Overview

Balnakeil Bay is a spectacular white sand beach near Durness, at the far northwest of mainland Scotland. Facing northwest, the bay receives powerful Atlantic swells. The setting is stunning with the ruins of Balnakeil Church and Cape Wrath nearby. Remote and wild spot, uncrowded.

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Spot forecast for Balnakeil

Sunrise 08:07 · Sunset 18:00

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 4.9 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 04:30 · 3.2 m Low tide 10:35 · 2.2 m High tide 16:42 · 3.5 m Low tide 23:23 · 1.8 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 05:35 · 3.4 m Low tide 11:35 · 2 m High tide 17:39 · 3.7 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 00:09 · 1.5 m High tide 06:23 · 3.6 m Low tide 12:20 · 1.8 m High tide 18:23 · 3.9 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 00:46 · 1.2 m High tide 07:01 · 3.9 m Low tide 12:57 · 1.5 m High tide 19:00 · 4.2 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 01:19 · 0.9 m High tide 07:35 · 4.2 m Low tide 13:32 · 1.2 m High tide 19:35 · 4.4 m

Balnakeil: 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

427h

in June · 26 rideable days

The season runs from June to August, peaking in June: 24 rideable days a month and 427 hours of usable wind, at 16 °C. The low point is February, at 17 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 46%13-20 knots · 40%21-30 knots · 12%31+ knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 46% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 6 °C. The wettest month is December, with 225 mm.

Monthly averages: Balnakeil

Monthly averages — Balnakeil — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	21.0	175 h	6 °C	165 mm
February	17.0	156 h	7 °C	134 mm
March	20.0	199 h	9 °C	147 mm
April	19.5	230 h	11 °C	101 mm
May	19.0	216 h	14 °C	83 mm
June	26.0	427 h	14 °C	139 mm
July	23.0	342 h	16 °C	89 mm
August	23.5	294 h	17 °C	137 mm
September	18.5	199 h	15 °C	95 mm
October	20.0	199 h	12 °C	190 mm
November	22.0	170 h	8 °C	165 mm
December	20.0	139 h	7 °C	225 mm

Photo gallery of Balnakeil

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Technical details of Balnakeil spot

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

Depending on conditions: NNE, SSW.

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 Balnakeil

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Nearby spots

All spots: Scotland

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Balnakeil kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot