Surf spot

Bournemouth Pier

Forecast conditions and map view for Bournemouth Pier in UK, South. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: UK, South
Coordinates: 50.7151, -1.8757

Metric
Metric	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Wave height (m)	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.4	0.2	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.6	0.7	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.6
Wave direction	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	SW	WSW	WSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	WSW	WSW	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW	SW
Wave period (s)	3.7	4	4.2	4.3	5.2	4	3.7	3.5	3.5	3.3	3.5	3.2	4.1	4.2	3.1	2.7	3	3.8	4	4.7	3	3.3	3.3	3.7	3.9	4	4.2	4.8	3.8	3.4	3.4	3.4	4.7	4.7	6.5	5.5	6.2	5.3	4.7	4.6	4.8	4.5	4.5	5.5	6.8	7	6.2	6.2	6.1	5.5	5.8	6.1	5.8	5.3	4.7	4.5
Wave energy (kJ)	6	5	3	2	2	3	4	4	3	3	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	3	4	4	4	4	3	2	1	2	2	2	2	1	3	3	19	19	12	10	10	9	5	2	2	1	1	1	7	12	12	11	15	14	15
Wind speed (km/h)	23	23.7	25.8	21.6	22.7	18.6	17.7	13.3	11.6	12.2	12.5	22.2	24.8	25.3	20.7	17.2	17.7	17.4	18.2	21.2	16.3	18.9	32.4	23	19.2	23.2	24.4	20.9	20.6	16.6	22.7	18.7	20.5	27.2	30.3	33.2	30.5	30.9	25.4	21.6	20.5	19.4	17.5	18.8	26.7	28.8	25.2	31.8	35.7	43.4	47.5	44.9	38	35	32.9	32.8
Wind direction	WSWCross	WSWCross	WCross	WSWCross	WSWCross	WCross	WSWCross	WCross-off	WCross-off	WSWCross	SWCross-on	WSWCross	WSWCross	WSWCross	SWCross	WSWCross	WSWCross	SWCross-on	WSWCross	WSWCross	WNWCross-off	NWCross-off	NWOffshore	NWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NWOffshore	NWOffshore	NWOffshore	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WCross-off	WSWCross	WSWCross	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NWCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WSWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SWCross-on	SWBlown out	SWBlown out	SWBlown out	SWBlown out	WSWBlown out	WCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off

Bournemouth Pier (South, UK) — surf spot description

Bournemouth Pier is a classic South Coast beachbreak in Dorset, fronting a long sandy beach with the pier as the main landmark. It’s one of the more accessible and popular surf spots in the area, especially for beginners and intermediates when conditions line up.

What it’s like

Wave type: Sandy beachbreak
Best for: Beginners to intermediate surfers, bodyboarders, and surfers wanting a reliable local option
Swell: Needs a decent south to southwest swell to work well
Wind: Best with offshore north or northwest winds; onshore south winds can make it messy quickly
Tide: Often works best around mid tide, though this can vary with sandbanks
Crowds: Can get busy, particularly in summer and during any decent swell

Conditions and quality

Because it’s a beachbreak, the shape can change with the sandbars and storms, so quality varies from session to session. On a good day, you can get fun, punchy peaks and manageable waves. On average days, it may be small, weak, or a bit crumbly.

Hazards and things to watch

Strong currents and rips can appear, especially with larger swell
Shifting sandbanks mean the break can be inconsistent
Busy promenade/beach area makes it a high-traffic spot
Watch for pier structure and swimmers near the main beach area

Overall

Bournemouth Pier is a convenient, often surfable beachbreak that comes alive with the right south/west swell and offshore wind. It’s not the most powerful wave in the UK, but it can be a very workable and fun spot for local sessions.