You might be surprised to learn that there are excellent surf lessons near Edinburgh for beginners.
Just 30–40 minutes from the city, Belhaven Bay in East Lothian offers ideal conditions for learning to surf. The beach has a long sandy shore and gentle waves, making it one of the best places in Scotland to learn.
For many people living in Edinburgh, surfing at Belhaven has become the natural place to start and a regular weekend activity.
Why Belhaven Bay is perfect for Beginner Surf Lessons
Belhaven bay is one of the closest beaches that can be consistently regularly surfed by beginners near Edinburgh.
Belhaven beach also has a sandy seabed which is ideal to learn to surf on. The gradual gradient of the beach gives perfect gentle waves for learning to surf. The beach is also great for beginners on all tides.
The long sandy beach offers a lot of space to learn. The crescent shape of the bay also provides perfect learning conditions for beginners especially in small and medium swell conditions.
What happens during a Beginner Surf Lesson?
Instructors will meet you at the Belhaven surf centre where you will check in and be allocated your wetsuit and board.
Once changed, we will walk the group to the beach and go through a fun introduction to surfing. Our instructors will talk through safety and equipment and get you active with an energetic warm up before we hit the water. Once in the water you will learn how to catch waves, steer and control your board lying down .
We return to the sand and show you how to stand up on the board. The majority of the lesson is spent catching waves and practicing standing and perfecting your new skills. It is all great fun!
Typical beginner surf lessons include:
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A beginner-friendly surfboard
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A warm wetsuit suitable for Scottish waters
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Safety guidance and coaching
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Help catching your first waves
- Beach changing facilities and warm showers
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Instructor feedback for your next surf lessons
How to get to Belhaven from Edinburgh
Belhaven Bay is located just outside the town of Dunbar.
From Edinburgh, the drive usually takes around 30 to 40 minutes, making it one of the closest surf beaches to the city.
You can take public transport to Belhaven beach with trains from Edinburgh to Dunbar taking 25 minutes. The journey takes you along the beautiful East Lothian coastline, and once you arrive you will find wide open beaches and views across the North Sea. Travelling by Bus from Edinburgh to Belhaven bay is also easy, taking approximately one hour. The closest bus stop is 5 minutes walk from the Belhaven surf centre.
The journey takes you along the beautiful East Lothian coastline, and once you arrive you will find wide open beaches and views across the North Sea.
Because of its location, many people travel from Edinburgh for day trips, weekend surf sessions and beginner lessons.
Learning to Surf in Scotland
Surfing in Scotland might sound unusual to some people, but the country actually has an active and growing surf community. Surfing in Scotland and East Lothian has been going on since the 1960’s.
The east coast receives regular waves throughout the year, and beaches like Belhaven provide excellent conditions for beginners. Pease bay is another good local surfing beach but can have rips and rocks so is better for advanced surfers. Coldingham bay is another nice local beach and is fun in small conditions for beginners. However bigger conditions are better for advanced surfers at Coldingham beach as it can have strong rips and there are rocks at low tide.
With the right equipment and guidance, learning to surf in Scotland can be an amazing experience.
Ready to try surfing?
If you are looking for surf lessons or courses near Edinburgh for beginners and Belhaven Bay is the perfect place to start.
At Coast to Coast Surf School we run beginner surf lessons and courses and our experienced instructors will be delighted to help you catch your first waves!
You can learn more about or book our surf lessons and courses here:
https://c2csurfschool.com/surf
