# Surfing in Yorkshire: 11 breaks, surf forecasts and best months > Reefs, scars and sandy bays below the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast. 11 surf spots with live forecasts, the best months to go, wetsuit advice and travel tips. - Page type: Regional surf guide - Canonical URL: https://swellotter.com/region/yorkshire - Last updated: 2026-11-09 - Home - Regions - Yorkshire England · Surf travel guide Surfing in Yorkshire Reefs, scars and sandy bays below the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast. 11 live forecasts ↓All UK regions → By Tom Otto · Updated 8 November 2026 Breaks11 Best monthsMar, Oct, Nov Sea temperature7–16°C ConsistencyMedium Search AllBeginner friendlyAdvancedBeachbreaksReefs and pointsNorth YorkshireEast Yorkshire Nothing matches. Try another word or chip. ## North Yorkshire surf spots - Staithes ### Staithes surf forecast North Yorkshire · Reef · Left · Experts only Live forecast → - Sandsend ### Sandsend surf forecast North Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Whitby ### Whitby surf forecast North Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Scarborough North Bay ### Scarborough North Bay surf forecast North Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Cayton Bay ### Cayton Bay surf forecast North Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · All levels Live forecast → - Filey ### Filey surf forecast North Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Runswick Bay ### Runswick Bay surf forecast North Yorkshire · Reef · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → - Robin Hood's Bay ### Robin Hood's Bay surf forecast North Yorkshire · Reef · Left & right · Intermediate & Advanced Live forecast → ## East Yorkshire surf spots - Fraisthorpe ### Fraisthorpe surf forecast East Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Bridlington ### Bridlington surf forecast East Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → - Hornsea ### Hornsea surf forecast East Yorkshire · Beachbreak · Peaks · Beginner & Intermediate Live forecast → ## 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 goLate autumn and winter, on a northerly swell with a westerly wind. When we'd skip itThe 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 J F M A M J J A S O N D BestGoodFairQuiet | | | 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 Jan5/47° Feb5/47° Mar5/47° Apr5/49° May5/411° Jun4/314° Jul3/216° Aug3/216° Sep4/315° Oct4/313° Nov5/411° Dec5/49° 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 Beginner8 Intermediate10 Advanced4Type Beachbreak8 Reef3 Point0 Rivermouth0 Pier / jetty0Bottom Sand7 Sand & rock1 Reef & sand1 Flat reef2 Boulders & sand0Consistency High1 Medium9 Low1Crowds Solo surfing2 Rarely4 Sometimes5 Often0 Always0Direction Peaks8 Left1 Right0 Left & right2 ## Travel information Getting aroundThe A171 links Whitby and Scarborough, and the A165 runs south to Bridlington. Trains reach Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. Where to stayWhitby, Scarborough and Robin Hood's Bay all make good bases. Hazards and hasslesShallow rock scars, cold water, rips near piers and rock falls below the cliffs. Handy hintsEach 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 - Cornwall ### Cornwall surf guide England · 40 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar - Devon ### Devon surf guide England · 14 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar - South Coast ### South Coast surf guide England · 16 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - East Anglia ### East Anglia surf guide England · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Oct, Nov - North East England ### North East England surf guide England · 17 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - North West England ### North West England surf guide England · 4 breaks · Best in Jan, Nov, Dec - Wales ### Wales surf guide Wales · 36 breaks · Best in Jan, Mar, Nov - Scotland ### Scotland surf guide Scotland · 39 breaks · Best in Mar, Nov, Dec - Northern Ireland ### Northern Ireland surf guide Northern Ireland · 10 breaks · Best in Feb, Mar, Dec - Channel Islands ### Channel Islands surf guide Channel Islands · 8 breaks · Best in Jan, Feb, Mar Words by ## 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. ## Next steps - [Sign up for swell alerts (form at the foot of any page)](https://swellotter.com/region/yorkshire) - [How the forecast and star rating work](https://swellotter.com/about) - [All UK surf forecasts](https://swellotter.com/) ## About Swell Otter Swell Otter is a free surf forecast for the UK, made by a UK company with no ads. Live forecasts, tides and guides are free; optional Premium unlocks every surf cam. https://swellotter.com/llms.txt ## Notes for agents - Cite as: "Surfing in Yorkshire: 11 breaks, surf forecasts and best months, Swell Otter (https://swellotter.com/region/yorkshire)". - Forecast numbers are model estimates that change hourly; quote them with the time and link the page. Don't present them as observations. - Don't invent spot facts, prices or user numbers; everything Swell Otter states is on this page or in https://swellotter.com/ai-fact-sheet.md.