Tuesday November 5th 2024
Lost Shore Surf Resort in Ratho near Edinburgh.
Scotland’s leisure and tourism industry is making waves as Lost Shore Surf Resort, the nation’s first inland surf destination, officially opens its doors on the 11th November. Located in Ratho, near Edinburgh, this game-changing £60m attraction boasts Europe’s largest and most advanced wave pool, positioning Scotland as a new global hub for adventure tourism.
Set within extensive grounds, Lost Shore Surf Resort offers a range of amenities including luxury accommodation, a waterfront bar, café, restaurant, surf school, surf shop, The Surfskate Academy, Spear Sauna, and wellness treatments.
As the largest investment in Scottish sporting infrastructure since the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the resort is expected to welcome over 160,000 visitors annually, create more than 130 jobs, and contribute £11 million to the local economy each year.
At the heart of Lost Shore Surf Resort is the state-of-the-art wave pool powered by Wavegarden technology. This enormous pool, three times the size of Wembley Stadium’s pitch, can generate up to 1,000 customisable waves per hour. From complete beginners to seasoned pros, surfers of all abilities will have the chance to ride world-class waves designed to their skill level.
With a 250-metre beachfront and over 20 wave types, surfers can fine-tune their skills while receiving expert tuition. Each surf session or lesson includes the use of high-performance, plant-based wetsuits and surfboards, ensuring comfort and warmth in any weather.
The resort also offers surfskating, an exciting variation of skateboarding that simulates ocean surfing on dry land. The Surfskate Academy helps surfers enhance their technique, making it a great way to prepare for the waves or get introduced to the sport.
In keeping with its commitment to inclusivity, Lost Shore Surf Resort will host several charitable initiatives. Inclusive Surfing Scotland will offer adaptive surfing opportunities for individuals of all abilities, while The Wave Project will provide their Surf Therapy sessions for young people facing various challenges—leading to a positive effect on the mental health and wellbeing of young people in the area.
In addition to its world-class surfing facilities, Lost Shore Surf Resort features Canteen, a rotating selection of top Scottish eateries in its waterfront bar, café, and restaurant. Visitors can enjoy diverse, seasonally driven dishes from beloved culinary favourites such as Glasgow’s Five March, Rafa’s Diner, and the iconic Edinburgh pizzeria Civerinos.
For those looking to extend their stay, the resort offers luxurious accommodation with stunning views of the surf pool. Hilltop Lodges, with three or four bedrooms accommodating 6-8 guests, outdoor showers, and wetsuit storage, cater perfectly to families and groups and offer stunning views of the resort. The Waterfront Lodges provide a scenic stay just steps from the surf, accommodating up to four people.
For accessible accommodation, the bespoke Kurvs feature sliding doors, wide corridors, and wheelchair-friendly amenities, ensuring a comfortable stay for up to four guests.
Waterfront Pods, designed for singles or couples, offer floating super-king beds, underfloor heating, and ensuite bathrooms.
For the complete resort experience, Lost Shore Surf Resort offers indulgent wellness treatments by Michelle Denham, including facials and massages, delivered by a team of highly skilled therapists. The Spear Sauna, located by the water’s edge, provides a refreshing experience with waterfall buckets for an invigorating cool-down after a relaxing sauna session.
There is a dedicated private event studio with space for up to 120 guests for corporate events, brand launches, meetings and private parties.
Throughout December, Lost Shore Surf Resort will be home to Christmas events such as The Lost Feast, a beautiful immersive indoor winter woodland for an incredible long table lunch or dinner provided by the critically acclaimed Five March. There will also be the Lost Cinema, where you can step through the Narnia wardrobe and enjoy festive film classics in a beautiful indoor winter woodland cinema.
Andy Hadden, founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, said:
“This is a dream come true. Lost Shore Surf Resort is a hub of world-class adventure, hospitality, and wellness. After ten years of planning, it’s thrilling to open our doors and welcome visitors to experience this incredible resort. We believe Lost Shore will make surfing accessible to everyone, whilst also showcasing Scotland as a top destination for adventure tourism. I can’t wait to see more people realise the mental and physical benefits of surfing. Who knows—this could be the training ground for Scotland’s next Olympic surfing champion.”
Stephen Leckie, Chair of VisitScotland, said:
“Lost Shore is an exciting development which could be truly transformational for the region and Scotland. Our stunning coastline has been bringing surfers to Scotland for many years and this new resort will only enhance its reputation as a world-class surfing and visitor destination. We know outdoor activities are a huge draw for visitors while water wellness, where visitors can recharge with water-based activities, continues to be an ongoing trend. Lost Shore will be able to capitalise on those trends with surfing aficionados, those tempted to try out the sport, and those who want to take in this unique visitor experience.”
Paul Stark, Chief Executive of the Scottish Surfing Federation, commented:
“Lost Shore Surf Resort delivers a truly world-class venue for Scottish surfers and supports our mission to positively impact lives through the sport of surfing. The ability to surf consistently on customisable waves, regardless of the weather or season, is a game-changer. Not only will this facility support our Scottish athletes excel on a world stage, but it will also open up the sport to a much wider audience, safely encouraging more people to give it a try and experience all the mental and physical benefits that surfing can bring.”
Ben Larg, Scottish big wave surfer and Red Bull athlete, told us:
“When I first became involved with Lost Shore, I was a junior surfer, and now I’m surfing some of the biggest waves in the world, like those at Nazaré in Portugal. Having a facility like this is a massive boost for Scottish surfing. It will give young surfers the chance to train consistently on world-class waves, something I didn’t have growing up. I’m excited to see how Lost Shore helps develop the next generation of Scottish surfers.”
Ruairidh Farquarson, Co-ordinator at The Wave Project, is thrilled saying:
“We’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of surfing and community, particularly when it comes to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Our Surf Therapy intervention has proven to be truly life changing for the young people we work with and partnering with Lost Shore Surf Resort allows us to bring Surf Therapy into a state-of-the-art environment that’s accessible year-round. This facility will enable us to help even more children in Scotland experience the therapeutic benefits of surfing in a well located, accessible and controlled setting. We’re thrilled to be part of this incredible development.”
Josema Odriozola, Founder of Wavegarden, said:
“It’s great to see Lost Shore Surf Resort come to life with a 52 module Wavegarden Cove, our biggest in Europe. This project is the epitome of what our company is about: bringing perfect waves to locations where they previously didn’t exist so everyone can experience the joy of surfing. Every aspect of our wave-making technology is engineered to provide the best customer experience while maximising energy and water efficiency, with regular software updates to ensure the resort remains at the forefront of what is possible.”
To find out more visit www.lostshore.com
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