Scarborough - South Bay surf guide
Surf: On N swells a slow, beginner-friendly beachbreak, with a rare SE swell it can get hollow and fast.
Environment: Parking voucher system in Scarborough for on-street parking.
Surf: General: This is the resort part of the town with a long, curved stretch of sand that arcs from the harbour round to the Spa to the south. The majority of the bay is pretty poor surf wise, flat, lacking in sandbars, and backed by amusements... Good fish & chips through. This part of the bay is very sheltered so can be one of the few spots that stays clean in huge northerly storms. Where things get interesting is at the Spa end with its numerous areas of flat reef and where the currents conspire to produce better banks. Not high tide due to sea wall.
Tides: Not high.
Size: Thigh to head high.
Wind: NW to SW
Swell: N to NE
Bottom: Sandy bay with reefs to south.
Paddling: Any size quite hard work.
Spot Rating: Mostly a close-out or fat, can be fun waves at southern end.
Access: Parking is tricky here with limited sea front spaces near to Spa.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: May be one of the only spots breaking so expect crowds.
Local Vibe: Busy, hectic.
Environment: OK.
Hazards: Crowds, rips, rocks at southern end.
Season: Big winter swells or storms December - February.