Local Breaks
Bundoran offers a wide range of reef and beach options for all levels of surfers. For experienced surfers there are numerous reefs in the area that work on different stages of the tide. The surrounding area is great for exploration, ideally with a car. Most breaks in the immediate area of Bundoran are accessible by foot or bicycle. Buy an ordnance survey map no. 16.
Tullan Strand
Tullan strand is one of the best beaches in Ireland for surfing, as it catches a lot of swell. Even if there are no waves at other breaks, Tullan can still be two foot and clean. The beach is two miles long with banks all along the beach, the most popular of which is beside the cliffs. At low tide the peaks nearest the cliff jack up into wedges that can produce fast hollow waves. The peaks get mellower the further down the beach you go. At high tide the peaks at the far end of the beach are best. Offshore in east and south east winds.
The Peak
One of the most consistent and best quality reef breaks in Ireland, the Peak is best surfed at low tide. This A-frame wave produces a long walling left with barrell sections, and a shorter right that can be quite hollow. Experienced surfers only. Can get crowded. Offshore in SE winds. When the swell is big the left can close out however the right can handle nearly any swell.
Inside left
Just to the north of the peak is the inside left. On good days its offers a long left with barrel sections. Can be fickle but when its on its definitely on.
3D
A rock ledge that can produce sketchy barrels with a high tide. The movement of the sand bar seems to have effected 3D in recent years however its still possible with a high tide to get barreled. Probably best for body boarders.
Main Beach Sand bar
The Sandbar can produce high quality lefts and short rights at low tide. The sand bar is rarely crowded and is a good spot for intermediate riders. It is best on a low tide and can really catch south west swell.
Bundoran Main Beach
The main beach can produce good waves on a high tide with a medium to large swell. The shore break produces fast short rides in the shore break but can also produce longer rides when it breaks out back. It can handle the wind and is worth a look at high tide.
Boat Quay
The Boat Quay can produce long fast lefts in big swells. Can be sketchy when the tide is low but is often empty. Needs big swell. Best at mid to high.
The Drowes River Mouth
On biggers swells mellow lefts and rights peel off at the mouth of the Drowes River. A good intermediate wave. Located between Bundoran and Tullaghan at the Drowes Bridge.
Mullaghmore Beach
Only really has waves on huge swells, however is protected from West and south west winds. The further down the beach you go the bigger the swell but the more wind affected it becomes. To reach Mullaghmore head to Sligo and turn to the right a half mile after the Duff River bridge. Good banks when on.
Streedagh Strand, Grange, Co. Sligo
Streedagh is a north facing beach located midway between Bundoran and Sligo (turn off at Grange village). Best surfed on a mid to high tide it is somewhat sheltered from west winds, and is clean in a southwest wind. Picks up plenty of west and north swell. Can be quite punchy on a big swell. Good for intermediate level surfers. Plenty of empty peaks all along the beach, and bigger further down the beach.
Rossnowlagh Beach
Home to the annual Intercounties contest Rossnowlagh is best surfed on a mid to high tide, and has plenty of space all along the beach to accommodate any number of surfers. The waves here tend to be more mellow than Bundoran, so it is a good option if Tullan is big. Good conditions for learning. Rossnowlagh also picks up south swell. Offshore in east and south east winds. Located five miles from Ballyshannon.
