallow rock scars, cold water, rips near piers and rock falls below the cliffs.
- Handy hints
- Each bay faces a slightly different way, so a short drive can turn a messy day clean.
Yorkshire surf questions, answered
Can you surf in Scarborough?
Yes. Scarborough's North Bay is one of Yorkshire's most popular surf spots, with a sandy beach and reefs that work on northerly and north-easterly swells. Cayton Bay, just south of town, is the most consistent beach nearby.
When is the best time to surf in Yorkshire?
The best time to surf in Yorkshire is March, October and November, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 58% of winter days and 34% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season.
Is Yorkshire good for surfing?
Yes. The North Yorkshire coast has sandy bays and rock reefs that work well on North Sea swells, and the common south-west wind is offshore. It's less consistent than the Atlantic coast but often cleaner.
What are the best surf spots in Yorkshire?
Scarborough North Bay, Cayton Bay, Whitby, Sandsend and Staithes are North Yorkshire's best surf spots, with Filey and Fraisthorpe further south. Staithes and some of the reefs are for experienced surfers only.
Where can beginners surf in Yorkshire?
Cayton Bay and Scarborough's North Bay are the best places for beginners in Yorkshire, with sandy bottoms and surf schools. Stay off the shallow rock reefs until you can read them.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Yorkshire?
Surfing in Yorkshire needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 7°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 16°C.
More UK surf regions
Tom Otto
Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards.