Ireland's most famous beach break, on the Wild Atlantic Way in County Sligo beneath the iconic Knocknarea headland — a consistent, punchy sandbar wave with several surf schools, best for intermediate surfers and up — it can pack real power on a big Atlantic swell.
🌡️ ~13.3°C now · a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Strandhill. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Strandhill'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 |
| 7° | 8° | 8° | 10° | 13° | 16° | 17° | 17° | 16° | 13° | 11° | 9° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 5.3 ft (1.6 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the SW. Water is ~7°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-offshore winds around 18 km/h from the S. Water is ~8°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.2 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the SE. Water is ~8°C: a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 3.1 ft (1.0 m), with offshore winds around 16 km/h from the S. Water is ~10°C: a 4/3mm or 5/4mm full suit with boots and gloves. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.9 ft (0.9 m), with onshore winds around 13 km/h from the NW. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.2 ft (1.0 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the SW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 2.9 ft (0.9 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the W. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.5 ft (1.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the SW. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with cross-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 and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the S. Water is ~13°C: a 4/3mm full suit, boots recommended. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.4 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 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.
Waves average 6.0 ft (1.8 m), with cross-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.
For intermediates: Apr–Oct. For advanced surfers: Sep–Mar. The biggest waves come in December, averaging 6.0 ft (1.8 m), and the smallest in July, at 2.9 ft (0.9 m).
It ranges from ~7°C in January to ~17°C in August, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In January (~7°C): a 5/4mm or 6/5mm hooded full suit with boots, gloves and hood. In August (~17°C): a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional.
Not really: Strandhill is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is NOC (limited connections), and the nearest town is Strandhill, Ireland. Many surfers fly into Dublin (DUB) instead, about 215 km or 2.8 hours' drive away.
