Tag: second anniversary

Lost Shore celebrates two years, one million waves and visitors from 77 countries

Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh is celebrating two years of putting Scotland on the international surfing map, welcoming visitors from 77 countries, attracting global music stars and becoming a training destination for Olympic hopefuls.

Since opening in November 2024, the £60m resort, home to Europe’s largest inland wave pool, has transformed Scotland’s surfing landscape.

New figures reveal that Lost Shore has delivered 35,245 surf lessons in the past year alone, with guests enjoying more than 70,000 surf sessions and an estimated 1,055,136 waves.

The milestone follows a landmark year in which Lost Shore was named the world’s best surf park by attractions industry title Blooloop and secured partnerships with GB Surfing, Irish Surfing and Norwegian Surfing.

Designated a National Performance Centre and Olympic Training Facility by GB Surfing and Irish Surfing, Lost Shore is now helping elite athletes prepare for major international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Its partnership with Norwegian Surfing further strengthens Edinburgh’s growing reputation as a European surfing hub.

The resort has also become a popular destination for international music stars. Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo hit the waves alongside Gojira drummer Mario Duplantier ahead of the band’s Hampden Park concert, while Westlife star Kian Egan enjoyed a surfing getaway with his family before embarking on the group’s worldwide anniversary tour.

Closer to home, Lost Shore has introduced thousands to surfing, hosting international competitions including the Hi-Land Fling and Red Bull Sessions, while expanding opportunities for young athletes, students and community groups. 

Lost Shore is also championing the wider benefits of surfing through surf therapy for emergency service workers, adaptive surfing programmes and its pioneering SurfLab research partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, highlighting the sport’s positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing.

Andy Hadden, Founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, said: “When we opened Lost Shore two years ago, we knew we were doing something ambitious, but to see what it has become in such a short time is genuinely extraordinary.

“In this year alone, we’ve secured landmark partnerships with national surfing organisations in Britain, Ireland and Norway, establishing Lost Shore as an international training destination.

“With wave parks now emerging around the world, Lost Shore is increasingly being seen as a blueprint for how these destinations can become part of their communities, rather than simply commercial attractions. That’s testament to the dozens of Scottish businesses that helped bring our vision to life.

“We set out to create something that would change the future of surfing in Scotland, and two years in, we’re only just getting started.”

The milestone also underlines Lost Shore’s growing contribution to Scottish tourism, with the resort delivering a boost of more than £20 million to the Scottish economy through its surfing, accommodation, hospitality and wellness offering. 

Lee Wood, Managing Director of Lost Shore Surf Resort, added: “Welcoming visitors from 77 countries this year alone shows the incredible international appeal of Lost Shore and the growing appetite for surfing in Scotland.

“What makes it particularly special is opening up surfing to everyone, whether that’s someone catching their first wave, a family trying something new or an elite athlete training for the Olympics.

“With more than 35,000 lessons delivered in the past year alone, we’re making surfing accessible to people who might never have imagined themselves on a surfboard, while giving visitors from around the world another reason to discover Scotland.”

And Lost Shore is preparing to end the year in spectacular style, with a special Hogmanay celebration featuring live music, ceilidh dancing and a midnight surf to welcome 2027.

Among those taking to the waves will be 16-year-old Isaac Friend from Cornwall, who has spent 2026 surfing every day to raise money for BBC Children in Need, raising more than £5,000 so far.

After completing his year-long challenge, Isaac is set to become the first surfer to ride Lost Shore’s waves in 2027, marking a memorable start to the resort’s third year.

From its first waves in November 2024 to the first waves of 2027, Lost Shore is showing no signs of slowing down.

Brexit damage continues to mount

Two year anniversary of the end of the transition period

The people of Scotland must be given a choice about their future given the damage inflicted by Brexit, Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson has said.

Marking two years since the end of the transition period to leave the European Union after 47 years of membership, Mr Robertson highlighted the negative impacts Brexit continues to have on Scotland’s economy.

Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said: “The damages caused by Brexit just continue to mount.

“In the two years since the end of the transition period, we have seen no advantages to leaving the European Union. The cost of living crisis and recession are being felt more deeply in the UK than anywhere else, with recent research showing food bills in the UK are £210 higher in the last two years due to Brexit. Households on the lowest incomes are the hardest hit.

“The UK economy is fundamentally on the wrong path and there is no real alternative on offer within the current system.

“The Scottish Government is committed to giving the people of Scotland a choice about the future they want – a greener, wealthier and fairer economy within the European Union, or a sluggish, stagnating economy outside of the European Union. We will continue to publish the Building a New Scotland series of prospectus papers to ensure people can make that informed choice.

“According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, UK GDP is expected to be 4% lower as a consequence of Brexit – this equates to around £100 billion in output and £40 billion in public revenues lost each and every year. Businesses are suffering from lower exports to the EU, labour shortages and recruitment challenges. These issues are also affecting our NHS, with new research by the Nuffield Trust showing that lower EU migration is exacerbating staff shortages.

“Scotland is and always has been a proud European nation and we’re determined to continue to be an active and constructive participant on EU matters, which will ease the process of Scotland’s future return to the EU.

“This is in stark contrast to the approach being taken by the UK Government, intent on undermining retained EU law which will be hugely damaging to people and businesses in Scotland.”

Building a New Scotland