The waves can get a bit intimidating at times but you need to learn how to handle them anyway. Suitability for beginners: When it's not too windy and it's cross-on it's a nice and safe beach to practice on. Typically in higher winds this isn't an issue but please take an extra care when kiting there. Hazards: In the summer the beach can get filled with tons of sun-burners, dog walkers and sometimes even horse riders. It ends in a small roundabout - that's where you can park up and gear up. We typically drive to the end of the road next to the beach. They open typically in the summer season but then St Andrews is just a stone throw away to grab something warm to eat after (or mid!) a wintery session.Īccess: Follow the signs for West Sands Beach. There are also toilets on site and some cafes too. It is quite shallow too on a high tide, however waves can be a bit intimidating to beginners. When you ride in St Andrews on a high tide you will also get flat water closer to the beach. The caravan park is closed during the winter months (open season is 21st March to 31st November each year) so a key is needed for the gate which can be picked up from the park owners.Ī fantastic, massive kitesurfing beach! It does need a wind direction we sadly don't get too often but when it kicks in this is the place to kitesurf! Waves can get quite big over here but then you get some sweet flat water sections in between. Park up and follow the path through the trees. Follow the road around (seaward side) until you come to a row of trees. On a high tide there's very little place to launch and land so plan ahead.Īccess: You can get to the beach through Shell Bay Caravan Park. Hazards: Big waves, abandoned anchor at the NW part of beach (hidden on mid to high tide), super sharp grass so keep your kites away. Waves however can be quite big and nasty so don't venture out unless you feel confident riding in a large break. As the beach slopes away gradually you will have a lot of shallow water to play around with when it's not too wavy. It gets a bit choppy too so you'll get a free leg workout. Great beach for massive waves to boost from when the wind's cross or cross-on. Ideal Wind: W - SW (cross-onshore to on-shore) If it's cross-on and the tide is well out kite with caution. If something goes sideways further out you'll be on your way to Norway. Because of the cross shore wind and rocks you need to know how to stay upwind. Make sure to go there on a low tide to get a better idea of what's under water. Also, there are wooden spikes just after the west bit of the larger beach. Make sure not to kite close to the rocks - you don't want to end up on them and they do create a strong updraft too. On a low tide it seems like a one big beach but as soon as the tide comes in the pass underneath the rocks disappears. Hazards : First of all - the tide moves really fast here - watch out for your gear. It can be a bit on and off though so don't venture out too far if you feel that it's dying off! The beach is brilliant when it properly kicks in from SW or SSW, with very little chop and clean wind. If it's too southerly it will bounce off the massive cliff very often creating windless area next to the shore. If it's too westerly it becomes cross-shore and a bit more gusty. But do wear shoes as the rocks can be sharp: Make sure not to obstruct way for the locals though! To get the other beach at high tide you need to go over the rocks - there's a small path there. Park up on the street next to the port - set your SatNav to KY3 9SB. The small beach next to harbour isn't too safe to kite unless it's an onshore wind and the tide is completely out. When we say we're heading to Pettycur we mean the second beach behind the rocks.
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