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 Machrihanish. 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 Machrihanish is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Small waves but still worth a paddle for keen surfers. Full onshore mess. Not worth the paddle unless you are desperate. Conditions improving through the afternoon.
Heads up: rip risk elevated, and jellyfish: high.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 60% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
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
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Local knowledge and community tips for Machrihanish
Machrihanish is a long, exposed beach on the Kintyre Peninsula in western Scotland. It faces due west into the full fetch of the Atlantic and picks up swell with remarkable consistency. Three miles of golden sand backed by the famous golf links, with peaks breaking along the entire length. The water is cold but the waves are high quality for a beach break, with defined peaks and genuine power on bigger days.
Any westerly or south-westerly Atlantic swell lights it up. An easterly offshore wind provides clean conditions. Consistent from September through May, rarely going truly flat in winter. Works on all tides. The 3-8ft range is ideal; above that it becomes challenging and powerful. Summer produces fun smaller waves too.
Multiple peaks form across the long beach. The section near the main access point (golf club end) is most surfed but the banks further south are often equally good and empty. The peaks shift regularly with the sand, so observe from the beach before paddling out. Deeper channels between the banks provide paddle-out routes.
Cold water year-round (a 5/4 wetsuit is standard from October to May). Rip currents form on bigger days across the exposed beach. The waves have genuine power in larger swells. The beach is remote with limited facilities nearby. Mobile phone signal is unreliable. Strong currents can sweep you along the beach on bigger days.
Free parking near the golf club with a short walk over the dunes. Additional access points further along the beach via farm tracks. Limited facilities; the village has a pub and a small shop. The nearest town of any size is Campbeltown.
Very quiet. Kintyre's remoteness (it is a long drive from Glasgow or anywhere with significant population) means you will rarely encounter more than a handful of surfers. Local crew is tiny but friendly. Even on perfect days you might share the beach with only two or three others.
Machrihanish is worth the journey. The combination of consistent swell, empty lineup, and quality banks makes it one of Scotland's best beach breaks. The drive down the Kintyre Peninsula is stunning. Stock up on supplies before leaving Campbeltown. If the wind is wrong here, Westport Beach on the other side of the peninsula offers different exposure. The campsite behind the beach is basic but perfectly positioned.
Surf at Machrihanish
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Machrihanish
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Machrihanish tend to be best between 05:00 to 08:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 38/100
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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