Maghermore
- Longboard, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Maghermore is a sandy beach-break on Ireland’s east coast that’s primarily known for surfing. It’s most reliably surfable when south to east swell combines with westerly winds that help keep the faces clean; when the wind is behaving, waves can hold from under 1 m up to around 2 m+. The wave setup is commonly described as working across all tides, and ride lengths are typically reported in the “normal” range of about 50 to 150 meters. It’s often characterized as a wave that can suit a wide range of surfers, including beginners, because conditions tend to be manageable when the wind is offshore-ish. Safety and access require extra attention. Rocks at both ends of the bay are a key hazard, and the access route/waterline exit can become difficult near high tide. On top of that, the approach involves private property in practice, and parking can be tight—so responsible parking and following access rules are important. Crowds are strongly tied to weekends and favorable swell. Weekdays are often quieter, while good conditions can bring a packed scene on weekends. Plan to avoid paddling out alone, and avoid northerly wind setups that are specifically noted as dangerous.
- Sandy beach-break with typical ride lengths around 50–150 meters
- Works with south/east swell and westerly winds
- All-tide usability (rising and falling)
- Weekday sessions are usually quieter than weekend sessions
- Clean, sandy beach-break with consistently reported good wave quality when conditions line up
- Works across all tides (rising and falling)
- South/east swells with westerly winds can produce groomed, surfable waves
- Typically few surfers on weekdays
- Rocks at the ends of the bay create hazard risk
- Access/water exit can be difficult at high tide
- Can get crowded on weekends in good swell
- Access is through private land and involves walking down a lane; parking can be tight
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, NW, SW
- Offshore directions
- W, NW
- No-go directions
- N
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Wind can vary by setup; westerlies (West/NW) are favored for clean/offshore-ish conditions, while northerly setups are noted as dangerous/poor.
- Reliability
- inconsistent; summer often flat
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- High cliffs provide significant shelter from most wind directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Starts working at less than 1 m and holds up to 2 m+.
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach with short walk from the car park; rocks at either end of the cove.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Short walk (5–15 minutes) to the beach; access can still be tricky near high tide.
Through the year
Crowded on sunny weekends and during good swells; quieter on weekdays.
Rain and storm risk is highest in winter months from October to March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Can be suitable for foiling on very calm days or with a large swell, but the narrow beach and cliff-line make wind sports challenging. Foil-friendliness is limited.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
A sandy beach-break that works best with south to east swells and westerly winds. Picks up south/east swell more reliably than many nearby alternatives when the wind is strong from the west.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- S
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Works across all tides (rising and falling).
- Shelter
- Exposed — Described as exposed in some summaries, with cliffs providing shelter from many wind directions; overall often more manageable than fully open coast setups when winds align.
- Wind Effect
- Offshore winds from the West or Northwest help groom clean faces; northerly setups are noted as dangerous/blown out.
- Bigger Swell
- Typically holds from small (less than 1 m) through to 2 m+ before closing out on larger surf.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Regional Classic / good wave quality.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Regional classic wave quality with typical surfable size.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Typical rides are commonly reported around 50–150 meters.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- A normal-length wave set is reported at roughly 50–150 meters; rides often fall in this range depending on the bank.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Maghermore in the full forecast view.
Maghermore wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–27 ktsGusts 44 kts
- Direction
- SW218°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2427 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–2.7 m5s period
- Temperature
- 8–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Maghermore is forecast for daytime winds of 5–27 kts, peaking around 27 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 44 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.4–2.7 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
- Rocks (at/near both ends of the bay and around the beach)
- Crowds on weekends
- Access path can be slippery
- High tide can make water access/exit difficult
- Not safe for swimming
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Spot-level rescue noted as not available.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services are available in Wicklow Town. In general, call 999 or 112.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Access is through private property; walkers are generally tolerated but rules must be respected.
Rules of the spot
Respect local access through private land; do not block farm access. Exit the water soon after your session when access becomes difficult near high tide.
- Not safe for swimming
- Private land access: walking from the gate/along private access road may be required
- West winds are best for groomed, clean surfing conditions.
- Avoid northerly winds due to dangerous conditions.
- Don't paddle out alone; safer with others in the water.
- Exit the water before high tide or wait for it to drop.
- Park responsibly (very limited parking near the gate on the main road) and walk down the lane.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wicklow
- Nearest Town
- Wicklow
- Parking
- Council-funded car park available (short walk 5–15 minutes to the beach). Parking can also be very limited near the gate on the main road depending on access route; do not block farm access.
- Access
- Travel south on the N11, take the turn for Wicklow/Rathnew/Rathdrum. Follow the coast road south past Wicklow Golf Club, Silver Strand Beach, and Blain.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses/hotels around Wicklow Town.
- Food & Drink
- Cafes and restaurants are available in Wicklow Town; none at the beach.
- Equipment Rental:
- Mobile surf schools sometimes operate in the area; equipment rental is noted as available nearby.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
One of the most famous sandy beaches on Ireland's East Coast, popular for walking and swimming.
A historic former prison turned museum offering insights into 18th-century Irish history.
Extensive hiking, mountain biking, and scenic drives through the largest upland area in Ireland.
Popular local eatery serving snacks and coffee near the beach areas.
A treetop walk and viewing tower offering panoramic views of the Wicklow countryside.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Maghermore?
The best overall months at Maghermore are December, January, February, March, April, October, November. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Maghermore?
Maghermore works with W, NW, SW winds. Offshore directions are W, NW. No-go directions are N.
What skill level is Maghermore suitable for?
Maghermore suits these riding levels: Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Beginner.