Overview

Thurso Bay is famous as one of the best surf spots in Scotland, on the north coast facing the Pentland Firth. The north-facing bay receives powerful swells and consistent wind. Demanding spot with often challenging conditions. The Thurso East reef break is legendary.

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Spot forecast for thurso bay

Sunrise 08:02 · Sunset 17:55

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 3.3 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 05:02 · 3 m Low tide 11:06 · 2.1 m High tide 17:15 · 3.3 m Low tide 23:58 · 1.7 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 06:13 · 3.1 m Low tide 12:09 · 1.9 m High tide 18:14 · 3.5 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 00:45 · 1.4 m High tide 07:01 · 3.4 m Low tide 12:55 · 1.7 m High tide 18:59 · 3.7 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 01:22 · 1.1 m High tide 07:39 · 3.7 m Low tide 13:34 · 1.4 m High tide 19:38 · 3.9 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 01:56 · 0.8 m High tide 08:14 · 3.9 m Low tide 14:10 · 1.2 m High tide 20:15 · 4.1 m

thurso bay: 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

345h

in June · 25 rideable days

The season runs from June to August, peaking in June: 24 rideable days a month and 345 hours of usable wind, at 16 °C. The low point is February, at 13 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 55%13-20 knots · 38%21-30 knots · 7%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 55% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 5 °C. The wettest month is December, with 173 mm.

Monthly averages: thurso bay

Monthly averages — thurso bay — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	18.5	145 h	5 °C	142 mm
February	13.0	105 h	7 °C	102 mm
March	19.5	190 h	9 °C	85 mm
April	20.0	212 h	11 °C	87 mm
May	18.5	226 h	14 °C	53 mm
June	25.0	345 h	15 °C	131 mm
July	23.5	281 h	17 °C	120 mm
August	22.0	234 h	17 °C	86 mm
September	16.0	162 h	15 °C	86 mm
October	18.0	161 h	12 °C	131 mm
November	17.5	131 h	8 °C	130 mm
December	13.0	95 h	7 °C	173 mm

Photo gallery of thurso bay

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Technical details of thurso bay spot

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: ENE, SW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

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Live

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Webcams near thurso bay

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Scotland

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thurso bay kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot