Swell Otter
Pease Bay surf guide Edinburgh's east coast escape
Pease Bay is a small, sheltered sandy bay off the A1, under an hour from Edinburgh, with gentle North Sea waves. Here's when it works, who it suits and what to bring.
Live Pease Bay forecast, tides and camsOverview
Positives
- Sheltered, friendly beachbreak
- Within an hour of Edinburgh
- Good for learners
- Picks up east swell
Negatives
- Cold water
- Needs an east or north-east swell
- Holiday park dominates the bay
- Flat for long spells
Pease Bay is Edinburgh's surf beach, a small sandy bay tucked into the cliffs on the East Lothian and Borders coast, just off the A1. You drop down a steep, narrow lane, past a sea of static caravans, and there it is: a friendly little beachbreak that turns North Sea swell into gentle, rolling waves.
It's not glamorous, and it's not always working. But when the North Sea wakes up and the wind blows from the south-west, Pease Bay can be a lovely place to surf, and it's less than an hour from the city.
The break lowdown
The wave
Pease Bay is a sand-bottomed beachbreak with gentle, rolling peaks. The bay is small and sheltered, which helps to tame the swell and keep the waves soft and friendly. That makes it great for learning, and fun for longboarding.
It picks up swell from the east and north-east and breaks gently over sand.
On bigger swells, the waves can get punchier, but Pease Bay is never really heavy. It's a place to have fun, not to test yourself.
Who it suits
Beginners and intermediates. It's a great place to learn, with gentle waves and a sheltered bay. Intermediates will enjoy it on a bigger, cleaner day. Experienced surfers will probably find it a bit tame, but it's a fun option when nothing else is working.
When to go
Swell, wind and tide
Pease Bay needs a NE swell, from the east or north-east, which comes from storms in the North Sea. The wind you want is SW, which blows offshore. It works best at low to mid.
The best days come when a North Sea low sends swell down the coast, followed by a south-westerly. That's often when the west coast is blown out.
Season by season
Over three years (2023 to 2025), Pease Bay had a surfable session on about 54% of winter days and only 29% of summer days. The best months are usually January, March and November. The sea is cold, from about 7°C to 15°C.
Autumn to spring is the season, when the North Sea storms send swell down the coast. Summer is mostly flat, with only the occasional small swell.
Weather and water
| Winter | Spring | Summer | Autumn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfable days | 54% | 49% | 29% | 56% |
| Typical surf | 2ft | 2ft | 1ft | 2ft |
| Offshore days | 59% | 25% | 41% | 45% |
| Sea temp | 8°C | 9°C | 14°C | 12°C |
| Wetsuit | 5/4, hood | 5/4, hood | 4/3 | 4/3 |
| Air, day high | 8°C | 12°C | 18°C | 13°C |
| Air, night low | 4°C | 6°C | 12°C | 8°C |
| Rain a month | 78mm | 68mm | 78mm | 108mm |
| Wet days a month | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 |
Pack a 5/4 with hood, boots and gloves for winter and a 4/3 for summer. Seasonal averages from three years (2023 to 2025) of Open-Meteo history for this break.
Travel information
Getting there and where to stay
Leave the A1 near Cockburnspath and follow the steep lane down to the bay, about 50 minutes from Edinburgh. Dunbar is the nearest station. Parking is limited near the beach; use the public spaces and pay where asked. Stay in the caravans at the bay, or in B&Bs and hotels in Dunbar and the Borders.
Getting around
There's no public transport to the beach itself, so you'll need a car. Dunbar is the best base for supplies, and North Berwick and Eyemouth are both within half an hour if you want to check other spots on the same swell.
Off the water
The Berwickshire Coastal Path runs along the cliffs nearby, and St Abbs Head, with its seabird colonies, is a short drive south. Dunbar has a harbour, a ruined castle and good places to eat, and Edinburgh is less than an hour away.
Hazards
Rips form on bigger days, and the water is cold, so bring a thick wetsuit, boots, gloves and a hood. The road down to the beach is steep and narrow, so drive carefully. The line-up is usually small and friendly, so say hello and share the waves.
Handy hints
- Watch for an east or north-east swell, usually from autumn to spring.
- A south-west wind is offshore, so check Pease Bay when the west coast is blown out.
- Drive carefully on the steep lane down to the bay.
- Bring a thick suit, boots and gloves. The North Sea is cold.
Nearby breaks
If it's flat at Pease Bay, Belhaven Bay at Dunbar is a bigger, more open beach that sometimes picks up more swell. Coldingham Bay, to the south, is another option. And if you're up for a road trip, Thurso East on the north coast is the big one, while Tynemouth is a couple of hours south.
Check the live Pease Bay forecast for the next North Sea swell.
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.