South Stack

On the north west corner of Holy Island off Anglesey South Stack tidal race works on both the flood and the ebb.Flows reach 5 knots at springs and 3 knots at neaps. Under the bridge the tides changes 10 mins before Holyhead but in the outer race they change about half an hour earlier both ways. In the outer race the flood flow direction is south to north and the ebb, north to south. It is exposed from the south, west and north.

Looking east at South Stack, peak flood, spring tide, southerly force 4, 3 foot southerly swell.

Under the bridge – This can provide an easier or at least shorter route up against the tide but doesn’t offer much play potential as it is in a confined space.

Around the island – This rarely forms surfable waves but can provide fast flowing bumpy water.

Outer race – This only forms when the conditions are right, generally around mid flow of a bigger tide and with some wind and or swell against it. Because of the prevailing conditions it more commonly forms on the ebb and more rarely on the flood. The race forms over the ‘Ten Fathom Spur’ (20 meters) which extends west from South Stack. The surfable waves start a few hundred meters out from South Stack and stretch out to sea in a wide race that is only a few surfable waves deep. The smallest waves are closer to land and they get bigger the further out you go. On the ebb as soon as you drop off the front few waves start to ferry glide in behind South Stack as if you miss the eddy here it is a long paddle. This race is a dangerous place to have anything go wrong as there are no eddies and the flow pushes you out to sea, particularly on the ebb. In certain conditions it can form heavy dumping waves and it can sometimes be difficult to tell how big they are until you are very close. When it is working well it forms the best surfing waves of all Holy Islands races.

Eddies – On the flood there is a huge eddy in Gogarth bay, on the ebb there is an eddy on the south west side of South Stack, both these eddies are several hundred meters from the race.

Looking west at South Stack, peak flood, spring tide, southerly force 4, 3 foot southerly swell.

How to get to South Stack - South Stack can be reached from Holyhead harbour via North Stack, or from Porthdafarch Beach via Penrhyn Mawr.

Top photograph by Jeff Allen of Sea Kayaking Cornwall.

Warning: Kayaking can be dangerous. Tidal races can kill and we recommend that paddlers should avoid them. KAYAK.im, or any third parties mentioned on this page cannot and will not accept liability for death or injury which may occur to those visiting the locations described on this page. Non of the information provided here should be used to plan paddles by inexperienced kayakers, and without expert help and appropriate equipment. In no way should any person assume that any information contained on this site is a recommendation of the safety of the location, facility or professionalism of the instructing personnel.

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