Overview

Skaill Bay on the west coast of the Orkney Mainland is a sandy bay fully exposed to the west facing the Atlantic. Located right next to the Neolithic site of Skara Brae (UNESCO World Heritage), the bay receives the full force of Atlantic swells. Powerful conditions reserved for experts.

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Spot forecast for Skaill

Sunrise 08:02 · Sunset 17:53

Open-Meteo

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 2.5 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 04:50 · 2.6 m Low tide 10:55 · 1.8 m High tide 17:04 · 2.9 m Low tide 23:51 · 1.5 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 06:00 · 2.7 m Low tide 11:59 · 1.7 m High tide 18:02 · 3.1 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 00:37 · 1.2 m High tide 06:49 · 2.9 m Low tide 12:45 · 1.5 m High tide 18:47 · 3.2 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 01:14 · 1 m High tide 07:28 · 3.2 m Low tide 13:23 · 1.2 m High tide 19:26 · 3.4 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 01:47 · 0.7 m High tide 08:02 · 3.4 m Low tide 13:58 · 1 m High tide 20:02 · 3.6 m

Skaill: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

336h

in August · 27 rideable days

Wind is uneven from month to month: the best months are August, June and July, at 26 rideable days and 15 °C. The low point is February, at 18.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 39%13-20 knots · 41%21-30 knots · 18%31+ knots · 2%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 13 and 20 knots — 41% of rideable hours. That is the most versatile range, where most kites work. The coldest month is January, at 6 °C. The wettest month is December, with 206 mm.

Monthly averages: Skaill

Monthly averages — Skaill — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	23.0	181 h	6 °C	166 mm
February	18.5	196 h	7 °C	125 mm
March	22.0	216 h	8 °C	108 mm
April	21.0	228 h	10 °C	87 mm
May	19.5	213 h	13 °C	55 mm
June	26.5	425 h	13 °C	125 mm
July	24.0	338 h	16 °C	85 mm
August	27.0	336 h	16 °C	93 mm
September	20.5	242 h	14 °C	76 mm
October	24.0	236 h	11 °C	139 mm
November	22.5	172 h	8 °C	142 mm
December	23.5	179 h	7 °C	206 mm

Photo gallery of Skaill

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Technical details of Skaill spot

The spot works with winds from S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW.

Depending on conditions: N, SSE, NNW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Expert

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Live

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Webcams near Skaill

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Scotland

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Skaill kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot