Portballintrae
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Mixed, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Portballintrae is an exposed, North Coast beach break known for fairly consistent surf on the right swell and wind setup. Surf is reported as powerful, with hollow sections possible on NW-directed swell, and it’s described as working from under 1 meter up to about 2.5 meters and beyond. It’s generally an all-tide spot, and typical ride lengths on good days are reported in the 50–150 meter range. Safety is a major theme here. Multiple sources flag rocks and strong currents around the river mouth area, plus wave-breaker hazards and cold water. The river mouth can be especially dangerous after heavy rain due to debris and shifting banks, and on larger days a heavy shore break is possible. Lifeguards are seasonal, rescue availability is described as limited/no at the spot level, and riders are advised to be mindful around the harbor/swimmer areas. For kitesurfing, the spot is described as small-to-medium with a mix of flat/chop and occasional wave riding across the bay. Recommended kite sizes are given as roughly 7–12 m², with best months including March, April, May, September, and October. Winds are predominantly south-westerly to westerly (SW through NW), with wind reliability noted as higher during autumn and winter. Overall, Portballintrae suits people who can handle cold, exposed Atlantic conditions and who take extra care around rocks and currents—especially near the River Bush mouth. Weekday crowds are described as empty/quiet, while weekends can be busier with locals and some tourists.
- Exposed beach break with powerful surf on NW swell
- All-tide surfing reported
- Reliable SW–NW wind windows for kitesurfing in cooler months
- Close parking to the launch/beach
- Fairly consistent surf (regional classic) when swell direction is right
- Works on all tides; NW swell is favored for surfing
- Kitesurfing winds are reliable in autumn and winter with SW–NW directions
- Parking is close to the beach
- Exposed conditions with cold water year-round
- Rocks and strong currents near the river mouth create a technical/safety challenge
- Surf wave quality is inconsistent across reports and can close out on bigger swells
- Limited rescue availability
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW
- Offshore directions
- SSE, S
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal/gradient-driven winds; described as frontal in wind data.
- Reliability
- High during autumn and winter
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Described as moderate gusts.
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Mixed, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with rocks/breakwater elements.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Surf sources describe small-to-medium waves; surfing working window is roughly 1.0–2.5 meters+.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Kitesurfing/water surface described as flat to chop; spot-level water type also listed as chop.
- Launch
- Small — Protected-bay type launch area reported (~300x300m) and also a rocky harbor-side launch described for experienced riders.
Through the year
Weekdays empty/quiet; weekends busier with locals; summer can see more visitors but water is rarely crowded.
Winter months (November to February) prone to Atlantic storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Small, protected-bay style kiting conditions are reported with a mix of flat/chop that can become wave riding across the bay. Rocks and strong currents add technical difficulty.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Occasional wave and bump-and-jump conditions; launch can be tricky with shore break on bigger days.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Foilable but requires caution for sandy bars near the river mouth and submerged rocks near the headlands.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil friendliness described as limited.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed beach break with powerful, fairly consistent waves; working best with the right NW swell. Can hold up to around 2.5 meters+ but may get heavy/close out on bigger swells.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — All tides (rising and falling) reported to work.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed coastal break.
- Wind Effect
- South or Southeast winds provide cleaner offshore conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well up to about 2.5 meters but can become heavy and close out in massive swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Also described as a regional classic; one source notes poor quality—overall mixed descriptors appear across datasets.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Described as powerful.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Hollow sections reported; also described as mixed elsewhere.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peel speed described as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Normal rides commonly range between 50 and 150 meters on good days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Normal rides range between 50 and 150 meters on good days.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Portballintrae in the full forecast view.
Portballintrae wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 8–37 ktsGusts 61 kts
- Direction
- SW215°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2537 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–6.4 m8s period
- Temperature
- 6–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Portballintrae is forecast for daytime winds of 8–37 kts, peaking around 37 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 61 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.6–6.4 m with a period of about 8s. 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
- Currents
- Wave breaker
- Submerged breakwater
- Strong currents near the River Bush mouth
- Cold water temperatures
- Occasional heavy shore break
- Submerged rocks near the headlands
- Shifting banks and debris after heavy rain (river mouth)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards described as seasonal.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Rescue availability given as no (spot-level). Regionally described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital: Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Localism described as mild.
Rules of the spot
Respect the local surf community and be mindful of swimmers in the harbor area.
- Kite launching discouraged in crowded beach areas during summer.
- Be careful of currents, wave breakers and rocks.
- Park right next to the beach (free parking).
- The river mouth can be dangerous after heavy rain due to debris and shifting banks.
- Jump off the rocks near the harbor for a quicker paddle out to the main peak.
- Respect the local surf community and be mindful of swimmers in the harbor area.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Coleraine
- Nearest Town
- Portballintrae
- Parking
- Free parking right next to the beach; public car park available at the harbor and additional parking near the entrance to Bushfoot Strand.
- Access
- A26 north from Belfast. Then follow signs to Bushmills and Portballintrae. Park right next to the beach (free parking).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — A range of options from hotels and guesthouses in Portballintrae and Bushmills.
- Food & Drink
- Local hotels and pubs in the village offer food and drinks.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rental directly on the beach; equipment is available in nearby Portrush.
- Gear Storage
- Limited public gear storage; most riders use personal vehicles or facilities provided by local surf schools/accommodation.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard and wetsuit repair services available in the nearby region; specialized kite/sail repair may require travel.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
The Portballintrae area on the Antrim coast is closely tied to dramatic coastal scenery and heritage landmarks, making it easy to combine sessions with sightseeing.
UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 40,000 interlocking basalt columns.
The world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery offering tours and tastings.
Picturesque ruins of a medieval castle perched on the edge of a basalt outcropping.
Long-distance walking trail offering spectacular views of cliffs and ocean.
Historical coaching inn serving traditional Irish cuisine.
Classic seaside amusement park located in nearby Portrush.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Portballintrae?
The best overall months at Portballintrae are March, April, May, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Portballintrae?
Portballintrae works with SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW winds. Offshore directions are SSE, S.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Portballintrae?
Recommended equipment sizes at Portballintrae: Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–6 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Portballintrae suitable for?
Portballintrae suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.