Kerry has some of the best surf spots in Ireland. When you look at the majestic coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way that skirts the county, it’s easy to see why. Many of these Blue Flag beaches also offer surfing lessons, if you haven’t surfed before, or you just want to brush up on your technique. You can also rent wetsuits and surfboards.

Next time you stay at Coolclogher House, head for the waves. Here are some of our favourite surfing spots:

Inch Beach

Inch Beach is a spectacular stretch of white sand on the Dingle Peninsula, about a 40-minute drive from Coolclogher House. It’s also a popular and safe place to go surfing. When you arrive, you will see two surfing businesses operating from the beach. Kingdom Waves and Offshore Surf School both offer lessons at Inch Beach and Banna Strand (see below). They also offer surfboard and wetsuit rental.

Maharees

Brandon Bay is home to the country’s longest beach—Castlegregory, which stretches almost 20km and offers great surfing at Maharees, a peninsula that extends off the larger Dingle Peninsula. The gentle beach break surfing is a great introduction to the sport for beginners. To help you catch your first wave, Jamie Knox runs a surfing school with summer camps for kids and lots of other water-based activities, including standup paddle boarding and windsurfing.

Banna Strand

You can look forward to catching some great waves at Banna Beach, a 20-minute drive from Tralee. With its soft sand and great facilities, Banna is the perfect family beach even if you don’t surf. If you do surf, or you’d like to learn how to surf, you can avail of lessons at Banna Beach during the summer months.

Derrynane

Derrynane is one of the loveliest beaches in Kerry, and it also offers great surfing. Situated just off the Ring of Kerry, close to Cahirsiveen, Derrynane is well worth a day trip. It is home to the longest-established watersports centre on the Ring of Kerry and Skellig Coast—Derrynane Sea Sports.  Perfect for younger surfers, the school specialises in instruction for all watersports and also offers summer camps and equipment hire.

Ballinskelligs

Ballinskelligs is home to three popular surfing beaches.  The smallest beach is at St Finian’s Bay, which has the best waves but the strongest rip tides, so it’s not suitable for novices. Reenroe beach is the longest (about 1.2km), and it offers a smooth sandy slope that is popular with surfers of all kinds—particularly kite surfers. Ballinskelligs beach is a good place for beginners to surf, given that it offers a smooth gentle slope. Don’t let it fool you, though: The waves can be quite challenging.

What You Need to Know:

Although you can surf in Kerry all year, the water is rarely warm, so you will need a wetsuit with a 5mm body and 3mm in the arms. If you are surfing in winter or spring, you will need a hood, booties, and gloves too. Be very careful surfing in exposed areas in winter: Storms can create dangerous conditions.

Wherever you choose to surf in Kerry, you’re never far from Coolclogher House. For more information, get in touch. We’d love to help you catch that wave!