Surfing in Northern Ireland
Surfing in Northern Ireland – you’ve got to be joking? But no, we certainly are not joking. Due to Northern Ireland’s climate and the invention of modern wetsuits, people can surf in Northern Ireland all year round. Visitor from all over the globe come to Northern Ireland to ride the waves; if our surf is good enough for a Hawaiian than it must get a passing mark!
Surfing in Northern Ireland has an added bonus in that the waves at the top of Northern Ireland (from Portballintrae to the Benone strand, generally) are influenced by the cold North Atlantic current meeting the warmer Irish Sea creating fantastic conditions for surfing.
It can be relatively inexpensive to start out as there are tour operators who will provide the equipment along with the lessons. Get surfing!
If you're planning on surfing in Northern Ireland, or doing any water sports for that matter, you really should prepare yourself for the weather. In the spring and autumn the temperature reaches around 5 degrees but gets higher in the summer. A wet suit is completely necessary.
Providers of surfing lessons and equipment is provided by these operators in Northern Ireland:
Alive Bodyboard and Surf School, Portrush
Corralea Activity Centre Ltd, Corralea, Fermanagh
Share Holiday Village, Lisnaskea, Fermanagh
JustKayak, Derry, Londonderry
Paul Blanchard, Bushmills, Antrim
TK Portrush Surfschool, Portrush, Antrim
Troggs, Bushmills, Antrim
Bushmills Outdoor Education Centre, Bushmills, Antrim
Go-Canoeing, Belfast, Antrim
Green Box, Manorhamilton, Leitrim, Republic of Ireland
