Aberdeen

Between the rivers Dee and Don, Aberdeen's city beach is the locals' choice for a quick after-work session. A couple of times a year it can provide perfect sideshore wavesailing in southerly wind and N swell, but more often it's messy onshore waves seething over a chaos of sandbars. Plus there are groynes, a rip, and at higher states of tide a wind shadow from the steep sea defences to contend with. Not ideal for kiters, but worth a look for windsurfers who don't have time to drive further north. Maybe give it a miss if Aberdeen FC are playing at home in nearby Pittodrie Park though!