Local boy Chris Noble salutes as an empty wave as it collides with the reef. Photo Tim Nunn
As you cross over the border into Scotland and the land around begins to rise up into smooth rolling hills, pine forests neatly perched atop their brows, any irritation that has formed over a dozen hours of driving begins to melt away and the mind relaxes as it drifts towards the corduroy seas and expansive rugged coastline that awaits.
Since the late 60’s surfers and their craft have travelled the long route between Scotland’s Northern Coast and the South West of England. Indeed the route holds particular historical significance as some of the first ever surfboards to be ridden in Scotland’s frigid sea’s were brought back along it after a Scottsman discovered surfing whilst holidaying in Cornwall.
Photo Luke Gartside
For the 50 years since, the flow of surfers has been nearly continuous, with each new generation of Cornish surfers seeking to cut their teeth along Scotland’s raw and swell battered coastline. Whilst the landscape which rushes past the window on such journeys has changed vastly over the years, as a result of waves of industry and culture, the car loads of surfers have remained a constant, along with the waves they are rushing to meet, which continue to break obligingly down Scotland’s many untouched reefs.
Along with the swathes of surfers, a hardy bunch of lensmen have made this regular pilgrimage, setting out to document the pioneering of new spots, local rippers and the abundance of unmolested waves which the nation hosts. We’ve scoured the Wavelength archives to bring you a selection of our favourite images shot by staff photographers past and present:
Chris Noble surfing during the moonrise on the north coast. Photo Greg MartinMicah Lester pig-dogs through a sheet-glass blue Bagpipes keg. Photo Tim NunnThe view across the harbour to Scotland's most well known jewel- Thurso East . Photo Tim NunnJosh Knowles salutes an empty barrel during his first outing at Bagpipes. Photo Greg MartinVisiting Frenchman Vincent Verdier locks into the wave of the day at Thurso during a rare summer swell. Photo Luke GartsideWe'd sat around all day waiting for an unruly swell to clean up in Thruso. It did but was really too big for this reef, Timmy Turner and Tim Nunn paddled and swam out anyway, but it was a nightmare really. Timmy got one wave and then they got washed in. Photo Tim NunnLocal boy Chris Noble salutes as an empty wave as it collides with the reef. Photo Tim NunnA barely surfable slab in one of the most wave rich stretches of coast in Britain. Photo Greg MartinThis was the very first wave Tim Nunn shot at this place on the first day it was surfed, it looks so much more perfect than it really is.Russ Winter during a stand out session at Bagpipes. Photo Ben SelwayA beautiful crystal blue empty. Photo Tim NunnThat's Tom Butler paddling out on this slab, the wave before this one he pulled into a solid one and scored the cover of the mag. Photo Tim Nunn.Alan Stokes stalls for a stand up barrel at Thurso. Photo Greg MartinRuss Winter eyes the beast. Photo Ben SelwayMatt Williams pauses for a moment to watch a set before suiting up and jumping in. Photo Luke GartsideRick Willmet in very shallow water. Photo Tim NunnA perfect empty peeler catches the rising sunlight. Photo Tim NunnMicah Lester, stroking out at No.10 on the first day he had surfed it. It was very tricky, and he only got a couple. Photo Tim Nunn.
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