The Maze (Tiree) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the next few weeks for The Maze on Tiree.

First up, let's be straight with you. The Maze is a spot that sees a lot of wind and swell, but for the next 16 days, the conditions are going to be a real mixed bag. We've got some decent size on the way, but the wind is going to be the main issue, often making things messy. The water temps are sitting around 59°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so you'll want a decent wetsuit.

The first sniff of anything worth paddling out for isn't until the 19th of August. Wednesday morning sees a 6ft groundswell from the west with a 10-second period, and the wind is a cross-off from the southeast at 19 mph, keeping things clean. The combined energy is moderate at 702, so there's some push behind it. That afternoon holds similar, with a 6ft swell and cross-off winds. It's a "marginal" call, though, so don't expect perfection.

Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are a write-off. The swell drops off and the wind is all over the place, strong and cross-shore, creating a lumpy, choppy mess. The energy levels are weak, dropping to 71 and 53.

The weekend is a bit of a flat spell. Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are tiny, with weak 1ft to 3ft swells and cross or cross-on winds. Not worth wetting a wetsuit, honestly.

Monday the 24th of August sees a pulse of energy come back in the afternoon. We're looking at a 6ft west swell with a 10-second period, and the energy jumps to 729. The wind is a moderate cross-shore from the south at 16 mph. It's a "marginal" forecast, but it's the best we've seen in a while.

Tuesday the 25th keeps the cross-off wind from the southeast, but the swell is a bit smaller at 4ft to 6ft. The waves are clean, but the energy is dropping. Wednesday the 26th has a similar story with a 4ft west swell, a long 11-second period, and cross-off winds, but the wind is cranking up to a near gale at 31 mph. That's going to be a tough paddle.

From the 27th of August onwards, it's a grim outlook. The swell is small and the wind is either cross-on or onshore, creating choppy, blown-out conditions. The 29th of August Saturday has some serious size, with an 8ft westerly swell, but it's being hammered by a 31 mph onshore wind. That's not for paddling – that's a full-on, howling mess. The energy is very strong at 887, but with that wind, it's just a washing machine.

The first week of September is the same story: windy, cross-shore or cross-on, and the surf quality is poor. There's a 7ft swell on the 2nd of September, but again, the wind is from the southwest at 16 mph, making it choppy.

Overall, there's no true standout in this forecast. The best window is the 19th of August, with clean cross-off winds and a decent 6ft swell. The 24th and 25th are also worth a look if you're desperate, but be prepared for it to be marginal. The rest of the period is a frustrating mix of onshore winds and messy conditions. It's a tough run for The Maze, but forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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