United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Dunnet Bay. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
The best week for surf at Dunnet Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Barely any swell. Not much to work with today. Moderate wind adding texture to the faces. Conditions improving through the afternoon. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
Heads up: jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 91% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 03:00
Good water clarity: ~12m visibility
Local knowledge and community tips for Dunnet Bay
Dunnet Bay is a broad, sheltered crescent of sand on the north coast of Scotland, not far from Thurso. The bay faces north-west and the headlands at either end filter out the most extreme Atlantic energy, allowing a more organised swell to enter. The result is a user-friendly wave in an otherwise heavy-water region. The sand is firm and flat, the peaks multiple, and the scenery vast and wild. A good stepping stone before tackling the area's reef breaks.
Best on north-westerly groundswell with a south-easterly offshore wind. The headlands provide enough shelter that moderate swells (3-6ft) produce well-shaped, workable peaks without the raw violence of the open coast. Works September through April. On huge winter swells when everywhere else is maxing out, Dunnet can offer clean, manageable surf.
Multiple peaks form across the wide bay. The eastern end near the dunes tends to be slightly more sheltered and popular. The western end picks up marginally more swell. Walk the beach and observe, as the banks shift after each storm cycle. The peaks are spread out enough that you can usually find space.
Cold. Even by Scottish standards, this area is frigid. A 5/4 wetsuit with full accessories is essential year-round except perhaps the height of summer. Currents can form on bigger days but the gradual sandy slope means consequences are lower than the local reefs. The wind can pick up rapidly and turn a clean session onshore within minutes.
Free car park at the eastern end of the beach with direct access to the sand. A ranger station with seasonal information is nearby. The walk to the water is short. Basic facilities including toilets.
Quiet. The far north of Scotland simply does not have the population to produce crowds. Even on perfect days you are unlikely to see more than 10 people across this expansive bay. Most surfers in the area head straight to Thurso East or the reefs, leaving Dunnet to those seeking a mellower session.
Dunnet is excellent for warming up before heading to the more serious reefs in the area. It also works as a solid option when the reefs are too big or the tide is wrong for Thurso. The wind forecast is crucial up here as it can change rapidly. The Castle of Mey (nearby) makes for an interesting post-surf visit if you have time.
Surf at Dunnet Bay
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Dunnet Bay
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Dunnet Bay tend to be best between 05:00 to 08:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 27/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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