Lost Shore Surf Resort

Lost Shore Surf Resort is an inland surf destination near Edinburgh, built around a Wavegarden-powered ‘Cove’ that produces consistent, bookable waves in a controlled setting — plus on-site food, wellness, a surf shop, and accommodation. It is based in a former quarry at Ratho/Newbridge, around 25 minutes from Edinburgh city centre and roughly 10 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh Airport.

If you have ever wanted to try surfing without gambling on Scottish sea conditions, this is the appeal: you choose a session that matches your ability, turn up, get kitted out, and surf a predictable wave pattern for an hour. Lost Shore states its Wavegarden technology can generate up to 1,000 waves per hour.

Last updated: 4 January 2026

Prices and opening times last checked: 4 January 2026

• Where: Lost Shore Surf Resort, 11 South Platt Hill, Newbridge, EH28 8AY.
• What it is: An inland surf resort and ‘Europe’s largest wave pool’ (Wavegarden Cove technology).
• Minimum age for surf sessions: 6+.
• Swimming requirement: You must be able to swim 25 m to join a surf session.
• Water depth (Cove): 0.5 m – 1.2 m in the bay, and 1 m – 2.5 m on the reef.
• Surf session length: 60 minutes (around 10–15 waves is the stated expectation).
• Typical headline pricing: Surf sessions from £55 (from £45 child); SurfSkate public classes from £22.50 (from £17 child).
• Parking: Free parking, around a 200 m walk from the entrance building, with EV chargers; access is via the main entrance only.
• Public transport option: ‘Surf Bus’ shuttle with Ember (private hire service by Lost Shore).
• Can you visit without surfing? Yes — Lost Shore says you can come to watch and use the café, bar, and restaurant without a booked experience.

Lost Shore feels more like a modern leisure resort than a typical ‘water park’ day out. The centrepiece is the Cove — a big, surfable lagoon with a viewing terrace and resort buildings right beside it. On the day, most visitors fall into one of three groups:

1. Learners booking a coached surf lesson
2. Regular surfers booking a 60-minute session at a chosen wave setting
3. Non-surf visitors coming to watch, eat, shop, or join a wellness or SurfSkate activity

The surf experience (in plain terms)

• You book a lesson or session in advance (walk-ins may be possible subject to availability).
• You check in, change, and complete the on-site safety process. For lessons, Lost Shore specifically says to allow 60 minutes before the start for check-in, changing, and the health and safety briefing.
• You surf in a managed environment with lifeguards on duty, and session hosting/guidance available.

The key difference from the sea is consistency. You are not waiting for sets, tides, or luck. You are practising on a known wave setting, with a defined rotation and etiquette so everyone gets a fair run at the wave.

First-timers who want structure

If you want to try surfing but feel unsure where to start, the lessons are designed for confidence-building. Lost Shore says lessons are coached in groups of up to 8 by ISA-qualified instructors, with the first 30 minutes on land and 60 minutes in the water.

Intermediate surfers who want repetition

Surf sessions are designed so you can catch multiple waves in one hour (Lost Shore suggests around 10–15). That repetition is ideal for improving pop-up consistency, trimming, and turns.

Families with water-confident children

The minimum age is 6, but the more important filter is water confidence. Lost Shore requires surfers to be able to swim 25 m, and it is clear the reef section can reach 2.5 m depth. For many families, this is brilliant — but it is not the same as a shallow leisure pool.

Non-surfers who still want the ‘day out’

Lost Shore explicitly welcomes visitors who just want to use the café, bar, or restaurant and watch the waves — which makes it a strong choice for mixed groups.

Lost Shore pricing is dynamic by product and, in the case of surf sessions, by wave setting and schedule. The cleanest way to present this on WaterParksUK is to quote the published ‘from’ prices and then push readers to the live booking calendar for exact dates.

Surf sessions (experienced and improving surfers)

Lost Shore advertises surf sessions from £55 (£45 child). Sessions are 60 minutes long, and Lost Shore describes 20 spaces per session with multiple wave settings, plus hosted support on hand. It also states that wetsuit and soft board hire are included with the session, and lists ‘all the gear (wetsuits, boards, boots)’ as included.

Surf lessons (learning and progression)

Lessons are a structured 90-minute format (30 minutes land-based learning, then 60 minutes in the water), coached in groups of up to 8 with ISA-qualified instructors. Lost Shore states: ‘All gear provided — just bring your swimsuit & towel’, and lists wetsuit, boots, gloves, hood, and surfboard as included.

Surf bundles (better value for repeat visits)

Lost Shore promotes surf bundles as a way to ‘surf more for less’, sold in blocks (for example, 5, 10, 25, or 50) with stated per-surf savings.

SurfSkate Academy (dry-land training)

If you want a surf-adjacent experience, Lost Shore’s SurfSkate Academy lists public classes from £22.50 (£17 child).

Lost Shore publishes separate timings for surfing and for its food/retail spaces, and it also notes seasonal changes.

Winter hours (from 6 January, per Lost Shore):

• Surf: Thursday – Monday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; Tuesday and Wednesday closed.
• Café and Lost Market: open daily 8:00 am – 9:00 pm (and 10:00 pm at weekends, per the same page).

Lost Shore also notes that resort facilities can be open daily while surf operating schedules can vary seasonally, so it is worth checking the current timetable before you travel.

Should you book in advance?

Yes, if you want a specific time or wave setting. Lost Shore says walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, but surf sessions are capacity-limited, so pre-booking is the safer option — especially at weekends and during school holidays.

How early should you arrive?

For lessons, Lost Shore is explicit: allow 60 minutes before your lesson for check-in, changing, and the health and safety briefing.

For sessions, you should still build in time for check-in and changing, even if you are bringing your own kit — it is a much calmer start when you are not rushing.

Address and arrival route

Lost Shore Surf Resort, 11 South Platt Hill, Newbridge, EH28 8AY.

Lost Shore also notes an important detail for drivers: there is no vehicular access via Wilkieston Road — access and parking are via the main entrance.

Parking

Lost Shore states free parking is available, with the main car park around a 200 m walk from the entrance building, and that EV chargers are available.

Public transport: Surf Bus and standard routes

Lost Shore runs a dedicated Surf Bus service in partnership with Ember, described as an all-electric shuttle linking the city centre to the resort. It is a private-hire service operated by Lost Shore, with tickets and details handled via its own website page.

On the Surf Bus page, Lost Shore lists fares of £2.20 (adult single) and £1.10 (child single, under 16), and notes you can select a wheelchair space when booking.

Lost Shore also suggests the Lothian bus service 70 from Hermiston Park & Ride to Halcroft Park in Ratho, followed by a walk to the resort.

This is the part that can make the day feel effortless — or slightly chaotic.

For surf lessons

Lost Shore says it provides everything you need, including a wetsuit, boots, gloves, hood, and surfboard. You just bring swimwear and a towel.

For surf sessions

Lost Shore states that wetsuit and soft board hire are included with your session, and that you are welcome to use your own gear if you prefer. It also lists ‘all the gear’ as included for sessions (wetsuits, boards, boots).

A practical packing list

• Swimwear (for under the wetsuit).
• Towel and a full change of clothes.
• A warm layer for afterwards (especially in winter).
• A water bottle and a snack for the drive home.
• If you use contact lenses, consider a spare set — splash is part of the experience.

Lost Shore keeps the key requirements simple, and they are worth repeating clearly in your article:

• Minimum age for surf sessions is 6 years.
• You must be able to swim 25 m to join a surf session.
• Water depth ranges from 0.5 m – 1.2 m in the bay and 1 m – 2.5 m on the reef.
• Lifeguards are on duty, and helmets are available and ‘strongly recommended’.

If someone in your group is not comfortable in deeper water, it is still possible for them to enjoy the day without surfing — Lost Shore says you can visit the café, bar, and restaurant without booking an experience.

Lost Shore positions accessibility as a guiding principle and has an accessibility information page.

In its FAQs, it states the main resort and Cove area — including café, bar, restaurant, toilets, and changing areas — have been designed to be fully accessible. It also notes accessible accommodation options (for example, Kurv Waterfront Lodges).

VisitScotland’s listing also highlights features such as wheelchair access throughout, accessible toilets, level access, accessible parking/drop-off, and electric car charging.

Visitors frequently praise the resort’s facilities, staff, and overall experience. Some guests have noted areas for improvement, such as the distance from the car park to the accommodations and limited meal options for specific dietary requirements.

Lost Shore Surf Resort

4.4

Based on 270 reviews

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john braisby (.

18:26 27 Oct 25

Just had a fantastic “Intermediate surf weekend” at lost shore. It was a great group, really friendly and supportive atmosphere, absolutely made by our instructors Iain and Gavin. The video analysis sessions were superb. The focus on one thing at a time, personalised to each surfer, lead to a step change in results for me across the four sessions. I would highly recommend.

Fiona R.

12:44 27 Oct 25

Absolutely love this place! Have been down quite a lot since it opened last year. Great accommodation, food and all round ace vibes.
Have just recently attended 2 of the surfing weekends to help me progress with my surfing. Each of the coaches have been amazing, encouraging and put my mind at ease when I lacked confidence in my ability. Safe to say I have progressed a lot. Opportunity to meet like minded people when I’ve came down myself.
Iain, Kieran, Gavin and Lee ! Thanks for all your help can’t wait for the next one In November.

Dinny C.

16:49 21 Oct 25

Just back from my first experience at Lost Shore, Edinburgh, where I took part in the Advanced Coaching Weekend.

It was an absolutely brilliant few days — surfing perfect rights and lefts, with fantastic coaching throughout. It’s really reignited my excitement for surfing and left me eager to get out and practice all the new techniques I’ve learned.

Highly recommend it!
Thanks to Lee, Kieran & Johno for an epic weekend. 🌊🏄‍♂️

Robert S.

13:43 20 Oct 25

Soooo good on all levels.
Such a beautiful setting, super modern but cozy style, superb food and the best surfpool we have in Europe.
A noticeable improvement compared to Bristol which is one of the better ones already!
Nice changing rooms and warm showers, and soo many different wave settings. And trust me there are really fun and challenging waves for advanced surfers.
And pricing much more realistic than at some other pools (similar to many standing waves and much cheaper than Munich for example).
Happy kiddo leaving and definitely coming back soon!

Katie D.

20:42 10 Oct 25

Had a beginners plus lesson with Mike (absolutely fantastic instructor – very personable, funny and attentive) which we absolutely loved. Sauna experience after was great too. Showering/changing facilities were brilliant too – lots of locker space and very clean. Towel hire at £6 was a bit expensive.

John Q

04:41 07 Jul 25

I had an amazing surfing experience at Lost Shore Surf Resort. I didn’t catch any waves because my paddling fitness was terrible. But I can see how fun it would be when you can tune into catching waves. It’s expensive to do a session, but it’s worth every penny. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. I will go again.

Laura M.

12:20 05 Jul 25

We had an amazing time staying and surfing at Lost Shore. The waterside lodges are beautifully designed with lots of space, super comfy beds and pillows, and an amazing shower!

The waves were incredible- perfect for all levels- and the coaches were amazing, supportive and fun. The vibe at Lost Shore is super cool and unique and we can’t wait to come back again!

Megan R

15:08 04 Jul 25

The setting at Lost Shore in Edinburgh is absolutely stunning — the location and the surf resort vibe had us excited to relax and enjoy the cafe. Unfortunately, the experience inside the cafe didn’t match the surroundings at all.

From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt cold and unwelcoming. The staff seemed disinterested and borderline rude, which really took away from the overall vibe. We ordered drinks, which were quite expensive considering the quality — my hot chocolate wasn’t even lukewarm and tasted more like plain milk. I had to awkwardly ask for it to be reheated, and it felt like a bother rather than a basic request.

It took around 15–20 minutes to get our drinks, and once we finally had them, we were shocked when one of the staff came over and tried to take them away without asking if we were finished. We told her we were still drinking, yet about 10 minutes later, she returned and took my drink — I didn’t even realize until after she had walked away, as I was mid-conversation.

Overall, it was probably the worst service I’ve ever experienced in a cafe. Not a single smile, no acknowledgment, no warmth. It’s a real shame, because the location is brilliant and could have so much potential. Sadly, the cafe staff completely let it down. I hope the management seriously rethinks the customer service aspect, because it’s a huge contrast to what should be a welcoming, laid-back space.

Alison W.

05:51 12 May 25

Had the best weekend here with the family. The lodge was incredible; spacious, spotless, comfortable and with a fantastic view over the complex and beyond. We all had lessons/sessions too, all the staff were amazing, so enthusiastic, encouraging and helpful. The sauna was tremendous and Rob our host was fabulous. The food and drink selection were great and everything tasted fantastic. The whole vibe of the place is as you’d expect for a surf place, chill and fun. A truly memorable weekend and we hope to do it again soon.

Ruth M.

15:50 24 Apr 25

My ten year old and I had a super fun beginner lesson at Lost Shore. It worked for both of us on the same wave even though we were mixed experience levels. My daughter had never really surfed before and she had a whale of a time. I managed to find a lovely wee glassy reform wave without getting inanyone else’s way. Even in nippy April weather we were perfectly warm in our rental wetsuits and boots. Ruaraidh our instructor was great, super encouraging and explained everything well, with loads of practising techniques on the ground before we got in the water. Staff all were helpful and friendly. Lost Shore had that fun, surfy atmosphere that makes you want to carry on hanging around, drinking coffee, munching the yummy pizzas and watching some pretty capable lassies and lads on the bigger waves. I totally recommend Lost Shore for a fun family experience. (And even if you don’t wanna get in the water, there’s a cruiser wee surf-skate school right between the cafe and the water… not to mention the sauna and apparently even massages and yoga available. Plenty of stoke for everyone 🙂

Safety & Cleanliness

The resort is consistently described as clean and well-maintained. Guests appreciate the warm changing rooms and the provision of high-quality, plant-based wetsuits, which enhance comfort during surfing sessions.

If you want ‘surfing in Edinburgh’ without relying on wind, swell, or tides, Lost Shore is one of the most straightforward ways to do it — book a lesson or session, get the gear on-site, and surf a predictable wave setting for a defined hour. The swim requirement (25 m) and the depth (up to 2.5 m on the reef) are the main suitability checks, but for confident swimmers it is a genuinely high-quality, structured day out.

The images below offer a captivating glimpse into the world of Lost Shore Surf Resort, located just outside Edinburgh in the scenic village of Ratho. From the breathtaking aerial view of the Wavegarden-powered surf lagoon to action shots of surfers catching perfect, engineered waves, the resort’s scale and energy are vividly captured.

You will also see stylish on-site amenities such as the Canteen and relaxing communal dining spaces, along with the distinctive Armadilla Pods and family-friendly lodge interiors that make overnight stays comfortable and memorable.

Lost Shore Surf Resort stands as a remarkable addition to Scotland’s adventure tourism landscape. Its state-of-the-art wave pool, powered by Wavegarden technology, offers surfers of all levels the opportunity to experience consistent and customisable waves in a controlled environment. The resort’s commitment to sustainability, evident in its energy-efficient operations, aligns well with contemporary environmental concerns.

Beyond surfing, Lost Shore provides a comprehensive experience with its luxury accommodations, wellness facilities, and diverse dining options. The inclusion of amenities such as the Spear Sauna and the Surfskate Academy ensures that guests have a variety of activities to engage in during their stay. Moreover, the resort’s accessibility features, including six fully accessible lodges, demonstrate a commendable effort to cater to all visitors.

However, it’s worth noting that some guests have pointed out areas for improvement, such as clearer signage to the lodges and better lighting along certain pathways. Addressing these concerns would enhance the overall guest experience.

In conclusion, Lost Shore Surf Resort offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation, making it a compelling destination for both surfing enthusiasts and those seeking a memorable getaway in the Scottish countryside.

If you have visited Lost Shore we would love to hear from you.

Leave your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments section below — your insights help other families make the most of their water park adventures.