Brittas Bay
- Freeride, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Shallow, Chop, Small waves, Medium 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Brittas Bay is a wide, sandy east-coast beach with clean water and generally shallow, relatively flat conditions that can shift from flat to choppy and small-to-medium waves depending on wind and swell. For kitesurfing, the wind regime is most consistently favorable in spring and autumn (March through May and September through October). Best wind directions are reported across a broad spread including north through east and also south variants (N, NNE, NE, SE, SSE, S). Providers describe the spot as popular and well-suited to freeride, wave riding, and freestyle, with the large sandy area supporting straightforward launch and landing. Safety planning is important because summer can bring extremely heavy beach activity. Multiple sources note that crowds and swimmers make launching difficult and that kitesurfing should be pushed toward the ends of the bay away from the main swimming areas, respecting swimmer zones during peak season. Lifeguards operate seasonally, so outside that period you should assume reduced on-beach safety coverage. Surfing is described as a beach-break that can produce soft, beginner-friendly waves when there is enough south or southeast swell. One provider also notes that wave output can become short and may close out on larger, more direct swell. Wingfoiling is reported as possible with foil-friendly sand once beyond the initial shallow zone, while water depth and conditions make it a more manageable option for learning and progressing. Temperature guidance from providers aligns on a cold-water profile (roughly 8–17°C across the year) and wetsuit expectations that typically increase in winter months. Spring and autumn are also highlighted as favorable because of a better mix of wind and fewer crowds.
- Long sandy beach with easy self-launch
- Clean water and generally shallow conditions
- Popular kitesurfing venue with strong seasonal windows
- Summer lifeguards operate seasonally
- Very long sandy beach with easy self-launch and generally clean water
- Strong kite focus with reliable wind directions for the season (March-May, September-October)
- Shallow, sand-bottom setup that can suit beginners for some disciplines
- Can become very crowded during summer, with swimmers affecting launch/landing
- Offshore/dangerous conditions reported for West and Southwest winds
- Limited rescue availability reported by one provider (seasonal lifeguards only)
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE, SE, SSE, S
- Offshore directions
- W, SW
- No-go directions
- W, SW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Providers describe the wind as frontal/gradient in character.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Reported as moderate-gusty by one provider; another provider describes light gusts.
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Shallow, Chop, Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Sand — Long sandy beach
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Providers describe small waves for wind sports context; surfing notes medium wave conditions.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Kite data describes chop; surfing describes soft/mushy waves.
- Launch
- Big — Large sandy area with ample space; can be constrained by crowding at high tide in summer.
Through the year
Extremely crowded in July and August; quieter in winter weekdays.
Winter months see the most frequent and strongest depressions.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Long sandy beach with space for launching and landing; shallow, flat conditions with small to medium waves depending on wind direction and setup. A popular east-coast kite location, with kitesurfing typically pushed toward the ends of the bay away from main swimming areas.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Freeride and bump-and-jump are described as suitable, with accessibility supported by gradual water entry over sand.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7.5 m²
Flat water and shallow depth suitable for foil-friendly riding once beyond the initial shallow zone; sandy bottom reported as foil-friendly.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Providers report foil-friendliness; one specifies minimum depth.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Long sandy beach with a beach-break that can work for beginners, with a south or southeast swell preferred to produce usable waves.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — One provider indicates mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Generally exposed coastline; slight shelter from northerly winds at the very north end.
- Wind Effect
- A slightly sheltered effect is noted at the very north end for northerly winds.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when the swell gets too large or is too direct.
- Wave Quality
- Average
- Wave Power
- Soft — Waves described as soft/fun and relatively gentle.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Short — Typical rides are short; can be better on a clean SE swell.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Waves are typically short, but decent rides can happen on a clean SE swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Brittas Bay in the full forecast view.
Brittas Bay wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–26 ktsGusts 43 kts
- Direction
- SW225°
- Strongest day
- Mon, Oct 2626 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.3–2.3 m5s period
- Temperature
- 8–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Brittas Bay is forecast for daytime winds of 6–26 kts, peaking around 26 kts on Monday, October 26 with gusts to 43 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.3–2.3 m with a period of about 5s. 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
- Heavy crowds and swimmers during summer months
- Launching can be difficult when the beach is busy
- Offshore/dangerous winds reported for West and Southwest directions
- Occasional driftwood after storms
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards during summer months.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — One provider reports rescue availability as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Lifeguards are on duty during summer months only; emergency number 112/999. Nearest hospital reported in Wicklow town.
Rules of the spot
Follow designated swimmer zones during peak summer. Launch and land away from crowded sunbathing areas; follow local beach management/zone guidance and use car parks/board walks.
- Respect Blue Flag beach regulations during peak season
- Respect designated swimmer zones during summer
- Beach tends to be very crowded with swimmers during summer; expect busier launching/landing and plan accordingly
- North end of the bay is often preferred for kitesurfing (ends away from main swimming areas)
- Avoid West/Southwest winds as they are dead offshore
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wicklow
- Nearest Town
- Arklow
- Parking
- Car parks provided at the bay; parking fills quickly on sunny weekends. Board walks and dune preservation efforts are noted.
- Public Transport
- Buses serve the beach; connections via routes serving Jack White’s Cross.
- Access
- Between Wicklow and Arklow. Take the N11 to Jack White's Cross, then follow sign-posted Third Class road about 3km East to Brittas Bay. Buses serve the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping/caravan parks close to the beach and other accommodation options in the Wicklow area.
- Food & Drink
- A small shop and cafe are available near the main car parks during the season.
- Equipment Rental:
- Mobile schools occasionally offer rentals during peak summer weekends; specialized kitesurfing/windsurfing rental may require visiting shops in Dublin.
- Gear Storage
- Not available (reported as no public long-term storage).
- Gear Repair
- No local specialized repair described; nearest shops are reported in Dublin.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Popular family and outdoor recreation area with access to nearby hiking and scenic day trips.
Vast area of mountain trails, lakes, and peat bogs offering hiking and scenic drives.
Early medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by Saint Kevin.
Treetop walk and viewing tower with panoramic views of the Wicklow countryside.
Historic traditional Irish pub and restaurant near the main coast road.
A 100-hectare sand dune system for exploration and nature walks.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Brittas Bay?
The best overall months at Brittas Bay are March, April, May, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Brittas Bay?
Brittas Bay works with N, NNE, NE, SE, SSE, S winds. Offshore directions are W, SW. No-go directions are W, SW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Brittas Bay?
Recommended equipment sizes at Brittas Bay: Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Brittas Bay suitable for?
Brittas Bay suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.