WorldUnited Kingdom › Highland › Sandwood Bay

Sandwood Bay 63.1

#3179 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Highland · near Wick

Works almost every day, wind is the enemy here, no off season.

Works all yearBig waveIntermediate
Surf score63.1 /100
Surfable days91% of the year
Clean days17% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell34% period 11 s+
Typical size1.7 m 5.5 ft median
Water10°C a 5/4 with boots and hood

Best time to surf Sandwood Bay

The best time to surf Sandwood Bay is January, February, December. The season runs Feb to Feb. In February the water sits around 8°C, so pack a 6/5 with boots, gloves and hood, and the typical wave is 2.5 m. The nearest airport is INV (126 km) and the nearest town is Wick (115 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan86%22%2.9 m8°C6/5
Feb84%42%2.5 m8°C6/5
Mar97%13%2.1 m7°C6/5
Apr93%17%1.4 m8°C6/5
May97%11%1.4 m9°C6/5
Jun91%2%1.1 m11°C5/4
Jul83%2%1.0 m13°C5/4
Aug90%2%1.1 m13°C4/3
Sep93%12%1.8 m13°C4/3
Oct93%18%2.0 m12°C5/4
Nov93%9%2.0 m11°C5/4
Dec94%28%2.3 m10°C5/4

Why 63.1

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
9.7
Groundswell 12%
6.6
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
5.0
Water comfort 10%
0.0
Access 10%
4.2

The detail

Faces 315° with 39% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 50% of days. Mean peak period 10.5 s. Days over 3 m: 16%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 29%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 58.543, -5.057 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

Sango Sands🇬🇧 United Kingdom · score 65.2Torrisdale Bay🇬🇧 United Kingdom · score 65.3Strathy bay🇬🇧 United Kingdom · score 64.6Thurso beach🇬🇧 United Kingdom · score 57.8
Compare Sandwood Bay with 5,700 other spots
Filters by month, level and water, map, side by side comparison and a trip planner.
Open the interactive profileMore spots good in February