Aberdeen Beach

Aberdeen · Scotland · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Aberdeen Beach (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/aberdeen-beach.

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Aberdeen Beach is the city's long sandy beach, running north from the harbour mouth and Footdee. Groynes split it into small bays with several peaks, and a rivermouth wave is found by the River Don at the north end. It is the home break of the north-east's biggest surf community.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
Any board; a longboard for small days.

When it works

✓ A 1–2 m north-east to east swell around low tide with a south-westerly wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Easterly winds blow straight in, and it is often flat without a North Sea swell.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks
  • crowds

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March, April

Local tips

Watch for rips beside the groynes and stay clear of the harbour mouth. It can be busy when the surf is up, so spread out along the groyne bays.

Getting there

It runs along the Beach Esplanade in Aberdeen, with parking along the promenade; buses from the city centre.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly consistent in winter, when North Sea swells arrive, but often flat in summer.
Crowd and vibe
Busy when it is good, as it is right next to the city.
Camping and vans
No campsite close by in the city. Look for caravan parks around Aberdeen, about 10 km out. Nearest campsite about 10 km away.
Facilities
Promenade with parking, cafés, restaurants and toilets; all the services of Aberdeen.
Water quality
Aberdeen is rated excellent by SEPA.

Ideal conditions

Swell
NNE–ESE best, N–SSE works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3 m
Period
7 s minimum, best from 10 s
Wind
Offshore SW–WNW; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
Tide
low best
Faces
E (90°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Scotland · All spots

Sources