Highland, United Kingdom
Thurso East
Also known as Thurso, Thurso East, The Bastion
Expert
Reef break
Rock bottom
Peels right
1.5–5 m
Mid tide
The best right-hand reef break in Britain: a fast, hollow, bowly wave that peels along a flat reef east of Thurso and holds size well overhead. It is cold-water surfing at its purest — slabby takeoff, long walls and a barrel section when the swell is solid — and the venue for the O'Neill Coldwater Classic. The water is frigid and the season is short, but on a clean north swell with light winds it is world class.
Hazards
RocksShallowCold WaterStrong CurrentRemote
Conditions
- Best swell
- N, NW, NE
- Best wind
- S, SE, SW
- Season
- Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May
- Wave size
- 1.5–5 m
- Wave quality
- Consistency
- Crowd
- Coordinates
- 58.5917, -3.5240
Facilities
ParkingCafe
Getting there
Park at the end of the track past Thurso East farm and walk over the clifftop to the Bastion. A thick 5mm suit, boots and hood are non-negotiable even in summer.