Sandwood Bay surf guide
Surf: Secluded beachbreak, open to most swell, reached by a 5-mile walk. Couple of small reefs, a rivermouth and much potential.
Environment: Regarded as one of Britain’s finest beaches and the most remote beach in The Stormrider Guide. No facilities. Can be rippy and is a long way from help. Park at Blairmore and hike.
Surf: General: In a world where even the most remote line-ups are bustling hives of activity, Sandwood is something of a gem. Its a 4-mile hike with all your boards and provisions, but the end result is something quite special. This secluded bay sits on the northwestern edge of mainland Scotland and siphons in any passing swell and weather - can easily get big and close-out. However when small, there's plenty of peaks and a couple of reefs to choose from, and the waves can be as idyllic as the location.
Tides: Breaks through the tides.
Size: Thigh high to overhead.
Wind: SE
Swell: SW to NW
Bottom: Sand and rock patches.
Paddling: Exposed to currents so rippy.
Spot Rating: So much potential in small, clean swells. Fickle as exposed to wind. There are a couple of rocky outcrops and a rivermouth that groom some sweet banks.
Access: its a 4-mile trek in from Blairmore.
Crowds: Crowd Factor: Very quiet, will probably be a few hiker's tents.
Local Vibe: If there were some locals ...
Environment: Clean.
Hazards: Isolated so take care! Hoovers up any swell so can get big. Rips here can be brutal. So can midges.
Season: June - September - check the weather and swell forecast first.