The Ultimate Guide to Rossnowlagh Surfing
Rossnowlagh surfing is renowned for beginners, who flock to this corner of Co Donegal in the spring, summer, and fall for some of the most consistent beach breaks in Ireland.
An introduction to Rossnowlagh surfing
North of the Tullan Strand that makes Bundoran such a star on the Irish surf scene, Rossnowlagh is a little bit more unknown but just as fine for beginner surfers. A cluster of schools and surf camps straddles the dunes just behind the beach, offering packages throughout the spring-autumn peak season (though some stay open on weekends in the winter, too).
Rossnowlagh sits right at the end of a wide opening in County Donegal’s western shoreline. It’s so exposed that the W and NW swells hit super hard here. That can close the beach out on many a winter session but means there’s often something to surf when more sheltered locations are struggling.
At just shy of 3km long and with a very soft shelf, the beach at Rossnowlagh is sort of tailor made for learners and longboarders. There can be days when it shows some Celtic teeth but really it’s for chilled warm-water breaks with the family, first-timers, and people looking to do a surf lesson or 10 during an Irish coastal road trip.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Ireland
Rossnowlagh surfing at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Rossnowlagh surf?
Where is Rossnowlagh?
Rossnowlagh is situated in the northwestern part of Ireland, within the county of Donegal, which is part of the province of Ulster. This coastal town lies along the Atlantic Ocean, which runs right up to the town’s main beach on its western side (there’s the surfing!).
Rossnowlagh is located to the southwest of Donegal Town, a major town in the county, approximately 18 kilometers (about 11 miles) away.
To the east of Rossnowlagh, you’ll find the Bluestack Mountains, a significant natural landmark in County Donegal. They offer a rugged backdrop of moody ridges that look wonderful from the water. It’s a pretty lovely place to surf!
Rossnowlagh surf spots
Rossnowlagh is really about one spot: Rossnowlagh Beach. 3k long and armed with more beach peaks than a Hossegor special, it’s a one of Ireland’s finest beginner and improver locations.
Rossnowlagh Beach
The long, uninterrupted run of Rossnowlagh Beach is nigh on 3,000 meters in all. That offers ample room for all the surf schools that this chilled, salt-washed Irish town can throw at it. And then some. Mhmm…the real advantage to Rossnowlagh is the fact that you’ll always be able to find a peak to yourself and enjoy that seclusion in the water that – at least in our opinion – is one of the great pluses of Irish surfing.
The waves here are formed on sandbars that form on the beach surface as the tide pulls up. As in any beach break, they shift and change throughout the year, but are generally pretty decent and can handle strong 3-6 foot swells very nicely.
The cliffs in Coolmore at the south end of the bay are the most sheltered location on the whole beach. Schools will often cluster around there if there’s a S-SW wind to get out of the onshores and crossshores. When it’s less windy, you can trek north up the beach towards the reef in Carrickfad. It’s flanked by half-decent rights that are highly exposed but tend to have a bit more size than other spots on the strand.
Bundoran
The truth is that Bundoran is where most of surf travelers and learner groups flock to in Ireland. Just to the south of Rossnowlagh, a 20-minute drive over the river in Ballyshannon, it’s easy to get to from here. In fact, many of the surf schools that operate in Bundoran will come up to Ross if the conditions are right, and vice versa.
Bundoran itself has a couple of more advanced reef breaks sat right in front of the town, so it’s a tempting prospect if you’re in the more advanced cohort and want to sample some Irish rock. North of the town is Tullan Strand, which is another good beginner-all level spot that has a very neat section under the south cliffs for loggers.
We have a complete guide to the surf in Bundoran
Where to stay when surfing in Rossnowlagh?
There are certainly more accommodation choices in the town of Bundoran, but Rossnowlagh has something else: A more natural, seaside feel.
- Sea Crest Pods – If, like us, you have a bit of a thing for glamping then stay the Sea Crest Pods. Cute little wooden cabanas tucked into a farm field about 5-10 minutes’ drive from Rossnowlagh Beach, they are a proper escape to nature, complete with warm showers and mini kitchens.
- Sandhouse Hotel – A traditional Irish resort hotel with bags of character. Perched right on the seafront above the main beach within eyesight of the waves. Rooms are a little kitschy but it’s hard not to love.
- Robins Rest – A one-bedroom cabin house in the Donegal countryside neatly placed close to Bundoran and Ross. It’s the perfect option for traveling couples who have a car.
Surf lessons in Rossnowlagh
We’d say that the offering of surf lessons in Ross is one of the main drawcards of the town. The beginner-friendly nature of the beaches here mean that there are lots of options. Our standout pick would have to be…
- 2-hour Surf Lesson in Rossnowlagh with the Bundoran Surf Co – These guys are one of the most accomplished names in the region, which is saying something because Co Donegal is by far the best place to learn to surf in Ireland. They do two-hour lessons in Rossnowlagh out of their base in nearby Bundoran, including specialised starter lessons that go into only waist-deep water. They also have 4/3 wetties for shoulder months, and thick 5/3s for the winter (needed in Ireland!).
Should I rent a car to surf in Rossnowlagh?
Actually, we’d say that Rossnowlagh is one of only three Irish towns where you can get away with NOT having a car (the other two being Lahinch and Bundoran). That’s because – if you can get here to begin with – there are hotels, campsites and surf schools right on the beach.
However, and it’s a big HOWEVER – a car will improve a surf trip to these parts no end. A set of wheels will open up more bays to the south – notably Tullan in Bundoran – plus umpteen other spots along the coasts of County Sligo and beyond. Our two cents is that if you can afford it and are anything above total beginner, a car is 100% worth it!
When to surf in Rossnowlagh?
Because Rossnowlagh is considered prime learner territory, the peak season here is generally seen as the small-swell period between May and August. When we say small swell, that rarely means flat. This is west-coast Ireland, so there’s plenty of power to go around and you can get week after week of 3-5 foot sets rolling into the bay in the warmer months no problem. It’s just that size is prime for the schools and foam board touters that come.
What’s more, the consistent low-pressure winter systems that roll by can really wreak havoc on the beach here, pushing up size so that it’s closeouts all the way along. Strong winds can also ruin the party in winter, forcing you to drive south to seek more sheltered spots to get anything worth the paddle out.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
