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The West coast of Ireland seems like it was designed specifically to have good surf. It is indented with headlands and points, littered with beaches and coves and blessed with some perfect reefs. The geology of the island, especially some of it's limestone reefs in Donegal, Sligo and Clare combined with it being exposed to the full force of the Atlantic make it a surfer's haven and a great place for a surf safari. Add this to the fact that it is still relatively un-crowded and has yet got un-surfed waves and it is just calling for a surf trip.
All our instructors are like walking versions of a Stormriders Guide to Ireland and have at least 15 years surfing experience each and as well as having surfed all over the world, they have travelled the length and breadth of Ireland as well. They will make any surf tour with TurfnSurf an enjoyable experience.
Our newest offering at TurfnSurf is a road trip to several locations in Ireland.
Our 3 main destinations are Donegal, Sligo and Clare and if you are really keen, we can even bring you to some secluded spots on one or two of the offshore islands.
Donegal
The gem of Donegal is of course Bundoran having one of the highest concentrations of world class waves in a 3 mile radius to found anywhere in the world. This is where we are based, but waiting to the north in the rest of Donegal are empty waves begging to be surfed. Donegal is a vast county, with very few large towns and roads of varying quality leading to the Atlantic Coast. Fortunately this leads to a very low resident population of surfers and just as few visiting surfers. There are some well known reefs, but there is a multitude of other points and beaches all up the coast.
Donegal has coastline that faces south, west and north and on some of the peninsulas even east. The content of a trip up the county really depends on conditions. Ideally, a trip to the more remote parts of the county would take in:
- A hefty right hander breaking over boulder reef
- A long left hander that wraps around another boulder reef
- A long exposed beach that offers miles of empty A-frame peaks
- A smaller more sheltered beach that offers punchy barrels on larger swells
Sligo
The area around Easkey has a similar concentration of waves to Bundoran. There are both lefts and rights in close proximity. Easkey is not the only place to surf in Sligo though, as there are quality reefs and beach breaks at Strandhill and to the north as well as around Inishcrone to the south. Further afield there are other world class waves. On a trip to Sligo, TurfnSurf would aim to visit some of these spots as well as some lesser known waves. We may even venture into Mayo. The flat limestone reefs around Easkey look like they were carved especially for surfing. There are a variety of lefts and rights of varying difficulty to explore. There are also one or two beaches in the area. Inishcrone hosts some really good beach breaks as well as a long right hand point break. A trip into Mayo can include:
- A sandbar that offers a complete barrel fest at low tide
- A left hand reef break that holds up to 12 foot
- A short and hollow reef break
- Other fun beaches as well as more serious reef breaks
Clare
Much of the coast of Clare is also blessed with shorelines of gently sloping limestone reefs that make for perfect surfing set ups. The county is famous for its Irish music and any surfing trip here will be mixed in with a few nights craic in the local pubs. Some of the breaks we visit are situated on the edge of The Burren which will hopefully become a World Heritage Site of the next few years. Again depending on conditions, we have a choice of:
- Some heavy right hand reefs in the Doolin area where you will without doubt be surfing in one of the most scenic places you have ever surfed.
- Several quality reef breaks in the Lahinch area which include 1 mellow left hander as well as a long racier break.
- Spanish Point where we can again surf on either a beach or a choice of reef breaks.
- In between, there is of course a little exploring to be done.
Cost
The cost of our trips is €120 per day including airport pick up and drop off, all transport, accommodation, breakfast and surfing disposables like wax to keep you primed for the surf.
We will collect you from Shannon, Belfast, Dublin, Knock, Sligo and Derry Airports.
Subject to groups of a minimum of 4.
The success of a trip is as much down to your own attitude as well as conditions.
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