A compendium of information which we hope may prove of use. Please note that we have just provided the links to other sites; we cannot be responsible for the information provided!
Weather Forecasting
AccuWeather - A general weather forecasting site.
BBC Shipping Forecast - Daily forecast for inshore waters around the UK coastline.
BBC Weather - A general weather forecasting site.
Met Office for Mariners - Inshore Waters and Strong Winds forecasts updated every 4 hours and forecast up to 24 hours ahead. Useful explanation about Inshore Forecasts on the site.
Met Office surface pressure charts - Useful for developing understanding of air mass patterns and how they influence the weather; can then be used for forecasting wind direction & speed.
Met Office Latest Observations - Useful, multi-layered chart with forecast up to 7 days out.
Met Office App - Weather forecasts from the UK Meteorological Office straight to your phone.
Metcheck - Another general weather forecasting site.
Meteoblue - Another general weather forecasting site.
NetWeather - General & long term forecasts.
The Weather Outlook - A general weather forecasting site.
Weather Online - General, local & wider forecasts.
Weather Spark - Seasonal trends, maybe helpful for trip planning.
Weather Underground - US based forecast & historical weather. Global weather forecasts & historic data if you might have use for such a thing…
Weather Facts - Forecasts and useful information around meteorology & weather.
Windfinder / Windfinder App - Very useful site for weather overviews and swell / wave height. Also an App for mobile phone use.
Wind Guru - Graphic presentation of wind & forecast wind conditions.
Windy App - Weather forecasting App uses several forecasting models with regular updates.
Free or subscription with additional features.
Wundermap - Zoomable graphic presentation of wind speed & direction, etc.
XC Weather - Useful with hourly forecasts.
Yr - A Norwegian site & App. Quite reliable for the Lakes, west coast & Scottish Islands.
Orkney Weather plus - Live weather from OIC Harbours. Almost as good as looking out of your cottage window!! Historic wind data used to be available for free but I guess the renewables sector has put paid to that.
Northern Isles Weather - Local, up to 10 days forecast.
AccuWeather - A general weather forecasting site.
BBC Shipping Forecast - Daily forecast for inshore waters around the UK coastline.
BBC Weather - A general weather forecasting site.
Met Office for Mariners - Inshore Waters and Strong Winds forecasts updated every 4 hours and forecast up to 24 hours ahead. Useful explanation about Inshore Forecasts on the site.
Met Office surface pressure charts - Useful for developing understanding of air mass patterns and how they influence the weather; can then be used for forecasting wind direction & speed.
Met Office Latest Observations - Useful, multi-layered chart with forecast up to 7 days out.
Met Office App - Weather forecasts from the UK Meteorological Office straight to your phone.
Metcheck - Another general weather forecasting site.
Meteoblue - Another general weather forecasting site.
NetWeather - General & long term forecasts.
The Weather Outlook - A general weather forecasting site.
Weather Online - General, local & wider forecasts.
Weather Spark - Seasonal trends, maybe helpful for trip planning.
Weather Underground - US based forecast & historical weather. Global weather forecasts & historic data if you might have use for such a thing…
Weather Facts - Forecasts and useful information around meteorology & weather.
Windfinder / Windfinder App - Very useful site for weather overviews and swell / wave height. Also an App for mobile phone use.
Wind Guru - Graphic presentation of wind & forecast wind conditions.
Windy App - Weather forecasting App uses several forecasting models with regular updates.
Free or subscription with additional features.
Wundermap - Zoomable graphic presentation of wind speed & direction, etc.
XC Weather - Useful with hourly forecasts.
Yr - A Norwegian site & App. Quite reliable for the Lakes, west coast & Scottish Islands.
Orkney Weather plus - Live weather from OIC Harbours. Almost as good as looking out of your cottage window!! Historic wind data used to be available for free but I guess the renewables sector has put paid to that.
Northern Isles Weather - Local, up to 10 days forecast.
River Water Levels
Environment Agency River Level Monitoring Stations (Cumbria) - Does what it says!
River App - Provides river levels across Europe. Free version gives 48 & 24 hours hydrographs (derived from Environment Agency flow gauging stations for English rivers). Paid for version gives lots of historic data and predictions where available.
Rainchasers - Used to be online (as “on the internet”), then an app, now, apparently defunct. Pity.
Environment Agency River Level Monitoring Stations (Cumbria) - Does what it says!
River App - Provides river levels across Europe. Free version gives 48 & 24 hours hydrographs (derived from Environment Agency flow gauging stations for English rivers). Paid for version gives lots of historic data and predictions where available.
Rainchasers - Used to be online (as “on the internet”), then an app, now, apparently defunct. Pity.
Tidal Information
UK Admiralty Tidal Atlases are second to none for tidal stream information and can sometimes be picked up on eBay or Amazon if you are lucky or new from chandlers & good bookshops.
EasyTide App - The definitive, free tidal prediction site for 7 days ahead.
Absolute Tides App - £2.99 for a year of UK Hydrographic Office tidal data. Also gives Inshore Waters forecast from the Met Office and regional tidal atlas.
UK Tides - £3.99 for a year of UK Hydrographic Office tidal data. Tidal stream data, downloadable tide tables.
anyTide App – NOW DEFUNCT?
Free tidal predictions for locations around the UK up to one month ahead. Rumours that the App is not going to be supported from 2023 appear to be correct.
Visit My Harbour - Free or optional subscription. Weekly tidal data for free, plus lots of potentially useful info if “on tour Paid for version includes a lifetimes worth of annual tides for one-off fee.
Orkney Harbours Handbook - Free to download or, possibly, to collect from OIC Ferry Office in Kirkwall though not updated since 2016. Includes small copies of Tidal Atlas diagrams for Orkney & Pentland Firth.
UK Admiralty Tidal Atlases are second to none for tidal stream information and can sometimes be picked up on eBay or Amazon if you are lucky or new from chandlers & good bookshops.
EasyTide App - The definitive, free tidal prediction site for 7 days ahead.
Absolute Tides App - £2.99 for a year of UK Hydrographic Office tidal data. Also gives Inshore Waters forecast from the Met Office and regional tidal atlas.
UK Tides - £3.99 for a year of UK Hydrographic Office tidal data. Tidal stream data, downloadable tide tables.
anyTide App – NOW DEFUNCT?
Free tidal predictions for locations around the UK up to one month ahead. Rumours that the App is not going to be supported from 2023 appear to be correct.
Visit My Harbour - Free or optional subscription. Weekly tidal data for free, plus lots of potentially useful info if “on tour Paid for version includes a lifetimes worth of annual tides for one-off fee.
Orkney Harbours Handbook - Free to download or, possibly, to collect from OIC Ferry Office in Kirkwall though not updated since 2016. Includes small copies of Tidal Atlas diagrams for Orkney & Pentland Firth.
Location & Mapping
OS Locate App - Free. Provides grid reference of your location & a virtual compass with capability to send “I am here” messages by SMS text, WhatsApp, email etc.
OS Maps - Phone and device, monthly or annual subscription. Provides printable access to 1:25k & 1:50k OS mapping, downloadable to your phone so works when offline.
Memory Map - App & PC – Free software with optional paid-for mapping including OS & hydrographic charts with search, route planning and tracking capabilities. Maps & charts may be stored on device so no mobile or internet signal required, recorded tracks can be downloaded with speed, time, elevation & other data.
Sarloc - Useful for locating a place described by postcode or grid reference in a block of text.
What3Words App - Provides a sharable location supposedly unique to your location within a 3m x 3m grid square. Has proven fallible & been heavily criticised by many professionals and emergency services. Fraught with issues so use with a healthy dose of scepticism or at least cross reference the W3W location with other location data!
OS Locate App - Free. Provides grid reference of your location & a virtual compass with capability to send “I am here” messages by SMS text, WhatsApp, email etc.
OS Maps - Phone and device, monthly or annual subscription. Provides printable access to 1:25k & 1:50k OS mapping, downloadable to your phone so works when offline.
Memory Map - App & PC – Free software with optional paid-for mapping including OS & hydrographic charts with search, route planning and tracking capabilities. Maps & charts may be stored on device so no mobile or internet signal required, recorded tracks can be downloaded with speed, time, elevation & other data.
Sarloc - Useful for locating a place described by postcode or grid reference in a block of text.
What3Words App - Provides a sharable location supposedly unique to your location within a 3m x 3m grid square. Has proven fallible & been heavily criticised by many professionals and emergency services. Fraught with issues so use with a healthy dose of scepticism or at least cross reference the W3W location with other location data!