Machrihanish
A 5 km beach on the Kintyre peninsula, open to the Atlantic.
Machrihanish is a long beach on the west coast of the Kintyre peninsula, next to a famous links golf course. It gets Atlantic swell coming between Ireland and the islands.
There are usually very few people.
Spot facts
| Wave type | Beach break |
|---|---|
| Direction | Lefts and rights |
| Level | All levels |
| Best swell | W, SW, NW |
| Best wind (offshore) | E, SE, NE |
| Tide | All tides |
| Size | 0.5–2 m |
| Best season | Autumn to spring |
| Crowd | Light |
| Localism | Low |
Surf forecast
Loading the forecast…
Hour-by-hour forecast for 14 days, with stars for your board and level, and the whole site without ads.
Model forecast for open water a few kilometres offshore: it can't see sandbanks or the shelter of headlands and jetties. The rating (0–5) is worked out from this spot's ideal swell and wind. Use it as a guide and check the sea before paddling out. Data: Open-Meteo (DWD, ECMWF; CC BY 4.0)
Which board to bring
A funboard or shortboard; a longboard in small swell. How many litres? Work out your volume with the volume calculator.
What to bring to surf Machrihanish
The water is around 7 °C in winter and 13 °C in late summer. This is what we'd bring for this spot's water, level and boards.
For water below 7 °C.
View on AmazonWarm feet in winter and protection on rocks.
View on AmazonThe safest, easiest board to learn on here.
View on AmazonKeeps your board from drifting off or hitting someone.
View on AmazonHold and smooth turns for a single fin.
View on AmazonThe three-fin set for a shortboard.
View on AmazonAmazon affiliate links: if you buy through them, Shapers Europe earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Localism and vibe
Few people.
Surfing style
Beach break.
Hazards
Currents.
Map
Other spots nearby
Isle of Tiree (Inner Hebrides)
Tiree's surf beach, on the «Hawaii of the north», also famous for windsurfing.
Dunbar (East Lothian)
The closest learning beach to Edinburgh, in a wide bay next to Dunbar.
Cockburnspath (Berwickshire)
A small bay between red cliffs, the benchmark wave of the east coast.
Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides)
A sand cove on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, taking the Atlantic head-on.
Indicative information gathered from surf guides and surfers' experience. Conditions change with the sandbanks: check the forecast and ask at the beach.