Balmedie Beach, Scotland (UK)

Scotland is generally windier than the rest of the UK. Summer time is generally big gear time with 3-5 Bft. These winds are generally from between SW to SE. March through to September. During the winter months anything goes and the winds often pick up to force 7-9. The windsurfers love it! These high winds can be gusty but are generally predictable so by checking local weather stations you can be fairly safe there isn't going to be a sudden shift in direction. Generally prevailing winds are Southwesterly or Southeasterly which gives the best sideshore conditions. Northerly conditions are rare except in the winter when it gets pretty cold with the wind chill anyway.

The beautiful thing about the Scottish weather is if you don't like what is happening at any moment in time you generally only have to wait for 15 minutes and it will probably change. Water temperature can be as high as 17-19°C. Cold for you southerners but we're tough up here. It normally only changes a few degrees throughout the year. Air temperature is a different situation and wetsuits should be warn throughout the summer. Some guys use 3mm on the really good days. During the winter last year we got away with 5mm but wore windproof clothing over the top. Its the wind chill that gets you in the end, with the water much warmer. We kitesurf all year round. Aberdeen is in the rain shadow of the Cairngorms so the reality is we generally get many dry days. Contrary to popular belief the water temperature doesn't vary that much and the water temperature is not too far removed from the south coast of England, over 500 miles away.

The water conditions vary quite considerably making this an interesting spot to visit. It will definitely test all your skills. With sandbanks stretching far out from the shore wave conditions vary throughout the day ranging from flat water to head height during the same wind conditions. Sometimes there can be a rip but this varies at different parts of the beach.