Are you past the beginner stage of getting surf lessons every weekend? Do you own your own surfboard and wetsuit and are you looking for some waves that will give you a challenge without being too scary? Outsider’s surf editor Richie Fitzgerald tells us about his top five recommendations for surf beaches to get you going on your way to intermediate surfing.
1 Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal
Surf history: Rossnowlagh is situated on the inside of Donegal Bay, approximately a 20-minute drive north of Bundoran. It’s a picturesque 2km long beach with waves breaking the whole length of the strand although the south end of the beach in front of the Surf Club is the best.
Rossnowlagh is the historic home of Irish surfing; it has a vibrant surf scene and is the ancestral home of Ireland’s most famous surfing family – the Brittons.
Rossnowlagh is very popular in summer months with winter months a lot quieter. The surf club here was the first in Ireland to establish its own clubhouse back in 1985. It’s still going strong today and it is the hub of activity for all the junior surfers in summer months. Rossnowlagh hosts Ireland’s longest running annual surf contest the ‘Intercounties’ every October.
In the water: The waves in Rossnowlagh are perfect for beginners to intermediate level surfers. Its position on the inside of Donegal Bay make it more sheltered from big swells than Bundoran. Rossnowlagh’s waves break softly with mellow/soft peeling lefts and rights. Quality waves break through the tide but the best conditions are usually an hour or two off the high-tide mark. It is a perfect beach for children/ beginners/intermediate or if you’re just looking for a mellow longboard session then Rossnowlagh is the place to go.
On land: A surf trip to Rossnowlagh wouldn’t be complete without a pint in the ‘Surfers Bar’ which is situated on the beach front. 40 years of Irish surf history adorns the walls of this famous watering hole with classic old Irish surf photos, boards, articles, posters and all other types of Irish surfing paraphernalia. The Sand House hotel and Smugglers Creek offer great food, music and accommodation.
Also, life-long Rossnowlagh local Neil Britton runs Finn McCools Surf Shop/Surf School and Mellow Surf Café which will provide you with lessons, food, and local surf information. Rossnowlagh surf Club and Life Guard station offers gear rental, shower facilities and changing rooms for surfers at the beach.
2 Tullan Strand Beach, Bundoran, Co Donegal
Surf history: Bundoran is often referred to as ‘Ireland’s surfing capital’. The town’s coastal area is blessed with a great variety of beach, reef and point breaks. From the world-class reef break of the Peak to the ever-consistent Tullan Strand, Bundoran has a wave for every style and level of surfer.
Tullan Strand has played host to countless surfing events and contests, most notably the 1985 and 1997 European Surf Championship and the 2001 World Surfing Masters. This beach is 3km long and stretches from the north end of Bundoran to the Erne Estuary at Ballyshannon. It is considered Ireland’s most consistent beach break. Add to this the beautiful backdrop of the Sligo/Leitrim mountains and the extensive network of sand dunes, and it’s also no surprise that it’s considered one of Ireland’s most picturesque surf spots.
In the water: Tullan is open to almost any swell direction The beach will pick up even the smallest Atlantic swell and will have rideable waves on days where the rest of the coast is flat. Although there are waves along the whole stretch of beach, it works best at low tide at the south end of the strand. It can hold waves up to 6ft and works best with an offshore wind with a small to medium swell of 2-4ft.
Tullan is a wave for every level of surfer, although small high-tide days are more suited to beginners and intermediate surfers. Tullan is a powerful wave that packs a punch. It offers short rights with longer better lefts. The advanced surfers and local crew usually surf the south end under the ‘Fairy Bridges’. It can often be a hot spot for crowds so for an intermediate surfer the best place to surf is few hundred meters down the beach where it is a lot quieter and easier to catch waves.
On land: Bundoran’s town centre and main street are just around the corner, with an array of cafés, shops, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs to keep you entertained and well fed. A few places that have become surfer’s favourite for après-surf action are the Auld Bridge Bar, Paris and the Chasing Bull for drink, food and music. Café Ceylon and the Coffee Dock also offer great food to refuel the tanks. There is a popular bowling ally and multi-cinema for flat-day fun.
Bundoran has four surf schools with equipment rental, three surf shops, three surf hostels and countless self-catering surf accommodation to cater for all your surfing needs.
3 Streedagh Strand, Co Sligo
Surf history: Streedagh beach is situated on the north Co Sligo coast just outside the village of Grange. Traditionally Streedagh was a semi-secret beach stuck between the two most popular surf towns in the north-west, Bundoran and Strandhill. Streedagh has seen an explosion in popularity in the last five years; now it is one of the areas most surfed beaches and you will find surfers from all over enjoying its quality beach break waves.
In the water: Streedagh is 3km long and its south end in front of the car park is the most popular surfing area. The beach is sheltered from big swells and strong prevailing cross- onshore winds, so it’s the perfect place to go when the rest of the coast is too big or blown-out.
As you move north up the beach it becomes more exposed to swell and the waves get bigger the further up the beach you go. The waves at Streedagh are powerful peaks with better rights than lefts. It’s best at 2-5ft. On bigger days it can have a lot of close outs, current and shore break, but most of the time Streedagh is one of the best beaches in the area for intermediate surfers.
On land: Streedagh is only a short drive from Bundoran or Sligo town with all their amenities and most travelling surfers base themselves in either town. However, the town of Grange has two really great pub/restaurants with good food, atmosphere and music, so be sure to check out Langs and Barry’s while you’re in the area.
4 Doughmore Beach, Co Clare
Surf history: Co Clare has a long history in Irish surfing. At its centre is, of course, surf city Lahinch. The area has been the venue for many contests and surfing events since the early 60s. Lahinch hosted the European Surfing Championships back in 1972. Doughmore beach just outside Lahinch is consistent with quality peaks all along the strand.
In the water: Doughmore beach is a 20-minute drive south of Lahinch; it has become very popular in the last decade and with good reason. When the rest of the Co Clare coast is small or flat, the ever-consistent Doughmore will have bigger and better quality surfable waves.
Doughmore picks up a lot of swell and the best peaks are situated at the north end of the beach, although the most popular surfing area is in front of the pathway access across Doonbeg golf course to the beach. It breaks throughout the tide and is best on the pushing tide in the 2-6ft range, with longer rights and shorter lefts.
On land: Doughmore is pretty far out there and unless you fancy a round of golf on the nearby courses you’d be better to head back to Lahinch for refreshments. Lahinch is the classic Irish surf town with numerous surf shops/surf schools and surf-related businesses. The beach promenade is a hive of surf activity when the waves are on at the beach and nearby reefs.
O’Looney’s bar on the beach is a brilliant surfers’ pub with views of the waves. The Cornerstone is another great spot for a hearty and reasonable feed. Lahinch Surf Shop and Lahinch Surf School are also right on the promenade.
5 Portballintrea, Co Antrim
Surf history: The north coast of Antrim is littered with beauty spots, tourist attractions and surf beaches. Most of the surfing tradition on the Causeway coast is based around the towns of Portrush and Portstewart. North of Portrush lies Portballintrea beach. It is home to the north coast’s most consistent waves and is the perfect challenge for an aspiring intermediate surfer.
In the water: Portballintrea is a small beach but it has some great waves that pack plenty of power and punch. Bodyboarding is popular at the river mouth on the south end of the beach. Most of the surfers tend to surf the first three peaks after the river mouth.
The wave itself comes out of deep water and has good lefts and rights. The beach picks up lots of swell and is popular when the rest of the coast is small. On small days Portballintrea can get pretty crowded as it is the most consistent wave on the north coast with wave riders of every type flocking there, especially on the weekends. On a bright day the coast of Scotland is clearly visible from the water and makes for a fantastic backdrop.
On land: The Antrim coast offers so much to do on land, from the Giant’s Causeway to Carrickaree Rope Bridge and Bushmills Distillery, to name but a few.
Most surfers base themselves in the surfing epicentre of Portrush which has three surf shops and three surf schools. The Harbour and Wine bar overlooking West Strand are a perfect place for a night out of food and drink. Rogues bar across the road has also got great music and atmosphere. For the more adventurous there is always Kelly’s, Ireland’s biggest nightclub on the outskirts of town.
Photos:
Courtesy of Briohny Fitzgerald and Bartley Crotchett
