Surf Travel Guide: Bay of Skaill, Orkney

Orkney is better known for standing stones than surfboards, but the Bay of Skaill, a wide sweep of sand directly below the 5,000 year old Skara Brae settlement, is the main spot the local surf community actually rides.

Why Bay of Skaill?

Bay of Skaill sits fully open to the North Atlantic on Orkney's west coast, which gives it real swell exposure without the extreme remoteness of some of the island's other breaks. It works with both windswell and groundswell, and local guides describe it as offering Atlantic size with the kind of bay protection that makes it a safer choice than some of the more exposed point breaks elsewhere on the islands.

→ The bay faces west northwest, catching swell from that direction most directly.

↳ Offshore wind here comes from the south southeast, and after a big Atlantic storm the bay is described locally as a genuinely spectacular place to just stand and watch, let alone surf.

Getting There and Getting Around

Orkney is an island group off Scotland's north coast, reached by ferry or a short flight.

Fly into Kirkwall Airport, with connections from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness.
→ Or take the ferry from Scrabster, Gills Bay, or Aberdeen on the Scottish mainland, most of which land close enough to Kirkwall for an easy onward drive.
↳ A car is close to essential here, since Bay of Skaill sits on the west side of the Orkney Mainland, a drive of roughly half an hour from Kirkwall, past farmland and other Neolithic sites that make the crossing worthwhile even on a flat day.

There is a car park right at the beach entrance with public toilets nearby, though getting down onto the sand itself means climbing over boulders rather than walking a graded path.

When to Surf Bay of Skaill

Winter, and February in particular, stands out in local forecast data as the most productive month, though the same data shows clean, surfable conditions only around 38 percent of the time even then, against roughly 48 percent of days blown out by wind. In other words, this is a spot that works across the year but rewards patience and a flexible schedule more than a fixed travel date.

Safety notes: Orkney's tides can run genuinely dangerous in the wrong spot, and while Bay of Skaill itself is considered one of the more protected options, nearby channels like Eynhallow Sound have strong tidal races that are best avoided altogether. Seals are a common sight in the water here, generally harmless but worth giving space. Water temperature sits in the low teens Celsius, so a spring wetsuit and boots are the standard local kit, and locals recommend never surfing here alone given how remote the islands are from major emergency services.

Surf Zones

Bay of Skaill: A wide, west facing beach break below Skara Brae, working on both windswell and groundswell with some natural bay protection.
Wave: Beach break peaks, rated fairly consistent, best on a west northwest swell with south southeast offshore wind.
Level: Works across ability levels when small, though bigger days demand real experience given the remote setting.
Marwick and Birsay (backup options): West coast alternatives a short drive from Skaill, worth checking if the main bay is blown out or overly powerful.
Wave: Similar open Atlantic exposure to Skaill, with local knowledge helpful for finding the best angle.
Level: Intermediate to advanced, with less protection than Skaill itself.

Where to Stay

→ Kirkwall is the practical hub for most visitors, with Stromness as a smaller, closer alternative to the west coast breaks.

Budget

Hostels and guesthouses in Kirkwall or Stromness offer the most affordable base, with Stromness cutting the drive to Skaill roughly in half.

Mid-Range

Hotels and B&Bs scattered around the Orkney Mainland put you within easy reach of both Skaill and the archaeological sites nearby.

Luxury

A handful of self catering properties with sea views along the west coast offer more space and privacy, useful for a longer surf trip built around patient forecast watching.

Food and Drink

→ Kirkwall has Orkney's best range of restaurants and pubs, including seafood built around the islands' strong fishing tradition.

↳ Stromness, closer to Skaill, has a smaller but solid run of cafes and pubs along its harbor front, a good option after a cold session on the west coast. Either town makes a reasonable base for combining a surf trip with Orkney's wider archaeological sites, several of which sit within a short drive of the bay itself.

Photographing Bay of Skaill (Surf Snaps)

A lone surfer paddling out below a 5,000 year old settlement, with Atlantic swell rolling in past the Hole o'Rowe sea arch, is about as unique a backdrop as surf photography offers anywhere in the UK. Photographers shooting Orkney can upload a Bay of Skaill gallery to Surf Snaps and keep full copyright over their images, while surfers can later browse and buy their own photos starting at $8, with no account needed just to look.

FAQ

Is Bay of Skaill good for beginner surfers?
It can work for less experienced surfers on smaller days, since it has more natural protection than some of Orkney's other breaks, though bigger swells demand real experience given how remote the islands are.

What is the best time to surf Bay of Skaill?
Winter, with February standing out in local forecast data, though even in that peak month clean conditions are only found on a minority of days, so flexibility matters more than a fixed date.

What is Skara Brae, and can you see it from the beach?
Skara Brae is a roughly 5,000 year old Neolithic settlement that sits directly above Bay of Skaill, making the beach and the archaeological site part of the same short visit.

What is the biggest hazard around Orkney's surf spots?
Strong tidal currents in specific channels, such as Eynhallow Sound, are the main danger to avoid entirely, alongside the general remoteness of the islands from emergency services.

How can I get photos of my session at Bay of Skaill?
Check Surf Snaps to see if a local photographer already shot the bay that day, or upload your own gallery if you are shooting sessions yourself.