Portrush East Strand is a long, sandy beach break on Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast, stretching east from Portrush Harbour beneath the cliffs of the Royal Portrush Golf Club. A consistent, forgiving beach break that works across a wide range of tides and swell sizes, it's the region's most popular spot for surf schools, while its punchy peaks are best for intermediate surfers and up on a good day. Cold Atlantic water year-round means a thick wetsuit (and usually boots and gloves in winter) is essential.
🌡️ ~13.7°C now · a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Portrush East Strand. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Portrush East Strand's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 16 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 9° | 9° | 9° | 9° | 11° | 14° | 15° | 16° | 15° | 14° | 12° | 11° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 6.3 ft (1.9 m), with offshore winds around 18 km/h from the SW. Water is ~9°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.7 ft (2.0 m), with offshore winds around 19 km/h from the S. Water is ~9°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.0 ft (1.5 m), with offshore winds around 17 km/h from the S. Water is ~9°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.7 ft (1.1 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the S. Water is ~9°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.6 ft (1.1 m), with cross-onshore winds around 13 km/h from the W. Water is ~11°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the SW. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.3 ft (1.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the W. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.2 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the SW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.5 ft (1.4 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the S. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.2 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 17 km/h from the S. Water is ~14°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.2 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 17 km/h from the SW. Water is ~12°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.2 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 19 km/h from the S. Water is ~11°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for advanced surfers.
For intermediates: Mar–Sep. For advanced surfers: Sep–Mar. The biggest waves come in December, averaging 7.2 ft (2.2 m), and the smallest in July, at 3.3 ft (1.0 m).
It ranges from ~9°C in March to ~16°C in August, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In March (~9°C): a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. In August (~16°C): a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional.
Not really: Portrush East Strand is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is LDY (limited connections), and the nearest town is Portrush, Northern Ireland. Many surfers fly into Belfast International (BFS) instead, about 100 km or 1.3 hours' drive away.
