Sandsend Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
NE, E, SE
Wind
SW
Surf Height
Thigh high to overhead.
Tide
Works through the tide, high-tide backwash an issue especially towards the north-end of the beach.
Sandsend Surf Guide
Follow the A174 coast road out of Whitby and you'll come to Sandsend, North England's regional winner in the Top 50 UK beaches in 2025. In a clean swell the sandbanks here can produce short but hollow waves that can be all sorts of fun. It works through the tide, high-tide sometimes affected by backwash especially the northern end of the beach. Can be heavy and rippy on bigger swells when it's best left to the experts. There is some shelter from NW wind under the northern cliffs but the waves here break on rocky ledges here so not really for novices.
Local Vibe
Largely tolerant.
Crowd Factor
Tight local crew but this is a big beach. Spread out and find yourself a quite bank.
Spot Rating
Hollow, beach break peaks
Shoulder Burn
Can be a slog when swells pick up.
Water Quality
OK - occasional sewage overflow in the Sandsend Beck after heavy rains.
Hazards
Heavy waves and rip currents when the swell is big.
Access
Parking on A174 above beach. Step-free beach access via a concrete slipway located at the north end of the beach, next to the car park. While the slipway makes it easy to reach the sand, the slope can be moderately steep, so wheelchair users may require some assistance
Bottom
Sand plus flat reef.
Best Season
Comes alive in winter but can provide fun surf in summer wind-swell days.
Do you have local knowledge about Sandsend?
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