UK & Ireland Tide Predictions
Current Tide State
Rising tide
↑ Next: 0:30
High in -1137h
Machrihanish lies on the Kintyre Peninsula's western shore, where the Atlantic meets the Irish Sea. This exposed coastline has long served as a natural harbour and fishing ground, with the village developing around its sandy beach and rocky outcrops. The beach stretches for miles, backed by dunes and links land, making it popular with surfers when Atlantic swells arrive. The settlement has deep roots in commercial fishing and maritime trade, though it now draws visitors for water sports and coastal walks. Tidal ranges here are significant, and the waters can be rough; conditions vary considerably with weather and season.
Next Tide
High Tide
Time
0:30
Height
1.2m
Sun, 1 Mar 2026
Station ID:
gb-machrihanish
Region:
Scotland West
Country:
United Kingdom
Continent:
Europe
Latitude:
55.416700°
Longitude:
-5.750000°
Timezone:
Europe/London
Abbreviation:
GMT
Local Time:
10:21
Last Updated:
2026-04-17T09:21:50.086Z
Data Source:
Live APIHeight Unit:
Meters (m)
Complete tidal predictions with Spring/Neap cycle analysis
Tidal Range
0.7m
Neap Tide
- Times shown in GMT
- Neap tides occur when sun and moon are at right angles, creating smaller ranges
- Heights are relative to Chart Datum
- Weather conditions may affect actual tide levels
The tide chart above shows the height and times of high tide and low tide for Machrihanish. The red flashing dot shows the tide time right now. The grey shading corresponds to nighttime hours between sunset and sunrise at Machrihanish.
Tide Times are GMT.
Fri 23 Jan (height: 5.59m / 18.3ft)
Wed 04 Feb (height: 5.91m / 19.4ft)
Highest and lowest tide predictions for the week ahead
4:26
6 March 2026
1.3m
High Tide3:59
5 March 2026
1.3m
High Tide4:51
7 March 2026
1.3m
High Tide3:28
4 March 2026
1.3m
High Tide16:36
7 March 2026
1.3m
High Tide22:24
6 March 2026
0.7m
Low Tide21:51
5 March 2026
0.7m
Low Tide22:54
7 March 2026
0.7m
Low Tide21:14
4 March 2026
0.7m
Low Tide20:31
3 March 2026
0.7m
Low TideHighest Tide
1.3m
Lowest Tide
0.7m
Tidal Range
0.7m
Period
7 Days
The next high tide in Machrihanish is at 0:30 with a height of 1.18m. High tides occur approximately every 12 hours and 25 minutes due to the lunar cycle. Plan your beach visits, boating activities, and other marine pursuits around these peak water levels.
The next low tide in Machrihanish is at 7:54 with a height of 1.04m. Low tides alternate with high tides throughout the day, providing optimal times for beach activities and marine exploration. Use this chart to plan fishing trips, beach visits, boating activities, and other marine pursuits.
The tide chart above shows a 7-day forecast of tide heights for Machrihanish. The chart displays both high and low tides with precise times and heights in meters. You can use this chart to plan fishing trips, beach visits, boating activities, and other marine pursuits. The data is updated regularly from official tide monitoring stations to ensure accuracy for your location in United Kingdom.
| Date & Time | Height | Type |
|---|---|---|
1 March 2026 0:30 | 1.2m | High |
1 March 2026 7:54 | 1.0m | Low |
1 March 2026 10:00 | 1.0m | High |
1 March 2026 18:03 | 0.8m | Low |
2 March 2026 2:05 | 1.2m | High |
2 March 2026 8:44 | 1.0m | Low |
2 March 2026 12:57 | 1.1m | High |
2 March 2026 19:34 | 0.8m | Low |
3 March 2026 2:53 | 1.3m | High |
3 March 2026 9:11 | 0.9m | Low |
Machrihanish
Scotland West
Latitude
55.416700°
Longitude
-5.750000°
Map Type
Street Map
Zoom Level
14x
Latitude
55.4167°
Longitude
-5.7500°
Timezone
Europe/London
Station ID
gb-machrihanish
Machrihanish lies on the Kintyre Peninsula's western shore, where the Atlantic meets the Irish Sea. This exposed coastline has long served as a natural harbour and fishing ground, with the village developing around its sandy beach and rocky outcrops. The beach stretches for miles, backed by dunes and links land, making it popular with surfers when Atlantic swells arrive. The settlement has deep roots in commercial fishing and maritime trade, though it now draws visitors for water sports and coastal walks. Tidal ranges here are significant, and the waters can be rough; conditions vary considerably with weather and season.. The tide predictions shown above cover 7 days of high and low tide times, updated daily using professional-grade harmonic tidal analysis. Tide heights are displayed in metres above Chart Datum (CD), the standard reference level used in marine navigation charts.
Tidal patterns at Machrihanish are driven by the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun acting on the local ocean. The timing and height of each tide depends on the shape of the local coastline, water depth, and the position of celestial bodies relative to Earth. Like all coastal locations, Machrihanish experiences a full tidal cycle approximately every 24 hours and 50 minutes.
Spring tides — which occur at new moon and full moon — produce the largest tidal ranges at Machrihanish, with higher high tides and lower low tides than average. Neap tides, at the quarter moons, produce the smallest ranges. This fortnightly cycle is an important consideration for anyone planning coastal activities in the area.
Machrihanish is located in Argyll and Bute, Scotland West.
Fish are most active around tide changes, particularly the two hours either side of high and low water. Anglers targeting shore fish near Machrihanish use tide predictions to plan sessions when water movement is at its most productive.
Navigating in and out of harbours and estuaries near Machrihanish safely requires knowing the state of the tide. Sailors rely on these predictions to avoid running aground in shallow water and to time passage through tidal channels.
Many surf breaks and water sports venues near Machrihanish are tide-dependent. Certain breaks work only on a specific tide height, while kayaking and paddleboarding routes can be heavily affected by tidal currents and water depth.
Tidal beaches, coastal paths, and rock pools near Machrihanish are accessible only at certain tide states. Checking tide times before visiting ensures you don't get cut off by a rising tide, and helps you find the best time to explore exposed sand and rocky shores.
The tide chart above plots predicted water height (in metres) against time for Machrihanish. The curved line rises to peaks (high tide) and falls to troughs (low tide). The height shown is measured above Chart Datum — a reference level set near the lowest predicted astronomical tide level for the area.
All times shown are in the local timezone for Machrihanish (Europe/London). Remember that tide times advance by roughly 50 minutes each day, so always check the chart for your specific visit date.
Most coastal locations, including Machrihanish, experience two high tides and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes — this is called a semidiurnal tidal pattern. Some regions experience one tide per day (diurnal), or a mixed pattern. The exact cycle for Machrihanish is shown in the chart above.
Astronomical tide predictions for Machrihanish are typically accurate to within 15–30 minutes and a few centimetres. However, actual water levels can vary due to weather — strong onshore winds raise sea levels, while offshore winds lower them. Storm surges and low atmospheric pressure can add significant height. Always treat predictions as a guide and check local conditions before heading to the coast.
Chart Datum (CD) is the reference level from which all tide heights at Machrihanish are measured. It is set close to the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT) — meaning tide heights are almost always positive numbers. Chart Datum is also the reference used on nautical charts for water depth, so mariners can add the predicted tide height to the charted depth to calculate the actual depth of water at any given time.
Tides are caused by the Moon's orbit around the Earth, which takes approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes to complete one tidal cycle. This means high and low tides at Machrihanish occur about 50 minutes later each day. Over a month, this adds up to a complete shift through the clock. The height of tides also changes through the monthly cycle between spring and neap tides.
Want to learn more about how tides work? Read our complete guide to tide times →