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Gullane is 20 miles East of Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth, has a large sandy beach, and offers excellent windsurfing conditions. There is usually quite a bit of irregular chop. Further offshore, where the currents meet, there is usually some wave or swell. The best wind for Gullane is Westerly.
If you sail out about a mile from the beach in a Westerly wind, you will look downwind to Fidra lighthouse about 3.5 miles away, and upwind to Longniddry power station about 6 miles away.
The Gannets nest in enormous numbers on Bass Rock, which is about 8 miles away.
Longniddry is only 15 miles from Edinburgh, near Gullane.
It has the
advantage of good windsurfing in a SW, or even Southerly wind.
Southerlies are always gusty.
There are a lot of rocks in the bay, but these are covered
around high tide. It is a long walk out at low tide.
I sometimes prefer to launch from the rocks on the point, as this gives access to clean wind and avoids sailing into rocks, except when launching and landing. The launch spot is usually sheltered from waves. Longniddry has more chop and less wave than Gullane as the water is not quite as deep. I prefer Gullane for wave gybes. You may find the chop at Longniddry is more suitable for jumping.
As at Gullane, you will find a variety of bird life, particularly cormorants, oystercatcher, wading birds, and gannets.
Silverknowes is just East of Cramond. The sailing is between the promenade and Cramond island. This is shallow water, and gets medium waves in an Easterly or North Easterly wind.
Warm temperatures over central Scotland add a thermal effect, and the wind seems to funnel up the estuary, so winds can be stronger here than you might expect.
At high tide, you may have to launch from the rocks. When the tide goes out, you'll have a long walk to the sea.
Beadnell Bay and Newton-on-sea (Northumberland) are about 2 hours drive from Edinburgh, and not too far for a day trip from Edinburgh. They are interesting locations to sail in a Southerly wind. Beadnell has an enormous sandy beach, backed with dunes. The beach is open to the North Sea, and can get some serious wave conditions. I prefer the Newton end of the bay. There are low rocks at the end of the bay which give some much needed shelter from waves.
For lunch in Newton, try The Joiners Arms, at the junction between the roads to High Newton and Low Newton.
Troon is under 2 hours drive from Edinburgh. It has larger, gentler waves and less chop than Gullane. A Southerly or SW wind is best. The main beach is near the Golf Club, just South of the town. You will be directly under the glide path for Prestwick airport.
Beware of the offshore rocks, slighly upwind. These are covered at high tide.
Barassie beach, just North of Troon, is also popular. Try Barassie if the wind is onshore at Troon.
We sail at Longniddry in South Westerly winds, but it is always gusty. Consider Troon in a South Westerly, Beadnell in a Southerly, or maybe St. Andrews if the wind is South Easterly.
Easterly winds, especially in Summer, are difficult to forecast. Sometimes the wind will be North East at the airport, but South East at Gullane. Sometimes there will be no wind at the airport, but wind at Dunbar. Do not get excited when you see a low pressure coming in quickly and the isobars packed closely together. Experienced forecasters know there will be only a light easterly breeze.
People sail at Gullane in an Easterly wind, but the wind over the golf course is often gusty. If the wind is Easterly or North Easterly, you may do better at other locations this side of the Forth. These include Silverknowes, Portobello, Fisherrow (Musselburgh) and Longniddry#1 (near Port Seton Caravan park). Further out, consider the private beach at Seacliff near Tantallan, Belhaven bay at Dunbar, and Whitesands behind the concrete works at Barns Ness.
If the wind is South East, you may do better on the other side of the Forth. Consider Silver Sands at Aberdour, Burntisland or Pettycur Bay near Kinghorn.
Further afield, St. Andrews and Beadnell are exposed to Easterly winds from the North Sea. Both get significant waves if the wind is onshore.
When there is fog on the East Coast, you can get a good Easterly breeze at Loch Earn. There are convenient car parks on the road to the North of the Loch, not too far from St. Fillans. St. Mary's Loch also benefits from a NE wind.
There are a number of fresh water lochs where you can windsurf. Here are some options you might consider.
Millarochy Bay at Loch Lomond is sailable in a North Westerly wind. There is usually not much wind near the shore, so you'll need a board with lots of buoyancy.
Loch Earn is sailable in an Easterly or Westerly. Access from one of the car parks on the Northern side of the loch.
Loch Ore Meadows country park in Fife has changing rooms, and a rescue boat. South West is the best direction here.
St. Mary's Loch is sailable in a South West or North East wind. It has a reputation for occasional strong winds, funnelled between the hills.
Lochside (Fannyside) Loch near Cumbernauld has a club which combines windsurfing and dinghy sailing.
See you at Exmouth, Borth(Aberystwyth), Dale (Pembroke), Beadnell (Northumberland), Troon, or maybe elsewhere. I hope you enjoy some good windsurfing.