UK & Ireland Tide Predictions
Current Tide State
Rising tide
↑ Next: 0:53
High in -1134h
This East Lothian coastal village boasts a rich industrial heritage shaped by centuries of salt panning and coal mining. The shallow waters of the Firth of Forth provided ideal conditions for evaporating seawater to produce salt, an activity that defined the settlement from medieval times through the 18th century. Today, the foreshore reveals the remnants of these industries, with distinctive pans and old mine workings visible at low tide. The 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, fought on nearby fields, marked a pivotal moment in Scottish history. Modern Prestonpans offers excellent beach access and serves as a gateway to exploring the Firth's dynamic tidal environments.
Next Tide
High Tide
Time
0:53
Height
5.1m
Sun, 1 Mar 2026
Station ID:
gb-prestonpans
Region:
Scotland East
Country:
United Kingdom
Continent:
Europe
Latitude:
55.958800°
Longitude:
-3.004000°
Timezone:
Europe/London
Abbreviation:
GMT
Local Time:
7:24
Last Updated:
2026-04-17T06:24:05.425Z
Data Source:
Live APIHeight Unit:
Meters (m)
Complete tidal predictions with Spring/Neap cycle analysis
Tidal Range
5.6m
Spring Tide
- Times shown in GMT
- Spring tides occur when sun and moon align, creating larger 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 Prestonpans. The red flashing dot shows the tide time right now. The grey shading corresponds to nighttime hours between sunset and sunrise at Prestonpans.
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
15:07
4 March 2026
6.0m
High Tide15:43
5 March 2026
6.0m
High Tide14:29
3 March 2026
5.9m
High Tide16:18
6 March 2026
5.8m
High Tide3:01
4 March 2026
5.7m
High Tide21:15
4 March 2026
0.5m
Low Tide20:39
3 March 2026
0.5m
Low Tide21:47
5 March 2026
0.6m
Low Tide20:00
2 March 2026
0.7m
Low Tide22:16
6 March 2026
0.9m
Low TideHighest Tide
6.0m
Lowest Tide
0.5m
Tidal Range
5.6m
Period
7 Days
The next high tide in Prestonpans is at 0:53 with a height of 5.10m. 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 Prestonpans is at 6:49 with a height of 1.61m. 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 Prestonpans. 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 0:53 | 5.1m | High |
1 March 2026 6:49 | 1.6m | Low |
1 March 2026 13:05 | 5.3m | High |
1 March 2026 19:15 | 1.0m | Low |
2 March 2026 1:41 | 5.4m | High |
2 March 2026 7:34 | 1.3m | Low |
2 March 2026 13:49 | 5.7m | High |
2 March 2026 20:00 | 0.7m | Low |
3 March 2026 2:23 | 5.6m | High |
3 March 2026 8:14 | 1.1m | Low |
Prestonpans
Scotland East
Latitude
55.958800°
Longitude
-3.004000°
Map Type
Street Map
Zoom Level
14x
Latitude
55.9588°
Longitude
-3.0040°
Timezone
Europe/London
Station ID
gb-prestonpans
This East Lothian coastal village boasts a rich industrial heritage shaped by centuries of salt panning and coal mining. The shallow waters of the Firth of Forth provided ideal conditions for evaporating seawater to produce salt, an activity that defined the settlement from medieval times through the 18th century. Today, the foreshore reveals the remnants of these industries, with distinctive pans and old mine workings visible at low tide. The 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, fought on nearby fields, marked a pivotal moment in Scottish history. Modern Prestonpans offers excellent beach access and serves as a gateway to exploring the Firth's dynamic tidal environments.. 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 Prestonpans 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, Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans, 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.
Prestonpans is located in East Lothian, Scotland East.
Fish are most active around tide changes, particularly the two hours either side of high and low water. Anglers targeting shore fish near Prestonpans use tide predictions to plan sessions when water movement is at its most productive.
Navigating in and out of harbours and estuaries near Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans. 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 Prestonpans (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 Prestonpans, 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 Prestonpans is shown in the chart above.
Astronomical tide predictions for Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans 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 Prestonpans 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 →