Thurso East
Thurso, Scotland (Highland), United Kingdom
Sports: Surfing
Best time to go: January–April, September–December
Thurso East is a reef break at the mouth of the Thurso River, beside the castle on the north coast of Caithness, facing the Pentland Firth and the open sea. North-west to north swells from Atlantic and Arctic storms wrap onto a flat slab of rock and peel as a long, powerful right-hander, often hollow, and it is regarded as one of the best waves in Europe. Southerly winds blow offshore.
The bottom is flat rock covered in kelp, and the wave breaks hard, so it is only for experienced surfers. The season runs from autumn to spring, when swells are most frequent; summer is often flat. River water brown with peat flows into the line-up, and currents can be strong. The water is cold all year, so a 5/4 mm wetsuit with boots, gloves and hood is needed in winter, and daylight is short in mid-winter. The line-up is small and can be crowded on good days, so respect the local surfers and their priority.
More: All spots in United Kingdom · Surfing in United Kingdom