Surf: Short, fun, high tide left reef into the rivermouth, doesn't handle much size. Reasonable river groomed sandbars at lower tide but closes out when overhead. Offshore at west end in SW. Environment: Park in car park on west side behind dunes, short walk in. Strong rips on dropping tide. Surf: General: At the eastern end of the dune-backed bay, the tannin brown river feeds a sandbar that has built up over a stoney patch of reef, producing long, walling rights and shorter lefts. Consistently good waves can be found here, breaking from 2ft through to epic head-high surf. There can also be peaks along the beach. Needs a slightly bigger swell to wrap in. Can be checked from the road, there's parking behind the dunes. Melvich is the first of Sutherland's river-fed sand bays, a clear demarcation from the reef-fringed topography of Caithness. Can be quiet out of peak season. Tides: Breaks through the tides. Size: Thigh high to overhead. Wind: S Swell: NW/N Bottom: Sand and rock patches Paddling: Rips by the river and on beach when bigger. Spot Rating: Some fun, quality waves here with both long rights and short lefts. Access: Car park just behind the dunes or also by the Bighouse and over the foot bridge. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Mostly quiet but can be busy during peak season. Local Vibe: Friendly. Environment: Clean. Hazards: Rips and rocks. Season: Best in clean Autumnal swells September – November.