Continent
Europe
Country
Scotland (UK)
Next Big City
Edinburgh
Next Town
Dundee, St. Andrews
 
Type:
No information
Rider Ability:
No information
Features:
Parking

Details

Surface
No information
Hazards
No information
Area Size
No information

Weather

Spring:
Normal, Thick
Summer:
Normal
Fall:
Normal, Thick
Winter:
Thick

Wetsuit all year round, winter is for the brave but is sailed all year. Surprisingly sunny for Scotland.

Wind

Best Months:
No information
Wind Type:
No information
Best Direction:
No information
Main Direction:
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Best in North winds, but many directions work on the north end of the beach, since it is a tip into the St. Andrews Bay. St Andrews can benefit from an onshore sea breeze effect on warmer summers days as it sticks out into the North Sea with water on three sides. Can be excellent but prevailing winds are often offshore. St Andrews is best in anything from a Northeasterly to a Southeasterly. When it blows onshore, or sideonshore, it blows well and clean. If it is blowing offshore, we all pack up and drive twenty minutes South to Shell Bay, near Elie, where the wind is onshore.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Short walk

From Edinburgh up north on M90, then Northeast on A92 and A91 towards St. Andrews. Follow signs to the golf course and get to the ocean road (West Sands Road) and drive up north to the end. Drive all the way down the beach road and park on the grassy area at the end. No parking charges! There is also a bus station in the town itself.

Extra information

Rules
Zones

Stay out of the river estuary and lagoon at the North end of the beach even though it looks butter flat and tempting to kitesurfers. Flying here puts you in the landing line for Leuchars Airforce Base and also in the firing line from the Nature Reserve folks (the lagoon area is a bird sanctuary). Don't fly in these areas or we risk loosing the use of the beach for all kite use (and you just may get taken out by a Tornado jet! There is a well established, very large 'Kite Zone' at the far North end of West Sands defined by two flags, outside of which you cannot kitesurf. Overnight parking is no longer allowed but not enforced. Note: overnight parking can be a frustrating experience with boy racers circling your vehicle at 3am.

Nightlife

No information