While it was mainly southern Europe getting the Newsnight love, it was the somewhat darker, more sinister Western Isles of Scotland that provided a bit of northern exposure for intrepid Reubyn Ash. Photos: Ben Selway

Scotland is always an experience as a surfer, whatever the waves are doing.

“Winter is a wicked season to be a surfer in Europe, it’s a great time for waves here in Britain.

I like it because we can get really good waves at home in the UK, and then I just watch the charts for the whole of Europe and can do cool short trips on a swell, and still get a bit of home time in the mix.

Last autumn was rad of course, with all the swell that hit, and this winter has been relentless. I saw the boys going mad at Nazaré and all that crazy huge stuff and thought ‘Rather them than me… hahaha’.