Snab Point (Lynemouth)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Snab Point (Lynemouth) is a reasonably exposed reef break on the Northumberland coast, commonly described as having both left and right lines and fairly consistent surf. Reports emphasize that it’s a rugged, rocky setup with a reef bottom, where conditions can change quickly with tide and swell. Surfing is generally strongest during the colder seasons—winter and spring—with additional guidance also noting autumn and winter for consistent swells. One report specifies it works best with a North or North-East swell, and that offshore winds from the West and South-West help groom the wave faces. Safety concerns are a major factor at this spot. Pollution is repeatedly flagged as a hazard, along with rips/strong currents and submerged rocks over a reef bottom. Water quality can be questioned, particularly after heavy rainfall, and one note also references historical industrial residue on the seafloor—so checking local water quality alerts before going out is strongly advised. Because the water is cold and the bottom is rocky/variable with tide, the spot is best suited to intermediate surfers who can manage reef conditions and moving water. Winter wetsuit protection with hood, gloves, and boots is consistently recommended, and rescue/lifeguard presence is not described as dedicated—so conservative decision-making in these hazards is important.
- Exposed reef break with consistent surf in winter and spring
- Offshore West/South-West winds can groom the faces
- Pollution and rip/current hazards require extra caution
- Winter wetsuit with hood, gloves, and boots recommended
- Exposed reef break with fairly consistent surf
- Both left and right waves reported (reef break)
- Works best in colder seasons when swell is more reliable
- Offshore wind conditions from the West/South-West can groom the wave faces
- Reef hazards including submerged rocks and shallow water at low tide
- Water pollution/risk concerns and pollution is specifically cited as a hazard
- Cold North Sea conditions requiring winter head/hand/foot protection
- Strong currents and rips reported
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, WSW
- Offshore directions
- W, WSW
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Primarily driven by frontal weather systems.
- Reliability
- Low to moderate; primarily dependent on North Atlantic low-pressure systems.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusting reported.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, May
- Shadow Zones
- The headland can provide some shelter from North-Westerly winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Mixed — Reef environment; rocky bottom with patches of sand reported by one provider.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size described as medium by one provider.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky shoreline with patches of sand; requires careful navigation.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate difficulty due to rocky shoreline and navigation through reef areas.
Through the year
Usually quiet year-round; winter sees the most activity.
Autumn and winter (especially November–March) for more frequent storms and rainfall; rain can affect water quality.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A reasonably exposed reef break with left and right lines and fairly consistent surf in winter and spring; a right-hand reef break is also specifically reported. Works best with suitable North or North-East swell.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Surfable at all stages of the tide is noted by one guide, with mid tide preferred by another.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the West and South-West groom the wave faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and difficult to manage with significant water movement over the reef.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling reef waves reported.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer rides of 50 to 100 meters on good days.
- Ride Length Details
- Typically medium rides; can extend to long rides (50–100 m) on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Snab Point (Lynemouth) in the full forecast view.
Snab Point (Lynemouth) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–30 ktsGusts 50 kts
- Direction
- SW223°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2530 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–2.0 m5s period
- Temperature
- 5–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Snab Point (Lynemouth) is forecast for daytime winds of 6–30 kts, peaking around 30 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 50 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.3–2.0 m with a period of about 5s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Pollution
- Rips
- Submerged rocks
- Strong currents
- Cold water temperatures
- Residual coal waste on the seafloor (historical coal dust residue)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Group guidance indicates rescue is limited and coverage is provided through RNLI monitoring with Coastguard support.
- Emergency Info
- Call 999 or 112 and ask for Coastguard.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Generally a quiet spot with locally known conditions.
Rules of the spot
General UK water safety guidelines apply. Check local water quality alerts before heading out; water quality may be poor after heavy rainfall.
- Water quality may be poor after heavy rainfall.
- Watch the tide carefully as the reef becomes very shallow and hazardous at low tide.
- Check local water quality alerts before heading out.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Lynemouth
- Nearest Town
- Lynemouth
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking or small gravel areas near coastal path access points.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Holiday rentals in Lynemouth and nearby Ellington; hotels available in Ashington.
- Food & Drink
- Local pubs and small shops in Lynemouth village.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on-site; closest surf shops are in Tynemouth or Amble.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Snab Point (Lynemouth)?
The best overall months at Snab Point (Lynemouth) are January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, May.
Which wind directions work at Snab Point (Lynemouth)?
Snab Point (Lynemouth) works with W, WSW winds. Offshore directions are W, WSW.
What skill level is Snab Point (Lynemouth) suitable for?
Snab Point (Lynemouth) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.