What a summer it’s been! 2025 has been a huge year for us at Blue Coast as we’ve continued to make improvements to the business, our activities, and the way we deliver them. We were lucky to enjoy consistently good weather right through spring and summer, which made for some brilliant days on the water and at the beach. It’s been amazing to see so many people join us for adventures, from first-time visitors to returning regulars. As always, the sea has delivered plenty of feel-good excitement, and we’ve loved sharing it with you all.
And the season isn’t over yet - we’re still running sessions through the autumn, with plenty more surfing, coasteering, and paddling still to come before we close up shop for the winter.
Some news and highlights from our season:
Staff Training & Team Development
A big focus for us this year has been on training and developing our team. We’ve run staff training sessions, invested in new qualifications, and are really proud to have become an SLSGB Accredited Training Centre in 2025. This accreditation has already allowed us to deliver our first Surf Coach Safety & Rescue courses involving rescue and first aid training, helping to upskill both our own instructors and others in Scotland and the local community. A big thanks to Claire at Banff Academy Surf Club for helping us with this as we smoothed out some initial teething issues with this new offering!
Building this kind of staff pipeline is a key part of making Blue Coast a sustainable presence in Cullen and Portknockie for years to come. By supporting our team to grow their skills and develop themselves, we’re committed to not only improving the quality of the sessions we deliver, but also providing opportunities and skill development for people interested in jobs or careers in the outdoor industry.
The Blue Coast Dream Team
This summer we were delighted to have Fin join us as our full-time contracted instructor, after working with us on a freelance basis in the past. Having him as part of the team full-time made a huge difference to our summer season — he was a great help across all activities, received lots of positive feedback and reviews from customers, and made a really valuable contribution to Blue Coast in 2025.
Outside of instructing, Fin also runs his own project alongside his university studies, Salty Fins Surf Co, where he hand-makes surf-inspired candles. We've sampled his candles ourselves and they are brilliant. Go and check out his Instagram and send him a message if you would like to purchase a candle and support his project.
We've also been lucky to be able to work with a great team of regular freelance instructors Kayleigh, Toby and Kasey helping to support our activity delivery and provide a quality experience for our guests, as well as help support trainee instructors with their supervised hours as they start their instruction journey. It's also been great to see our regular lesson assistants step up this year as well, taking on more responsibilities and getting more involved in delivery in our Nippers Kids Club. Shout out EmmieJo and Isla! Blue Coast has been supported by a solid team of lesson assistants this year from 14 years upwards - potential instructors of the future! Thank you Grace, Isaac, Luke and Bethyn.
Coasteering Adventures
Coasteering has truly taken off for us this year, with 2025 seeing more sessions delivered than ever before. It’s quickly become one of our most popular activities, and it’s easy to see why — from scrambling across the rocks and exploring sea caves to making those big leaps into the North Sea, every session is an adventure.
We’ve welcomed a wide range of groups, from school and youth groups, military adventurous activity training, and private family bookings to individuals and friends looking to push their comfort zones. Whether it’s adrenaline seekers after some high-energy fun or first-timers discovering the thrill of the coastline, it’s been brilliant to see so many people embrace this adventurous activity with us.
Thanks to Fabiano for this video that captures what coasteering is all about.
Kayak Hires
New for 2025, we’ve added sit-on-top kayak hire to our line-up of activities. With two kayaks available, it’s been a fantastic addition for those looking to enjoy the water at their own pace. Whether it’s some relaxed fun in the safety of Portknockie Harbour or heading out to explore the hidden secrets of the coastline when the conditions are just right, the kayaks have already proven to be a big hit.
It’s another great way for people to experience the beauty of our coastline and adds yet more variety to the adventures on offer at Blue Coast.
Kids Summer Camps
Our 4-day Kids Summer Camps continue to be one of our favourite parts of the year, and 2025 was no exception. We ran four camps over the summer, every one of them fully booked and full of energy from start to finish.
It’s always inspiring to see young people grow in confidence, pick up new skills, and make new friends along the way. These camps have become a real highlight for both participants and instructors, and we’re proud to play a part in creating those lasting memories of summer at the beach.
Autumn Adventure Camp in the October Holidays
We’re excited to be running our Autumn Adventure Camp during the October Holidays — a 3-day programme packed with surfing, paddleboarding, and coasteering. Designed for ages 8–15, it’s the perfect way to keep the adventure going into autumn. With small group coaching, top-quality equipment, and professional instructors (all experienced lifeguards with safeguarding training), participants will develop new skills, learn about the coastal environment, and most importantly — have a ton of fun.
📅 13th–15th October, mornings at Cullen & Portknockie
Spaces are limited — book your spot here and let your child experience the ultimate coastal adventure this autumn!
Groups & Community
Working with schools, youth groups, and organisations is always a highlight of our season, and 2025 has been no different. We’ve welcomed a wide range of groups including schools on multi-day activity programmes, Guides and Scouts, and the RAF, who joined us for several adventure activity training days. We were also happy to support the launch of Turas Mòr whisky with a coasteering session as part of their launch event.
These sessions are always full of energy and bring something a bit different to our regular programme. One of the standout moments this year came from a Scout group, who made their Scout Promise while coasteering — stood together on a rock being washed by the swell. Definitely one of the most unique and memorable places we’ve ever seen a promise made!
Women's Surf & Wellness Session
In June we ran our first Women’s Surf & Wellness Session, led by instructor Kasey. It was a really positive day, with a focus on enjoying the water in a supportive environment and taking time out for wellbeing. What made it extra special was seeing participants keen to stay in touch afterwards — a reminder of the sense of connection that can come from spending time together in the sea.
We’re pleased with how well this first session was received and hope to offer more opportunities like this in the future.
Blue Lighthouse Sessions
2025 has been the first full season of delivering our Blue Lighthouse sessions — a fully funded programme supporting the wellbeing of public sector workers. From NHS staff to teachers and emergency services, it’s been fantastic to welcome participants to the water and provide a chance to step back, recharge, and enjoy the benefits of being in the sea.
We’ve had some really encouraging feedback from those who have taken part, and later this year we’ll be preparing an evaluation report to evidence the positive impact of the programme. This will be an important step in helping us secure support to continue offering these opportunities in the future.
Surf Shack & Tech Improvements
Our mobile Surf Shack made a colourful addition to Cullen Beach this summer. With bamboo screening, new signage, and decking, it’s become a bright and welcoming space that shows what Blue Coast is all about. The shack is fully mobile and allows us to bring our base to life right at the beach while keeping things flexible for our operations.
Behind the scenes, we’ve also been investing heavily in technology to make Blue Coast run more smoothly. This year saw the launch of our custom internal web application, The Harbour, which streamlines staff operations, centralises resources, and reduces the admin burden across the team. From integrated booking and waiver systems, to risk assessments, equipment management, rotas, training resources, and more, The Harbour has transformed how we operate day to day. Having a single system tailored to our needs has helped simplify the way we work, reduce costs, and improve the flow of day-to-day operations for the whole team.
Looking Ahead
As summer winds down, we’re enjoying the shift into our autumn programme, with sessions and hires running Thursday through Monday until the end of October. The changing seasons bring a different kind of magic to the coast, and it’s been brilliant to keep sharing adventures with so many of you as the year goes on.
For those planning ahead (or thinking about gifts), don’t forget we offer Blue Coast gift vouchers for all of our activities — a great way to give someone a feel-good coastal experience. Our online equipment shop is also open year-round, with a range of wetsuits, boards, and accessories, all available with free UK-wide delivery.
We’re excited for the weeks ahead and look forward to welcoming more of you to the beach this autumn!
See you at the beach,
The Blue Coast Team 🤙
