Helmsdale
Helmsdale is a town on the east coast of Scotland, in the Highland region, United Kingdom.
Best window 08:00 – 10:00
Good (55) — best around 08:00–10:00, thanks to a major solunar period, dawn or dusk light, falling pressure.
- Feels like -1.2° around 09:00.
Why we say this
Apparent temperature combines cold and wind chill. Near freezing, exposure sets the length of a session more than the fish do. - Gusting 35 kn around 09:00.
Why we say this
Gusts, not average wind, are what capsize a kayak and spoil a cast. Above 30 kn most shore and small-craft fishing stops being pleasant.
- Shore43
- Boat42
- Rock41
- Kayak30
- Spearfishing est.34
- Shore43
- Boat42
- Rock41
- Kayak30
- Spearfishing34est.
Marginal — Shore, Boat, or Rock
Confidence: highUpdated about 5 h agoAvoid 00:00–21:00
- a major solunar period
- dawn or dusk light
- falling pressure
- strong wind
- likely murky water
Tap a block for the reasons
Tides
Heights above approximate chart datum
- Fishing—
- Wind— kn
- Waves— m
Show all rows
- Gusts— kn
- Period— s
- Current— kn
- UV—
- Cloud— %
- Feels like— °
Tap an hour to see the values
Which day to go
Updated about 5 h ago
| Day | Fishing | Shore | Boat | Rock | Kayak | Spearfishing | Wind | Waves | Swell | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mon | 78 | 69 | 73 | 43 | 54 | 5–12kn S | 0.26–0.80m ESE | 0.28m · 3.4s ESE | 12.2° | |
| 20 Tue | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12–18kn SE | 0.86–1.80m ESE | 1.14m · 5.6s ESE | 12.4° | |
| 21 Wed | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2–16kn SSE | 1.30–1.94m E | 1.72m · 7.0s E | 12.3° | |
| 22 Thu | 43 | 42 | 41 | 30 | 34 | 5–18kn WNW | 0.36–1.32m E | 0.73m · 6.6s E | 12.2° | |
| 23 Fri | 67 | 65 | 66 | 61 | 55 | 2–12kn SSW | 0.16–0.34m E | 0.19m · 4.5s E | 12.0° | |
| 24 Sat | 45 | 43 | 44 | 39 | 36 | 5–26kn S | 0.18–1.98m ESE | 0.64m · 5.1s ESE | 12.1° | |
| 25 Sun | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12–29kn W | 0.82–1.66m WSW | 0.33m · 5.0s SSW | 12.1° |
Helmsdale has a population of 637. Nearby coastal points include Ord Point (3.6 km) and Lothbeg Point (8.7 km), with the town of Brora 16.6 km away, along with Brora Point (16.7 km), Dunrobin Point (20 km) and Dunbeath Harbour (20.3 km). Tides here are macro-tidal and semidiurnal, with a spring range of 3.27 m.
Also known as
Bun Ilidh
Questions
Is October 22, 2026 a good day to fish at Helmsdale?
Our fishing score for Helmsdale on October 22, 2026 is 55 out of 100 — Good.
When is high tide at Helmsdale on October 22, 2026?
High tides on October 22, 2026: 09:57 AM, 09:56 PM. Low tides: 03:31 AM, 03:49 PM. Times are local.
What is the tidal range at Helmsdale?
The mean spring range at Helmsdale is about 3.3 m.
What time do the sun and moon rise at Helmsdale?
On October 22, 2026, the sun rises at 08:05 AM and sets at 05:51 PM. The moon rises at 04:42 PM and sets at 02:51 AM.