Machir Bay
Kilchoman · Scotland · United Kingdom
Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Machir Bay (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/machir-bay.
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Machir Bay is a 2 km beach of sand and dunes on the west coast of Islay, below Kilchoman. It faces the open Atlantic and is the island's main surf beach, with peaks along the sand. Dangerous rips run off it.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Break
- Beach break, sand
- Waves
- Lefts and rights
- Crowd
- Quiet
- Season
- autumn, winter, spring
- Boards
- A shortboard or fish.
When it works
✓ A 1–2 m westerly swell with an easterly wind, at any tide.
When it doesn't
✕ Westerly winds blow straight in, and big swells bring strong rips.
Watch out for
- rips
Best months
September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May
Local tips
Swimming here is dangerous because of the rips, so surf only if you are confident. Kilchoman distillery is a short drive away for flat days.
Getting there
From Bruichladdich, follow the B8018 and the signs to Kilchoman and Machir Bay; car park behind the dunes.
Travel notes
- How often it works
- Quite reliable. It picks up most swells from the west.
- Crowd and vibe
- Usually empty.
- Camping and vans
- Port Mòr Campsite at Port Charlotte is about 7 km away. Nearest campsite about 7 km away.
- Facilities
- Car park behind the dunes. Shops and cafés in Port Charlotte and Bruichladdich.
- Water quality
- Not a designated bathing water, so there is no official water quality result here.
Ideal conditions
- Swell
- WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
- Size
- 1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 3 m
- Period
- 9 s minimum, best from 12 s
- Wind
- Offshore ENE–ESE; handles onshore up to 12 km/h
- Tide
- mid best
- Faces
- WSW (250°)
Live cam
No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.
In the guides
Nearby spots
- Westport 59 km · Intermediate
- Machrihanish 61 km · Intermediate
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- Portrush – Whiterocks 65 km · Intermediate
- Portrush – East Strand (Curran Strand) 65 km · Intermediate
- Portrush – West Strand (Mill Strand) 66 km · Beginner