diff --git a/doc/api/index.rst b/doc/api/index.rst
index b2a99d2..7ef2a85 100644
--- a/doc/api/index.rst
+++ b/doc/api/index.rst
@@ -73,6 +73,15 @@ Utilities
     grid_to_table
     median_distance
 
+Input/Output
+------------
+
+.. autosummary::
+   :toctree: generated/
+
+    load_surfer
+
+
 .. automodule:: verde.datasets
 
 .. currentmodule:: verde
diff --git a/verde/__init__.py b/verde/__init__.py
index 2ff1b89..6092c57 100644
--- a/verde/__init__.py
+++ b/verde/__init__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from .coordinates import (
 )
 from .mask import distance_mask
 from .utils import variance_to_weights, maxabs, grid_to_table
+from .io import load_surfer
 from .distances import median_distance
 from .blockreduce import BlockReduce, BlockMean
 from .scipygridder import ScipyGridder
diff --git a/verde/io.py b/verde/io.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aae7553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/verde/io.py
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+"""
+Functions for input and output of grids in less common formats.
+"""
+import numpy as np
+import xarray as xr
+
+
+def load_surfer(fname, dtype="float64"):
+    """
+    Read data from a Surfer ASCII grid file.
+
+    This function reads a Surfer grid file, masks any NaNs in the data,
+    and outputs a :class:`xarray.DataArray` that contains easting and northing
+    coordinates, data values, and associated file metadata.
+
+    Surfer is a contouring, griding and surface mapping software
+    from GoldenSoftware. The names and logos for Surfer and Golden
+    Software are registered trademarks of Golden Software, Inc.
+
+    http://www.goldensoftware.com/products/surfer
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    fname : str or file-like object
+        Name or path of the Surfer grid file or an open file (or file-like) object.
+    dtype : str or numpy.dtype
+        The type of variable used for the data. Default is ``float64``. Use
+        ``float32`` if the data are large and precision is not an issue.
+
+    Returns
+    ----------
+    data : :class:`xarray.DataArray`
+        A 2D grid with the data.
+
+    """
+    # Surfer ASCII grid structure
+    # DSAA            Surfer ASCII GRD ID
+    # nCols nRows     number of columns and rows
+    # xMin xMax       X min max
+    # yMin yMax       Y min max
+    # zMin zMax       Z min max
+    # z11 z21 z31 ... List of Z values
+
+    # Only open a file if given a path instead of a file-like object
+    ispath = not hasattr(fname, "readline")
+    if ispath:
+        input_file = open(fname, "r")
+    else:
+        input_file = fname
+    try:
+        grid_id, shape, region, data_range = _read_surfer_header(input_file)
+        field = np.loadtxt(input_file, dtype=dtype)
+        nans = field >= 1.70141e38
+        if np.any(nans):
+            field = np.ma.masked_where(nans, field)
+        _check_surfer_integrity(field, shape, data_range)
+        attrs = {"gridID": grid_id}
+        if ispath:
+            attrs["file"] = fname
+        dims = ("northing", "easting")
+        coords = {
+            "northing": np.linspace(*region[2:], shape[0]),
+            "easting": np.linspace(*region[:2], shape[1]),
+        }
+        data = xr.DataArray(field, coords=coords, dims=dims, attrs=attrs)
+    finally:
+        if ispath:
+            input_file.close()
+    return data
+
+
+def _read_surfer_header(input_file):
+    """
+    Parse the header record of the grid file.
+
+    The header contains information on the grid shape, region, and the minimum and
+    maximum data values.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    input_file : file-like object
+        An open file to read from.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    grid_id : str
+        The ID of the Surfer ASCII grid.
+    shape : tuple = (n_northing, n_easting)
+        The number of grid points in the northing and easting dimension, respectively.
+    region : tuple = (west, east, south, north)
+        The grid region.
+    data_range : list = [min, max]
+        The minimum and maximum data values.
+
+    """
+    # DSAA is a Surfer ASCII GRD ID
+    grid_id = input_file.readline().strip()
+    # Read the grid shape (n_northing, n_easting)
+    shape = tuple(int(i.strip()) for i in input_file.readline().split())
+    # Our x points North, so the first thing we read north-south.
+    south, north = [float(i.strip()) for i in input_file.readline().split()]
+    west, east = [float(i.strip()) for i in input_file.readline().split()]
+    region = (west, east, south, north)
+    # The min and max of the data values (used for validation)
+    data_range = [float(i.strip()) for i in input_file.readline().split()]
+    return grid_id, shape, region, data_range
+
+
+def _check_surfer_integrity(field, shape, data_range):
+    """
+    Check that the grid matches the information from the header.
+    """
+    if field.shape != shape:
+        raise IOError(
+            "Grid shape {} doesn't match shape read from header {}.".format(
+                field.shape, shape
+            )
+        )
+    field_range = [field.min(), field.max()]
+    if not np.allclose(field_range, data_range):
+        raise IOError(
+            "Grid data range {} doesn't match range read from header {}.".format(
+                field_range, data_range
+            )
+        )

diff --git a/verde/tests/test_io.py b/verde/tests/test_io.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..046d17b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/verde/tests/test_io.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+# pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+"""
+Test the I/O functions.
+"""
+import os
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
+from io import StringIO
+
+import pytest
+import numpy as np
+import numpy.testing as npt
+
+from ..io import load_surfer, _read_surfer_header, _check_surfer_integrity
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sample_grid():
+    "A simple grid for testing"
+    grid = StringIO(
+        """DSAA
+        2 6
+        1.0 1000.0
+        2.0 2000.0
+        11 61
+        11 21 31 41 51 61
+        12 22 32 42 52 27.5
+        """
+    )
+    return grid
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def sample_grid_nans():
+    "A simple grid with NaNs for testing"
+    grid = StringIO(
+        """DSAA
+        2 6
+        1.0 1000.0
+        2.0 2000.0
+        11 61
+        11 21 1.70141e38 41 1.70141e38 61
+        12 22 32 42 52 1.70141e38
+        """
+    )
+    return grid
+
+
+def test_load_surfer_header(sample_grid):
+    "Tests the surfer header parser"
+    grid_id, shape, region, data_range = _read_surfer_header(sample_grid)
+    assert grid_id == "DSAA"
+    assert shape == (2, 6)
+    npt.assert_allclose(region, (2, 2000, 1, 1000))
+    npt.assert_allclose(data_range, (11, 61))
+
+
+def test_load_surfer(sample_grid):
+    "Tests the main function on a StringIO file-like object"
+    grid = load_surfer(sample_grid)
+    assert grid.dims == ("northing", "easting")
+    assert grid.attrs["gridID"] == "DSAA"
+    assert grid.shape == (2, 6)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.min(), 1)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.max(), 1000)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.min(), 2)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.max(), 2000)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.min(), 11)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.max(), 61)
+    field = np.array([[11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61], [12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 27.5]])
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.values, field)
+
+
+def test_load_surfer_nans(sample_grid_nans):
+    "Tests the main function on a StringIO file-like object"
+    grid = load_surfer(sample_grid_nans)
+    assert grid.dims == ("northing", "easting")
+    assert grid.attrs["gridID"] == "DSAA"
+    assert grid.shape == (2, 6)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.min(), 1)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.max(), 1000)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.min(), 2)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.max(), 2000)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.min(), 11)
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.max(), 61)
+    field = np.array([[11, 21, np.nan, 41, np.nan, 61], [12, 22, 32, 42, 52, np.nan]])
+    npt.assert_allclose(grid.values, field)
+
+
+def test_load_surfer_file(sample_grid):
+    "Tests the main function on a file on disk"
+    tmpfile = NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False)
+    tmpfile.close()
+    try:
+        with open(tmpfile.name, "w") as infile:
+            infile.write(sample_grid.getvalue())
+        grid = load_surfer(tmpfile.name)
+        assert grid.dims == ("northing", "easting")
+        assert grid.attrs["gridID"] == "DSAA"
+        assert grid.attrs["file"] == tmpfile.name
+        assert grid.shape == (2, 6)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.min(), 1)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.northing.max(), 1000)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.min(), 2)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.easting.max(), 2000)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.min(), 11)
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.max(), 61)
+        field = np.array([[11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61], [12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 27.5]])
+        npt.assert_allclose(grid.values, field)
+    finally:
+        os.remove(tmpfile.name)
+
+
+def test_load_surfer_integrity():
+    "Tests the surfer integrity check function"
+    field = np.array([[1, 2], [3, 4], [5, 6]])
+    _check_surfer_integrity(field, shape=(3, 2), data_range=(1, 6))
+    with pytest.raises(IOError):
+        _check_surfer_integrity(field, shape=(2, 3), data_range=(1, 6))
+    with pytest.raises(IOError):
+        _check_surfer_integrity(field, shape=(3, 2), data_range=(-2, 3))
+    # Make a corrupted grid file
+    wrong_shape = StringIO(
+        """DSAA
+        2 5
+        1.0 1000.0
+        2.0 2000.0
+        11 61
+        11 21 31 41 51 61
+        12 22 32 42 52 1.70141e38
+        """
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(IOError):
+        load_surfer(wrong_shape)

Function to read in a grid in Surfer format
Fatiando has the [`load_surfer`](http://www.fatiando.org/dev/api/fatiando.datasets.load_surfer.html#fatiando.datasets.load_surfer) function for reading in a grid in [Golden Software's Surfer](http://www.goldensoftware.com/products/surfer) ascii format. We should port that function here but make it return a xarray.Dataset or DataArray instead.
verde/tests/test_io.py::test_load_surfer_header verde/tests/test_io.py::test_load_surfer verde/tests/test_io.py::test_load_surfer_nans verde/tests/test_io.py::test_load_surfer_file verde/tests/test_io.py::test_load_surfer_integrity