United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Kimmeridge Bay. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late 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).
Flat as a lake. Save your energy for another day. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong onshore blowing everything out. Give it a miss. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Kimmeridge Bay is a highly structured, exposed reef break located on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset, United Kingdom. The seafloor is composed of flat, terraced limestone and shale rock ledges extending into the English Channel. This highly stable bathymetry intercepts south-westerly groundswells, forcing the waves to peel predictably along the rock gradients. The break requires a north-easterly offshore wind to groom the faces, preventing chaotic onshore chop. The bay features distinct reef peaks offering both left and right-hand rides. Because the wave does not jack violently like shallower coastal slabs, but rather offers a steep, workable wall, it is highly suitable for intermediate surfers. The wave permits a clean take-off transitioning into a sequence of carving sections. While the rocks are covered in slippery seaweed and require careful navigation, the wave lacks the heavy, plunging mechanics of severe reef breaks, offering a highly reliable canvas for progression.
Heads up: rocks exposed at low tide, and jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 80% 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 15:00
Moderate water clarity: ~6m visibility
Updated 10:33
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Kimmeridge Bay
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Kimmeridge Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Kimmeridge Bay
Kimmeridge Bay is a structured reef break on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset. Flat ledges of Kimmeridge Clay extend out from the shore, creating defined peaks that break with more shape and power than the surrounding sandy beaches. It faces south and picks up Channel swell. On its day it produces quality waves with proper walls for turns, making it one of the better spots on the south coast of England. The fossil-rich coastline adds geological interest.
Needs a solid southerly or south-westerly swell with a northerly offshore wind. Best at mid to high tide when there is more water over the reef. Works in the 2-5ft range; above that the sections connect and it gets heavy. Winter months (October to March) offer the most consistent swell. A defined south-westerly groundswell tracking up the Channel is the ideal scenario.
The main take-off is over the defined reef ledge in the centre of the bay. The right-hander is generally considered the better wave, running along the reef shelf with a workable wall. A left also breaks on the other side of the peak. Line up with landmarks on shore to find the correct section of reef.
Shallow reef is the primary concern. Falls at low tide risk contact with flat, hard clay ledges. The reef is covered in seaweed making it slippery. Urchins inhabit the rock pools. Getting caught inside on a set means being pushed over shallow rock. Booties recommended to protect your feet when entering and exiting over the reef.
Toll road leads to a small car park (pay on entry). Short walk across the rocky foreshore to the water. The toll road has limited opening hours. No facilities at beach level beyond what is at the car park. The Etches Collection fossil museum is nearby.
Small local crew who know the reef intimately. On good days you might find 10-15 people in the water. The quality of the wave attracts experienced surfers from Bournemouth and Poole. Friendly lineup where knowledge of the reef is shared. Not suitable for beginners.
Study the reef at low tide before surfing it. The ledges have defined channels that show you where to paddle out and where the wave breaks. The right-hander works best on a pushing mid-tide when there is enough water to clear the shallowest sections. If it is too small here, it will be flat everywhere else on the south coast. The Square and Compass pub in nearby Worth Matravers is one of Dorset's finest.
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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 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Kimmeridge Bay tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 9/100
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