Swell OtterNorthern Ireland · Surf travel guide
Surfing in Northern Ireland
The Causeway Coast around Portrush and Portstewart: Atlantic swell from the north and beaches close together.
- Breaks
- 10
- Best months
- Feb, Mar, Dec
- Sea temperature
- 9–16°C
- Consistency
- High
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Causeway Coast surf spots
County Down surf spots
The Swell Otter take on Northern Ireland
A compact, friendly surf coast where you can check five beaches in twenty minutes. Small area, big variety.
Northern Ireland's surf is concentrated on the Causeway Coast, and that's a strength. Whiterocks, the Portrush strands, Portstewart and Castlerock all sit within a short drive and face slightly different ways. On most swells, one of them will be clean.
The coast faces north into the Atlantic, so it lights up when swell wraps around the top of Ireland, mostly from autumn to spring. Summer brings small, fun waves and busy beaches. Winter brings proper swell and cold, clear days.
Add the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and a pint in Portrush and it's one of the best surf weekends in the UK, even when the waves are small.
- When we'd go
- October to March on a north-west swell with a south wind.
- When we'd skip it
- Summer bank holidays on the strands, which get very busy.
Our take, by Tom Otto, checked against three years (2023–2025) of wave, wind and sea temperature history for these breaks.
Northern Ireland spot guides
Surfing in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's surf is centred on the Causeway Coast around Portrush and Portstewart. The beaches face north into the Atlantic and pick up swell that wraps around the top of Ireland.
There are several beaches within a few minutes of each other, which makes it easy to find one that suits the wind. Autumn and winter bring the most swell. The coast is beautiful, with the Giant's Causeway just along the road.
Positives
- Catches Atlantic swell from the north
- Stunning Causeway Coast
- Friendly surf towns
- Good for learners
Negatives
- Cold water
- Exposed to wind
- Busy in summer
- Limited choice of spots
When to surf in Northern Ireland
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | ||||||||||||
| Typical size | 5ft | 7ft | 3ft | 3ft | 3ft | 3ft | 2ft | 3ft | 3ft | 3ft | 4ft | 6ft |
| Surfable days | 82% | 87% | 87% | 73% | 62% | 69% | 60% | 77% | 77% | 81% | 84% | 91% |
| Good days | 63% | 67% | 54% | 43% | 27% | 23% | 14% | 30% | 53% | 46% | 51% | 66% |
| Big days (8ft+) | 20% | 35% | 15% | 1% | 7% | 5% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 11% | 11% | 34% |
| Wind | ||||||||||||
| Average | 12mph | 12mph | 11mph | 11mph | 9mph | 10mph | 10mph | 11mph | 11mph | 12mph | 11mph | 13mph |
| Offshore days | 43% | 40% | 44% | 44% | 28% | 31% | 30% | 37% | 41% | 42% | 42% | 45% |
| Water | ||||||||||||
| Sea temp | 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 12° | 14° | 15° | 16° | 15° | 14° | 13° | 11° |
| Wetsuit | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 5/4 | 4/3 | 3/2 | 3/2 | 4/3 | 4/3 | 4/3 | 5/4 |
| Weather | ||||||||||||
| Max air | 8° | 9° | 10° | 13° | 15° | 17° | 18° | 18° | 16° | 14° | 10° | 9° |
| Min air | 3° | 4° | 4° | 6° | 9° | 11° | 12° | 12° | 10° | 9° | 6° | 5° |
| Rain | 96mm | 62mm | 96mm | 100mm | 76mm | 95mm | 133mm | 118mm | 120mm | 117mm | 101mm | 142mm |
| Wet days | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Worked out from up to ten years (2016–2025) of hourly Open-Meteo history (CC BY 4.0) using the same star ratings as our forecasts. Surfable means at least one 2-star hour in daylight, good means 3 stars. Temperatures in °C.
Wetsuit by month
Boots from November to May, plus gloves and a hood when the sea drops below 10°C.
The break lowdown
How the 10 breaks here compare.
Ability
Type
Bottom
Consistency
Crowds
Direction
Travel information
- Getting around
- The A2 coast road links Portrush, Portstewart and the Causeway Coast. Belfast is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car, and trains run to Portrush.
- Where to stay
- Portrush and Portstewart have hotels, B&Bs and caravan parks.
- Hazards and hassles
- Rips on bigger days, cold water and busy beaches in summer.
- Handy hints
- If it's onshore at one beach, check the others around Portrush. They face different ways.
Northern Ireland surf questions, answered
Can you surf in Portrush?
Yes. Portrush is the centre of surfing in Northern Ireland, with Whiterocks, the West Strand and the East Strand all close by. They pick up north and north-west Atlantic swells, mostly from autumn to spring.
When is the best time to surf in Northern Ireland?
The best time to surf in Northern Ireland is February, March and December, the most reliable months across the breaks we forecast there. In three years (2023–2025) of history, about 87% of winter days and 69% of summer days had at least one surfable (2-star) session, so summer is the smallest and quietest season.
Where can you surf in Northern Ireland?
The Causeway Coast is Northern Ireland's surf coast: Whiterocks, the Portrush strands, Portstewart Strand, Castlerock, Benone Strand and Ballycastle. Tyrella in County Down is the main option on the east coast.
Is Portrush good for beginners?
Yes, on small days. The West Strand in Portrush and Portstewart Strand have gentle waves in summer and surf schools nearby. In winter the swell is bigger and colder, so beginners should stick to small days.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Northern Ireland?
Surfing in Northern Ireland needs a 5/4 wetsuit with hood, boots and gloves in late winter, when the sea drops to about 9°C, and a 3/2 in late summer, when it reaches about 16°C.
More UK surf regions
Tom Otto
Tom Otto built Swell Otter, the free surf forecast for the UK, and writes its spot guides. Every guide is checked against years of wave, wind and sea temperature history for the break, so the advice matches the numbers and not just the postcards.