Whitsand Bay, UK

No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Saltash, 9 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NQY (NQY), 52 km.

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About Whitsand Bay

Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.

The spot faces S (195°), so it takes swell from the S. The wind blows offshore from the N (15°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 3–12 ft of swell. The sea is about 10°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 17°C in July, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. No town nearby. No stay checked for this site yet: Saltash, 9 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NQY (NQY), 52 km. Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.

Water about 15°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

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From Chicago: about 16 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to NQY, changing at Dublin Airport (DUB).
See flights ORD → NQY · Skyscanner from about £380 returnAd
Getting there. 1 h 15 from the airport to Whitsand Bay.
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Accommodation.
No town nearby
No stay checked for this site yet: Saltash, 9 km away, is the nearest town we list. Nearest airport: NQY (NQY), 52 km.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Whitsand Bay · GetYourGuideAd Board and wetsuit hire in Whitsand Bay · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Whitsand Bay on Google Maps · Directions

Surf spot

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Forecast

Whitsand Bay does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.

The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small

Forecast and score for intermediate surfers at Whitsand Bay, each day
Day	Scorefor Intermediate	Swell	Energy	Wind	Temp
Mon 19Oct	10, too small	2 ft5 s	18kJ	wind from the north-east, 8 knots, offshore	12°C
Tue 20Oct	9, too small	1 ft7 s	8kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 5 knots	14°C
Wed 21Oct	21, poor	4 ft9 s	239kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 20 knots	13°C
Thu 22Oct	18, poor	4 ft7 s	142kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 10 knots	15°C
Fri 23Oct	18, poor	3 ft9 s	146kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 30 knots	13°C
Sat 24Oct	27, poor	4 ft7 s	140kJ	wind from the west-north-west, 12 knots	13°C
Sun 25Oct	25, poor	4 ft7 s	172kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 12 knots	15°C
Mon 26Oct	13, poor	4 ft8 s	178kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 14 knots	16°C
Tue 27Oct	15, poor	4 ft6 s	103kJ	wind from the west-south-west, 14 knots	15°C
Wed 28Oct	0, poor	–	–	–	–

Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates

Tue 20 Oct
Travel out
Fly ORD to NQY, changing at DUB, then 1h 15 by road. About 16h 45 door to door
Wed 21 Oct
Rest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 29 of 80.
Thu 22 Oct
Surf Whitsand Bay
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 7 s, wind 10 kn (19 km/h).
Fri 23 Oct
Rest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 24 of 80.
Sat 24 Oct
Surf Whitsand Bay
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 4 ft at 7 s, wind 12 kn (22 km/h).
Sun 25 Oct
Rest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 29 of 80.
Mon 26 Oct
Travel home
Fly ORD to NQY, changing at DUB, then 1h 15 by road. About 16h 45 door to door

Rough cost

About £860–£1,650 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book. No town nearby, so no stay is in it.

Rough cost per person for this trip
What	How we worked it out	Each
Flights	return ORD to NQY, estimated from distance and season, changing at DUB, full-service airlines, with a hold bag	£380–£795
To the UK airport	parking or the train, there and back	£35–£65
Hire car	6 days, shared	£105–£175
Food	7 days eating out	£240–£445
Board and wetsuit	5 days, or about £85 to fly your own	£100–£170
Total		£860–£1,650

Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.

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Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

In the waterAd

Surf lessons · GetYourGuide Board and wetsuit hire · GetYourGuide

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