Inside £55 million surfing destination with huge wavepool to open in Scotland

A MEGA surfers paradise with a giant wave pool, spa and luxury accommodation is set to open near Edinburgh.

Wavegarden Scotland will be the country’s first inland surfing destination and will feature a massive pool where surfers can ride 1,000 ocean-like waves an hour.

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Work began this week on the £55m landmark development, at Ratho on the outskirts of the capital, near to the city’s airport.

Set within a 60-acre country park, the new destination will offer waterside accommodation, including luxury lodges, glamping pods, accessible wave pods, bothies and canal berths.

It will also feature a surf school and restaurants and create up to 130 jobs once open and hopes to attract over 180,000 visitors a year.

The family-friendly park will, for the first time, give Scottish surfers the opportunity to train at home all year round and improve their chances of competing at major events, including the Olympics.

The development will use the latest wave generation technology called the Wavegarden Cove, developed by Wavegarden in Spain and the site will host surfers of all abilities.

It will include a raft of new Wavegarden technology, including improved air and tube riding sections, as well as Waikiki and Malibu waves which break in the reef areas for the beginners.

Wavegarden Scotland will also be home to The HUB, with facilities including a waterfront restaurant and food market, retail outlets, a surf school, a wellness spa, and a number viewing terraces overlooking the surf.

Lothian-based company, Rogue Village will develop the programme of events and create a unique food destination.

Andy Hadden, Founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd which is developing Wavegarden Scotland said: “It has taken many years of hard work and collaboration to get to this point and we could not be happier to see work begin on the country’s first surf park.

“This is a special moment for all the team and marks a major milestone in our journey to creating this extraordinary leisure and staycation attraction for Scotland.”

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VisitScotland Regional Director Neil Christison said: “It is fantastic to see innovative investment such as this into the tourism product for Edinburgh and the surrounding area.

“This unique development will make an impressive addition to the tourism offering in Scotland as a whole, creating jobs and supporting the continued recovery of this vital part of our economy.

“We look forward to working with the Wavegarden Scotland team as the development continues.

“VisitScotland is committed to championing change to shape the responsible growth of Scotland’s valuable tourism and events industry in a way that respects people and places.”

Fernando Odriozola, Wavegarden’s Chief Commercial Officer added: “The project in Scotland is progressing and reinforces the confidence our clients and the market has in our leading technology.”

Wavegarden has more than 60 projects currently in development across the globe, seven facilities already open and seven projects currently under construction across four continents, proving the growing global appetite for surfing and its many physical and mental health benefits.

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