Arbroath: High water is 45 minutes after high water at Aberdeen
St Andrews: High water is 15 minutes before high water at Leith
Anstruther Easter: High water is 10 minutes before high water at Leith
Kinghorn: High water is at high water at Leith
Cramond Island: High water is at high water at Leith
North Berwick: High water is at high water at Leith
Dunbar: High water is 5 minutes before high water at Leith
St Abbs: High water is 15 minutes before high water at Leith
Berwick upon Tweed: High water is 53 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields)
Between Arbroath and Montrose: The north north-east going stream begins at 2 hours after high water at Aberdeen. The south south-west going stream begins at 4 hours before high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.
Between Arbroath and Bell Rock: The north-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Aberdeen. The south-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Aberdeen. The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Between St Andrews and Fife Ness: The east south-east going stream begins at 5 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Leith. The west north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 50 minutes after high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs.
Off Fife Ness: The south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 40 minutes before high water at Leith. The north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 50 minutes after high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Between Anstruther and Elie: The east north-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Leith. The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
3.5 nm west of Isle of May: The north-east going stream begins at 45 minutes after high water at Leith. The south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Leith. The north-east going stream reaches a speed of 0.8 knots at springs. The south-west going stream reaches a speed of 0.9 knots at springs.
Between Kinghorn and Inchkeith: The east north-east going stream begins at 44 minutes after high water at Leith. The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Leith. The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.2 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.1 knots at springs.
North of Oxcars: The east north-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Leith. The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Leith. The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.6 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.
Mortimer's Deep: The tide flows north-east and south-west. The flow reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs.
Between Oxcars and Cow and Calves: The east north-east going stream begins at 1 hours after high water at Leith. The west south-west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Leith. The east north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.3 knots at springs. The west south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.2 knots at springs.
West of Forth Bridges: The east south-east going stream begins at at high water at Leith. The west north-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 15 minutes before high water at Leith. The east south-east going stream reaches a speed of 2.2 knots at springs. The west north-west going stream reaches a speed of 2.6 knots at springs.
Under Forth Bridges: The east going stream begins at 35 minutes after high water at Leith. The west going stream begins at 5 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Leith. The east going stream reaches a speed of 2.3 knots at springs. The west going stream reaches a speed of 1.4 knots at springs.
Between Inchkeith and Leith: The east going stream begins at 10 minutes after high water at Leith. The west going stream begins at 6 hours and 30 minutes before high water at Leith. The east going stream reaches a speed of 0.8 knots at springs. The west going stream reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Off Fidra: The east going stream begins at 5 minutes after high water at Leith. The west going stream begins at 5 hours and 55 minutes before high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs.
Near Craigleith: The east going stream begins at 30 minutes before high water at Leith. The west going stream begins at 5 hours and 50 minutes after high water at Leith.
Off Bass Rock: The east going stream begins at at high water at Leith. The west going stream begins at 6 hours before high water at Leith.
Barns Ness: The east south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Leith. The west north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 40 minutes after high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs.
Eddy to the west of St. Abb's Head: An eddy forms to the west of St. Abb's Head on the west-going stream, such that the easterly flow begins at the western point of the headland ahead of the main inshore flow turning.
St. Abb's Head: The south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Leith. The north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 45 minutes after high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.
Around Eyemouth: The south south-east going stream begins at 2 hours and 45 minutes before high water at Leith. The north north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Leith. The flow reaches a speed of 0.5 knots at springs. The flow is only really noticeable around the headland to the east of Eyemouth.
North of Berwick upon Tweed: The north north-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 25 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The south south-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 35 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
North of Berwick: There can be unexpected breaking waves due to shallow rocks extending out from cliffs.
Off Berwick: The south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 15 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 45 minutes after high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs. Inshore, south of the harbour entrance, the streams change direction around an hour earlier.
At entrance of River Tweed estuary: The south-east going stream begins at 1 hours before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The north-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 15 minutes before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. If paddling up the Tweed, aim to launch two hours before high water. Eddies behind bridges can be unpredictable in strong flows.
Upper reaches of River Tweed: Upstream of the A1 bridge: The east going stream begins at 1 hours before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at River Tyne (north Shields). The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.
Eddy east of North Berwick*: During the westerly flow, an eddy flows east along the coast east of North Berwick.
Auchmithie: (NO 683 442) g
Arbroath (Whiting Ness): (NO 658 410) g
Abroath: (NO 641 404) g Beach and slip to west of outer harbour walls.
Carnoustie: (NO 566 343) g
Broughty Ferry: (NO 464 305) g
Tayport: (NO 458 291) g
St Andrews- West Sands: (NO 505 174) g
St Andrews- East Sands: (NO 519 164) g
Kingsbarns: (NO 602 125) g
Cellardyke Harbour/ Skinfast Haven, Anstruther: (NO 577 038) g Harbour dries at Lw. Parking looks very limited.
Anstruther Harbour: (NO 568 033) g
St Monans: (NO 525 016) g
Elie: (NT 497 996) g
Leven: (NO 391 013) g
Leven: (NO 387 009) g
Kinghorn: (NT 265 862) g
Silversands Bay: (NT 199 852) g Silversands has a large car park above the beach, cost £2 in 2022. However, the helpful attendant will direct kayakers to the car parks closer to the beach. After passing the main car park entrance on the right, drive down the hill. There is a car park on the left at the corner of the beach, and further parking on the road to the right that heads to the point. Short carry from either to the beach. Facilities include toilets, grassy area to sort out kit and a cafe serving excellent bacon butties.
South Queensferry: (NT 131 785) g
Prestonpans: (NT 391 751) g
North Berwick: (NT 561 852) g Parking can get busy in summer. There is a small parking area with height barriers (high enough for a standard car with boats) west of the golf club. Further east is a parking area frequented by camper vans.
Seacliff: (NT 605 845) g Accessed down a private road off the A198 at Auldhame, through a coin-operated barrier (£3?). There is a large parking area set back slightly from the beach from which the track leads down to a smaller parking area for 5-6 cars by the beach.
Belhaven: (NT 661 788) g Several free parking bays beyond (large) pay and display car park. Better at high water.
Dunbar- East Beach: (NT 682 790) g May be better at low water, more limited parking.
White Sands: (NT 712 773) g Height restriction 2.1m.
Pease Bay: (NT 794 709) g Car park at entrance to holiday park, just by a ford. Trolleys helpful for the walk to the beach.
St. Abbs: (NT 920 673) g Pay and display parking near the harbour and slipway. Parking is limited, and it might be advisable to arrive early at weekends. A fallback is to leave cars in the National Trust car park west of the village. In 2020, the car park cost £7 for the day, with £3 launching fees per kayak - honesty box by the harbourmaster's office.
Coldingham Bay: (NT 917 665) g Large carpark at top of hill- trolleys recommended for walk to the beach.
Eyemouth (beach): (NT 945 645) g At high water, beach is covered except at west side. Car park by coop in centre of beach.
Burnmouth: (NT 958 611) g At Hw landing on the beach is possible, but at Lw would need to land in dry harbour.
Berwick: (NU 007 527) g Reasonably sized parking area by a large area of grass. Short carry across this to the beach. Getting off the beach can be a little awkward at low tide due to reefs close offshore.
Sandstell Point, Spittal: (NU 005 520) g Car park at end of road, overlooking sandy spit. May be surf on east but sheltered on west.
Cocklawburn Beach: (NU 028 486) g Two small parking areas close to the beach. The location given is the larger car park and the one closer to the beach.
St. Abb's Head: A fine trip around an impressive headland, with much potential for rock hopping. At the right times of the year, the cliffs and sky will be packed with seabirds. There is further interest (and a precarious castle wall perched above the sea) around Fast Castle Head. Works well as an out-and-back trip from St.Abbs, but there a number of other options.
Islands of the Firth of Forth*: The inner part of the Firth of Forth, near the Queensferry bridges, has a number of small islands that can make for an entertaining day out. Although the area is somewhat sheltered, visiting the islands requires open water crossings, sometimes with significant tidal flow and the presence of large ships. Start point and route will be dictated by tide and desired journey length, but Queensferry is a good option, starting under the bridges and allowing you to add Inch Garvie to the list of islands. Cramond is a low-lying tidal island. Inchmickery is littered with wartime gun emplacements and decaying concrete - landing is awkward and it's not terribly safe under foot, but fascinating to explore for those keen on that sort of thing. Inchcolm, with its impressive abbey remains, is visited by tourist boats. It's free to land (and a fine lunch spot), but there is a small charge to look round the abbey. For those seeking a longer trip, Inchkeith is a larger island with a lighthouse and an interesting history.
Back to index