United Kingdom ยท 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 Runswick 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. Breezy. Some surface chop to deal with. Conditions improving through the afternoon. 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.
Runswick Bay is a highly sheltered, right-hand point break located on the rugged North Yorkshire coast. The bathymetry consists of an uneven shale and boulder reef that extends from the prominent northern headland. Because the bay is deeply recessed, it requires a massive, long-period northerly groundswell-typically generated by intense Arctic low-pressure systems-to refract around the point and enter the surfing zone. When these specific parameters align, the wave breaks with a steep, rapid take-off that transitions into a fast, workable wall. A south-westerly offshore wind is essential to groom the wave face and maintain structural integrity. The wave mechanics offer excellent carving sections, but the ride often terminates abruptly over shallow, exposed rocks on the inside. Due to the requirement for extreme weather systems to activate the break, alongside the hazards of a submerged boulder field and cold-water conditions, Runswick Bay demands solid ocean awareness. It is best suited for intermediate to advanced cold-water surfers who can navigate tight take-off zones and read shifting rock-bottom peaks.
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 83% 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, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:24
Moderate water clarity: ~6m visibility
Updated 10:33
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Runswick Bay
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
Create a free profile and let employers in Runswick Bay find you.
Create Profile โPartly. 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 Runswick Bay is the week of 23 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Local knowledge and community tips for Runswick Bay
Runswick Bay is a sheltered right-hand point break on the North Yorkshire coast, between Whitby and Staithes. The wave wraps around a rocky headland and peels along a defined section of coast, offering longer rides than the beach breaks in the area. It faces north and the headland provides shelter from easterly winds. The fishing village clinging to the cliff above is charmingly photogenic. A genuine point break is rare on the English east coast.
Needs a solid northerly or north-westerly swell with enough size to wrap around the headland. A south-westerly wind is offshore. Best on all tides but produces its most defined shape at mid to high when the swell wraps cleanly around the point. Works October through March. The right-hander needs more swell to work than the beach breaks further south.
The take-off is at the tip of the headland where the swell first encounters the point. The wave peels right along the rock shelf. Line up with features on the headland to identify the take-off zone. On bigger days the wave wraps further and offers longer rides. Position yourself to catch the wave as it begins to refract around the rocks.
Rocky seabed throughout the point break section. Falls risk contact with submerged boulders and reef. Currents sweep along the headland on bigger swells. Cold water year-round. The point break is not suitable for beginners; the sandy beach inside the bay is safer for less experienced surfers. Access involves climbing over rocks.
Limited parking at the village above with a steep walk down to the bay. The point itself requires scrambling over rocks from the main beach. Not the easiest spot to access with equipment. No facilities at the surf spot itself.
Very quiet. The east coast point break setup is known only to the local Yorkshire crew. On a good day you might share it with 5-10 people. Many surfers in the area head to Cayton Bay or Scarborough instead, unaware of what Runswick offers. The locals are knowledgeable and welcoming.
Runswick is worth checking whenever the North Sea is producing solid swell. The right-hander offers something genuinely different from the beach breaks that dominate the coast. Check the swell height and period carefully; it needs more size than Cayton or Scarborough to start working. The village pub does a solid pint after a session. Combine with a visit to Staithes for one of Yorkshire's best coastal drives.
Surf at Runswick Bay
Your score
Forecast feel
Score this window against what you actually found.
No scored surf reviews in the last 24 hours.
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Log a day
Add Runswick Bay to your private Companion record without GPS.
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 Runswick Bay tend to be best between 19:00 to 22:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 15/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go โ