Scarborough – South Bay

Scarborough · North East England · United Kingdom

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Scarborough – South Bay (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/scarborough-south-bay.

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The South Bay is Scarborough's main town beach, between the harbour and the Spa. It is more sheltered than the North Bay, so the waves are smaller, with many peaks. Beginners keep to the north end, because the waves near the Spa, at the south end, are bigger.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A longboard, foam board or fish.

When it works

✓ A 1.2–2 m north swell from low to mid tide with a north-westerly wind.

When it doesn't

✕ At high tide the south end gets dangerous against the sea wall; easterly and south-easterly winds blow in.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • crowds
  • pollution

Best months

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

Local tips

At high tide, keep away from the south end, where the exit is dangerous. It works in northerly winds that spoil the North Bay.

Getting there

In Scarborough town centre, follow the signs to the South Bay and the Spa; parking along Foreshore Road.

Travel notes

How often it works
Quite reliable on north swells in winter.
Crowd and vibe
The mood is very friendly, and there are plenty of peaks for everyone.
Camping and vans
Scarborough Lodge Retreat and Jacobs Mount are about 2.5 km away. Nearest campsite about 2.5 km away.
Facilities
Everything of a seaside town: cafés, toilets, shops and parking along the front.
Water quality
Scarborough South Bay is rated poor in the 2025 English classification, so bathing is advised against.

Ideal conditions

Swell
NNW–NE best, NW–E works
Size
1.2–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.8 m, holds to 3 m
Period
7 s minimum, best from 10 s
Wind
Offshore W–NNW; handles onshore up to 15 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, avoid high
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 North East England · All spots

Sources