Kingsbarns, UK
Also within 20 km of Kingsbarns
- St Andrews East Sands Surf spot · 8.6 km from Kingsbarns
Watch this spot We email you when Kingsbarns is worth the trip.
About Kingsbarns
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (60°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (240°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 1.0 km out (1 in 101). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 7°C in January, its coldest month (5/4 or 6/5, hood, boots and gloves), and 14°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and October, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Kingsbarns, 0.1 km away (about 5 min by car).
Water about 12°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 13 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to EDI, direct.
See flights ORD → EDI · Skyscanner from about £375 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 20 from the airport to Kingsbarns.
Accommodation.
Stay in KingsbarnsAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Kingsbarns (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Kingsbarns 1 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 7 places to stay · where Kingsbarns stays
Places to stay in Kingsbarns · Booking.com AdSt Andrews 17 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 88 places to stay
Places to stay in St Andrews · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Kingsbarns · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Kingsbarns · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Kingsbarns on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 16, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 6kJ | offshorewind from the west, 5 knots, offshore | 10°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft4 smushy | 11kJ | wind from the north-east, 1 knot | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 10, poor | 3 ft7 smushy | 89kJ | wind from the south-east, 17 knots | 12°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 36, fair | 5 ft7 smushy | 183kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 12°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 27, too small | 2 ft6 smushy | 27kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 12 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft3 smushy | 1kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 2 knots | 12°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 14, too small | 1 ft5 smushy | 5kJ | offshorewind from the west, 13 knots, offshore | 9°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft6 smushy | 28kJ | offshorewind from the west-south-west, 21 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 2, too small | under 1 ft4 s | 0kJ | offshorewind from the south-west, 13 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 21, too small | 3 ft5 smushy | 33kJ | wind from the south, 12 knots | 11°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to EDI, then 1h 20 by road. About 13h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 14 of 80.
- Wed 21 OctSurf Kingsbarns
Best 16:00 to 19:00 local time: 5 ft at 7 s, wind 3 kn (6 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to EDI, then 1h 20 by road. About 13h 15 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,105–£2,055 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to EDI, estimated from distance and season, 1 airline on the route, with a hold bag | £375–£780 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £105–£175 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £250–£420 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £240–£445 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £100–£170 |
| Total | £1,105–£2,055 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Kingsbarns
- The Cheesy Toast S1.0 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
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