Machrihanish
United Kingdom · Atlantic Europe
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.4m W
Wind: 8 km/h N (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: W
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 10:26Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- Cold water (11°C). 5/4mm wetsuit, booties and gloves.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
0.4m swell at 5s on a short period. Moderate winds. Water temperature 11°C.
AI-generated summary for Machrihanish. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Machrihanish
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 9pm (score: 9). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
Record your session, conditions and gear.
Sign up to save favourite spots and get surf alerts
Create free accountTide
Approximate modelSwell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking about average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Machrihanish.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Machrihanish
Machrihanish is a highly exposed, sweeping beach break situated on the Kintyre Peninsula in western Scotland. The bathymetry is defined by a wide, relatively flat expanse of highly compacted silica sand that spans several kilometres. Facing directly west into the Atlantic Ocean, the beach acts as a massive swell magnet, capturing raw, unattenuated westerly groundswells with remarkable consistency. An easterly offshore wind is required to structure the wave faces and counteract the frequently severe, disorganised Scottish weather systems. Because the sandy gradient is moderate, the waves generally spill nicely, generating highly workable A-frame peaks that offer both left and right-hand options. This functional bathymetry makes Machrihanish perfectly suited for intermediate surfers. It provides reliable, long walls ideal for practising speed generation and carving manoeuvres in frigid water. The sheer size of the beach ensures the line-up remains diffuse, providing a safe environment for progression, though the paddle out can be highly demanding during larger winter swells due to powerful rip currents.
Working in Machrihanish this season?
Create a free profile and let employers in Machrihanish find you.
Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 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.
What is the luck factor?
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 late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
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.
When is the best time to surf Machrihanish?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.