When you think surfing, you tend to think dark tans, bleach blonde hair, clear waters and blazing sun – not the grey dampness of the UK. But we actually have a pretty active surfing scene. Devon is home to one of just 11 World Surfing Reserves and there are beaches in Wales and Cornwall that attract surfers from around the globe.
Now, Britain’s surfing empire is expanding. By September 2024, Edinburgh is going to be home to the country’s first inland surfing resort and, stretching 250 metres, it will be the biggest in the whole of Europe.
According to experts on the water sport, Lost Shore Surf Resort will offer all kinds of wave-riding. As well as providing a brilliant new training ground for Olympic hopefuls, it will also be an attraction for those who simply want to learn how to catch a wave. The surfing lagoon will be accessible to all abilities and will offer 20 different kinds of waves (yes, apparently there are more than just ‘big’ and ‘small’) and wave rides of up to 22 seconds.
The resort, which sits on a 60-acre country park near Edinburgh Airport, will also feature luxury lodges, posh accommodation pods, restaurants, a spa and shopping facilities. Here are some more images of the place.
Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: ‘This spectacular resort is going to be a real game changer for Scottish tourism. Not only will this attract people from all over the UK, but from right across the world.’
Scottish pro-surfer Ben Larg, added: ‘As a pro surfer this is incredible. Lost Shore is going to push up the level of Scottish surfing, bring so many more people to the sport, and, who knows, maybe get some Scots in the Team GB squad for the Olympics.
‘It can be really difficult to access surfing in Scotland sometimes, but this is going to deliver reliable waves all the time. If I had access to this sort of facility when I was young, I would be such a better surfer now. That’s why Lost Shore will be so good for the next generation.’
With a little less than a year before Lost Shore opens its doors, a limited number of early bird vouchers are available for keen water babies who want to secure a stay or a tuition session far in advance – and at a discount. Surf's up!
Time Out, surf-style
We’d be fibbing if we claimed that everyone at Time Out loves riding waves (heck, plenty of us have never even tried), but those of us that love the sport are pretty fanatical. Not only have we covered the first UK Surfing Reserve in Devon and have guides on where to surf everywhere from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, we even boast a guide to the very best epic surf movies.
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