The North Coast of N. Ireland has some Awesome waves and quite a few secret

or at least semi secret locations. Spots are notoriously fickle and many places

require quite an exact swell, wind, period and tide to be totally off their box!

 

Local knowledge is the way forward and along the North Coast you will find friendly locals, however the water is getting

busier and not everyone is sticking to the 'Drop In' rule or showing respect! A big problem around all of Ireland is that our

renowned laid back atitude is also the same in the water. Therefore when travelling surfers who are used to surfing

busy breaks, which require a bit of aggression or paddling around people to get a wave, then bring the same attitude to

the breaks here, local people are not used to it and it's deemed rude or aggressive.

                                                          

                                    Like everywhere in the world - If you show respect you'll get respect.

On this page we've given and insight into the better known locations. There are many more which you can find online, but

why not just do as the locals do and come and have a nosey! You never know what'll be round the next bend or cove!

1) - Portstewart: Our local break! It's terrible, never peels and has massive crowds. Just kidding! Portstewart is a great

beach to learn on as long as you read all the safety info at the beach head and also stay well away from the rocks.

Portstewart on it's day can be truely amazing however classic days are few and far between. The rocky end of the beach

is only for experienced surfers and is prone to rips and undertows! Along the rest of the beach you'll find many empty

peaks. The beach has been surfed since the sixties and remains a favorite of the 1st generation surfers and Portstewart

surfers ever since.

2) - West Strand Portrush: can be very popular, especially in the summer months. It catches a lot of swell

and produces consistent waves with multiple peaks along the beach. To the Western end of the beach is Black Rocks,

an awesome left hander when firing. Shallow waters and the odd rock sticking out can make any session interesting!

Learners should stick to the main beach with only intermediate upwards heading for Black Rocks.

3) - East Strand Portrush: Is the nearest we have to a French style beach break. She spits from the tube and has snapped

many a board over the years. Powerful, fast, hollow, mind blowing, speed demons pound through when she’s firing! There

are a number of peaks along the beach and rips can be an issue here! Keep a good eye on the crew in the water to suss

the currents and rips pre entry and advanced surfers only when she’s big!

4) - Whiterocks: Home of the Ocean Warriors mobile Surf Shack, where you can hire everything you need for a day in the

water! Whiterocks is usually the most crowded of beaches on the North Coast. It catches a wide range of swells and can

produce honking rights and lefts when firing. Generally Whiterocks is middle of the road offering a number of lefts and

rights along the stretch of beach though she sometimes has a tendency to close out. There can be very strong rips and

currents here. Again check with people on the beach, the signage and watch other surfers to spot how they are drifting.

5) - Portballintrae: This is not a beach for the learner or inexperienced. It's a great beach however it comes from deep water

quite quickly and can catch you unaware. Again there can be strong rips but for those that know what they are doing then it

offers fantastic waves and catches swell from everywhere – sometimes even if there is none!! Multiple peaks align the beach

from the sucky river-mouth (watch out for flotsam sheep) to Grave Yards down to Dirt Patches at the bottom.