Lately, videos of surfers tackling big waves along the Scottish coast have been making waves themselves, from Thurso to Fife to Portobello near Edinburgh.

Thurso, the Viking-approved town, named “Thor’s River” because apparently, Norse gods were into geography. Picture this: a place unspooling northward from Loch Rumsdale, like a geographical Netflix series leading to a grand finale in the North Atlantic. Marvel at the unexpected love story between man and ocean, where powerful waves break over kelp-covered reefs – a real tearjerker.

Once upon a time, Vikings sailed in with raven banners (yes, those are a thing) and gave Britain a taste of their seafaring drama. Fast forward to today, and Thurso East is now a hotspot for Scotland’s cold-water surfers. Move aside, Nordic adventurers; it’s time for surfers in neoprene wetsuits to steal the spotlight. Meet Mark Boyd, the Scottish surf champ who’s so dedicated, he migrated to Thurso like it’s the tropical paradise of the North. When he’s not conquering waves worldwide, you can spot him looking like a selkie – a mythical creature that’s part human, part seal. Because why settle for just being a surf champ when you can be a folklore icon too? Surf’s up, and so is the sarcasm!

According to Boyd, who’s not just a surfing champ but also the sports operation manager for the Scottish Surfing Federation (yes, that’s a thing), Thurso is the hidden gem for wave enthusiasts. Giant depressions and north-facing winds create the ultimate surfer’s paradise – forget tropical beaches, we’ve got world-class breakers up here.