Strandlineby Pixel and Shovel

Support

Help with Strandline

Email hello@pixelandshovel.co.uk and a person will reply.

My beach is not listed

Strandline covers the 464 designated bathing waters in England. That is an Environment Agency list, so undesignated beaches and coves are not on it, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not covered yet, because they publish through different bodies. Tell us which beach and we will look at adding it.

The tide time looks a few minutes out

Almost certainly correct, and here is why. Each beach borrows its prediction from the nearest Environment Agency tide gauge, which is typically about 26 km away. Along an open coast the difference is a few minutes; around a headland or up an estuary it can be more. The app shows you which gauge it is using and how far away it is.

Strandline also predicts the astronomical tide. Weather moves real water: a deep low or a strong onshore wind can raise the level well above prediction. The app shows the live gauge reading alongside, and the gap between the two is the surge.

What does the water quality badge mean?

Two different things, both from the Environment Agency.

Some beaches are flagged as affected by heavy rain. For those, it is worth re-checking after a downpour.

It says there is no signal but I have one

The tide, sun and moon are calculated on your phone and always work. Wind, sea level and water quality need a connection. If those tiles show a dash, the app could not reach one of the public data services. Usually temporary. Pull down to refresh.

I paid for the unlock and it has not appeared

Purchases are handled by Apple. On a new phone, or after reinstalling, use Restore purchases. It is free and reinstates the unlock on any device signed in to the same Apple Account. If it still does not appear, email us with the date of purchase.

Can I use it for sailing or navigation?

No. Strandline is built for people going in the water for fun. It has no storm surge model and its predictions are approximate at the beach itself. For navigation use ADMIRALTY data, which is what it exists for.

Something is wrong

If a reading looks wrong, tell us which beach and when, and we will check it against the source. Errors in this kind of app are worth chasing.

hello@pixelandshovel.co.uk