Magheroaty - Magheroaty Beach
Irlande
Magheroaty
Magheroarty Beach, located in Magheroarty, County Donegal, Ireland, is a north-west facing exposed spot. It is a popular place for locals due to its consistent waves and wild atmosphere, featuring a long sandy beach and a nearby reef. There is also a small inland lagoon for calmer sessions offshore.
The spot mainly attracts windsurfers and surfers, but kitesurfers also venture here, particularly on the main beach where the waves build as you head south. Access is easy from the parking lot near the pier, and the place remains uncrowded even in good weather.
In summer, conditions are often flat, but winter brings solid sessions with north-west swells.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
chop
waveThe beach faces north/north-west, making south-west to west winds ideal in cross-off on the reef for clean waves, and cross-on from the north-west for jumping on the beach. Launching is directly from the beach to the right of the pier on a sandy bottom, or from the end of the pier for the reef to the left. The navigation area extends over more than a mile towards the island offshore in case of big swell, but remains technical with sets that can close the entire bay.
At mid-rising tide, conditions are optimal for the beach break and the reef. Beginners stay to the north of the beach where the waves are smaller, while advanced riders aim for the reef or the inland lagoon offshore for flat or freestyle. Launching is easy on the wide beach, but be careful of submerged rocks near the reef and rips that lead offshore.
No shelter against cross-shore winds, the spot blows out quickly with onshore winds from the north-east or east. In strong wind, north-west waves combined with swell create powerful conditions, ideal for wave riding.
Ideal conditions are cross-off winds from the south-west to south (15-25 kts) with north-west swell for clean waves on the reef and beach. North-west cross-on works well for jumping.
The water surface is typically choppy to wavy with swells from the north-west. On the beach, waves increase towards the south, and the reef offers rights and lefts. Offshore, an inland lagoon provides flat conditions for freestyle.
Currents are moderate with rips near the reef that help to get out but require attention. Tides have little influence on the main currents, but mid-rising tide is preferable to avoid overly choppy areas.
Opt for sizes 7 to 11 m² depending on the strength, with 9-11 m² for 15 kts and 7-9 m² in strong wind. Smaller sizes in powerful wavy conditions.
Dominant winds come from the south-west to west, with strengths around 15-25 kts on average season. In winter, strong gusts from the north-west bring cross-on conditions perfect for jumping. Summer is calmer and often flat.
The climate at Magheroarty is oceanic, with mild, wet winters and cool summers. Air temperatures range from 5-10°C in winter to 12-16°C in summer. Rainfall is frequent, especially in autumn and winter, with windy and rainy days.
La profondeur est progressive avec un fond de sable sur la plage à droite du pier, pied possible près du bord en basse mer. Sur le récif à gauche, fond de rochers et boulders, mais pas trop méchant.
Water temperature is around 7-8°C in winter and 12-14°C in summer. A full 5/3 mm wetsuit is mandatory year-round.