United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Saltburn-by-the-Sea. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Not much swell but keen eyes will find something to ride. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong offshore, clean but tough to paddle into. Conditions improving through the afternoon. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a historic, highly accessible beach break situated on the coast of North Yorkshire. The coastal topography is characterised by a flat, uniform sandbank system flanked by high cliffs to the south. Because the seafloor gradient is incredibly gradual, it forces incoming northerly swells from the North Sea to break with a soft, spilling profile rather than a critical, pitching lip. A southerly offshore wind, blowing down from the elevated inland moors, is required to groom the wave faces and prevent disorganised chop. The wave mechanics provide slow-peeling lefts and rights that are exceptionally forgiving, offering long rides right to the shoreline. The presence of the pier helps to structure the sandbanks slightly, providing distinct take-off zones. Due to the lack of severe hydraulic force, minimal rock hazards, and manageable rip currents, Saltburn acts as a premier regional training ground. It is universally classified as an excellent location for beginners focused on board control and intermediate longboarders seeking reliable trim.
Heads up: jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 83% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:12
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Updated 10:32
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Saltburn-by-the-Sea is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn is a friendly, accessible beach break on the North Yorkshire coast, beneath the town's famous cliff lift and Victorian pier. The beach faces east-northeast into the North Sea and produces consistent small waves from wind swell. The setting is charming, with the pier, the cliff gardens, and the colourful beach huts creating a distinctly English seaside atmosphere. The sand is wide and the gradient gentle, making it suitable for beginners.
Best at mid to high tide with a northerly or north-easterly wind swell. A south-westerly wind is offshore. Works October through March most consistently. Waves are typically waist to chest high; overhead days happen but are not common. The gentle slope means the waves spill rather than pitch on smaller days. Bigger north-easterly swells from deep lows can produce punchy, fast surf.
The section beneath the pier often has the best-defined banks. The pier pilings create some structure in the sand. Peaks also form along the beach further east. The inside section is gentle and works well for beginners on any tide.
The pier itself is a structure to avoid in any current. Cold water (bring a good wetsuit from October onwards). Rip currents can form on bigger days. The beach is generally safe with lifeguards in summer. Do not surf directly next to the pier pilings.
Free car park on the clifftop (some charge in summer). The cliff lift provides easy access to the beach, or use the path/steps. Short walk to the water across wide sand. Full town facilities including cafes, surf hire, and pubs. The Victorian pier provides shelter for changing.
Saltburn has an active local surf community. Good days can see 15-20 people in the water, concentrated near the pier. The local crew are generally friendly and the atmosphere is inclusive. Weekends are busier. The town's surf culture is growing with several surf schools now operating.
Saltburn is the social hub of east coast surfing in this part of Yorkshire. The local surf club is active and welcoming to visitors. The best sessions come from intense, short-lived north-easterly storms that produce clean swell before the wind turns onshore. Check forecasts for rapid-moving lows with northerly winds behind them. The Cat Nab cafe is the post-surf gathering point.
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Saltburn-by-the-Sea tend to be best between 05:00 to 08:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 27/100
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