Bettystown
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Bettystown is a large, long sandy tidal beach best known for wind-powered sports on easterly winds. Reported wind directions that work well include E, ESE, SE, SSE, and S, with NE mentioned as especially favorable in the easterly range. Conditions are generally flat to choppy with small sandbar wavelets depending on tide and sandbank shape. Water depth is strongly tide-dependent, ranging from shallow to more usable depths at mid to higher tide (with some reporting noting shallow-to-medium conditions). Because the tide can significantly reshape the beach and sandbars, riders are advised to plan launches carefully around tide timing, especially for anything requiring consistent depth. Safety and access require extra attention. Hazards called out for the riding area include swimmers and beach users, ships/jetskis in the zone, iron stakes (particularly near low tide), groynes at intervals, and additional marine hazards such as a sewage outfall and a wreck. Beach vehicles and regulated beach driving can also interfere with riding—so riders should rig and launch well away from the road/entrance and keep clear of swimmers. In practice, the spot tends to be busier in summer and noticeably quieter in winter. Summer can also bring more families and beach traffic, while winter is described as better for cold-weather riders using thicker wetsuits. Toilets are available, and food/drink options are within walking distance of the main beach entrance.
- Easterly winds (E–S with NE favored) supporting kitesurfing and windsurfing
- Long sandy launch with lots of space, especially at lower tides
- Toilets and nearby places to eat/drink
- Large sandy beach with easy launch over long stretches of sand.
- Easterly winds (E through S/SSE, including NE) are the main driver, often producing kitesurfable conditions.
- Long, open shoreline helps progression and offers space at lower tides.
- Toilets and food/drink options are available nearby.
- Shallow, tide-dependent water can limit depth—especially for foiling and deeper setups.
- Water quality is reported as polluted (and described as fair in other reporting).
- Hazards on/near the riding area include sewage outfall and a wreck, plus iron stakes near low tide and beach vehicles in some conditions.
- Summer crowds and beach traffic can reduce riding/launch options.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal/prevailing wind pattern with activity boosted by easterly winds.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- September, October, November, March, April, May
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Flat to choppy conditions; chop varies with wind and tide.
- Launch
- Big — Large sandy area at low to mid tide; long sandy beach launch.
Through the year
Summer months are very busy with swimmers and families; winter is quiet.
Winter months see frequent frontal storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Long sandy tidal beach with flat to choppy conditions and small sandbar waves; best on easterly winds (especially NE/E–SE). Plenty of space on the beach at lower tides, but the area is crowded in summer.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Freeride suitable with bump-and-jump during strong easterly winds; conditions are generally manageable on the long sandy beach.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Good for learning and progression at mid to high tide when depth is sufficient.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Rarely produces high-quality waves, but can offer longboard-friendly waves during strong easterly storms.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- E, SE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Easterly winds create onshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Tends to close out.
- Wave Quality
- Poor
- Wave Power
- Soft
- Wave Shape
- Mushy
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Short
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Bettystown in the full forecast view.
Bettystown wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–27 ktsGusts 46 kts
- Direction
- SW224°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2427 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.3 m3s period
- Temperature
- 8–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Bettystown is forecast for daytime winds of 4–27 kts, peaking around 27 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 46 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–1.3 m with a period of about 3s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- swimmers
- ships
- jetskis
- stakes
- sewage outfall
- wreck
- vehicles driving on the beach
- pedestrians and families
- iron stakes near low tide mark
- groynes at certain intervals
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited; monitored by the Irish Coast Guard with nearby RNLI lifeboat stations.
- Emergency Info
- Call 999 or 112 for Coast Guard.
Rules of the spot
Respect designated swimming areas and keep clear of beach traffic and pedestrians. Do not kite by the carpark; launch several hundred meters past it.
- No kite by carpark.
- Driving on the beach is regulated and can be restricted.
- Keep distance from swimmers.
- Respect designated swimming areas.
- Do not kite by the carpark—go several hundred meters past it.
- Rig and launch well away from the road entrance to avoid the highest concentration of cars and people.
- Check the tide: the beach almost disappears at spring high tides, and the tide changes the shape of the beach and the height of the sand banks.
- If sailing/kites are affected by shallow water, plan for depth changes around tide levels.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Dublin
- Nearest Town
- Bettystown
- Parking
- Parking is available in the town and historically on the beach itself, though seasonal restrictions apply.
- Access
- From Dublin towards Drogheda on N1. Follow signs to Bettystown.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various guesthouses and hotels in Bettystown and nearby Drogheda.
- Food & Drink
- Local cafes, pubs, and restaurants are located within walking distance of the main beach entrance.
- Equipment Rental:
- Limited availability; riders usually bring their own gear.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Bettystown?
The best overall months at Bettystown are January, February, March, October, November, December. The best wind months are September, October, November, March, April, May.
Which wind directions work at Bettystown?
Bettystown works with E, ESE, SE, SSE, S winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Bettystown?
Recommended equipment sizes at Bettystown: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Bettystown suitable for?
Bettystown suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.