Westermarkelsdorf / Fehmarn / Germany

Westermarkelsdorf is situated on the north west coast of the Island of Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea which is joined to the mainland by a bridge. It is a popular tourist destination and used widely by fairly experienced surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. There is also sailing in the area. The season is mainly from April to November although off season is possible with a thick wetsuit, gloves, shoes and mask.

There is a small sandy beach with some pebbles and to the south there are some larger stones which makes it unsuitable for beginners. It gets very crowded during the summer months and so is probably best avoided at this time. You can get here by heading to Schlagsdorf and following signs to Westermarkelsdorf and “Strand”. You can park directly behind the dam as long as your car is no higher than 2 metres.

The winds are mainly frontal westerlies with depressions and work best from fall to spring. The summer winds are generally lighter and on the whole, winds from south west and the north work best in the area. The water quality is good and the water can be either flat or choppy depending on the wind direction. The best waves are with a south west wind and are between 1-3 meters high. You need to be careful in strong winds, however, as there is a stronger current and shore break. Summers are nice and warm and the water temperature varies between 15-22 degrees, with an air temperature of around 15 degrees for the season, reaching a maximum of 30 degrees in the summer.

There's not much here at the beach apart from toilets and parking and if you need supplies then it is best to drive in Burg. There is limited in night life in Burg during the summer but it is pretty quiet the rest of the time.

The area is only suitable for experienced riders as there are big stones on the beach, plus shore break and a strong water current.