Powerful, world-class right-hand reef break over a flagstone reef in the far north of Scotland — hosted the O'Neill Coldwater Classic (2006-2011). Advanced surfers only; a thick wetsuit, boots, gloves and hood are essential year-round.
🌡️ ~12.4°C now · a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near Thurso East worth checking out.
North Coast Watersports provides award winning watersports experiences along Scotland's North Shore. Embrace the amazing waves and beautiful coastline with our Scottish surf champion instructors. We offer a variety of surf lessons, stand up paddle boarding, equipment hire and surf retreats.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Thurso East. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Thurso East's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 20 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 9° | 8° | 8° | 8° | 10° | 12° | 14° | 14° | 14° | 12° | 11° | 10° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 10.3 ft (3.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 26 km/h from the SW. Water is ~9°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 11.1 ft (3.4 m), with cross-offshore winds around 24 km/h from the SW. Water is ~8°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.9 ft (2.1 m), with offshore winds around 19 km/h from the S. Water is ~8°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.1 ft (1.6 m), with cross-offshore winds around 19 km/h from the SE. Water is ~8°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.8 ft (1.5 m), with offshore winds around 18 km/h from the SW. Water is ~10°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.6 ft (1.4 m), with offshore winds around 18 km/h from the SW. Water is ~12°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.3 ft (1.3 m), with cross-onshore winds around 17 km/h from the W. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 4.5 ft (1.4 m), with offshore winds around 17 km/h from the SW. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 5.7 ft (1.8 m), with offshore winds around 20 km/h from the SW. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.1 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 23 km/h from the S. Water is ~12°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.8 ft (2.1 m), with offshore winds around 20 km/h from the S. Water is ~11°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 9.5 ft (2.9 m), with offshore winds around 23 km/h from the SW. Water is ~10°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
For advanced surfers: Sep–Mar. The biggest waves come in February, averaging 11.1 ft (3.4 m), and the smallest in July, at 4.3 ft (1.3 m).
It ranges from ~8°C in March to ~14°C in August, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In March (~8°C): a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. In August (~14°C): a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended.
Not really: Thurso East is best suited to advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is WIC (limited connections), and the nearest town is Thurso, United Kingdom. Many surfers fly into Inverness (INV) instead, about 170 km or 2.5 hours' drive away.
