St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare)
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves, Medium waves, Ocean
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) is described as a wide, sandy, sheltered beach break on Ireland’s southeast coast, best known for kitesurfing with strong demand when winds blow from the easterly sector through the south (NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S). Across wind forecasts, the typical workable range is reported as about 15–25 knots, with moderate overall reliability. Surf and wind conditions are generally low-to-moderate: surfing is usually small to medium, with mushy, fast-peaky waves that tend to close out as the tide drops. For kitesurfing, the spot is repeatedly framed as suitable for freeride and wave styles when the wind is in the NE to S directions. A wide beach and an easy sandy launch are key advantages for getting on the water. Wind gustiness is reported differently by providers (moderate gusts vs light gusts), so conditions can vary day to day; planning for gusty sessions is prudent. Winter in particular is emphasized as very cold, with thick protection recommended. Surfing is characterized as sheltered (though one source rates it semi-sheltered), typically producing small waves and a beach-break setup rather than a spot that holds up for big-swell sessions. One surf guide database highlights December as the best month for surf, while other inputs emphasize spring and autumn for overall play. Expected ride quality is generally described as good-to-average, with mushy wave shape and short ride lengths reported around 30–50 m under the right swell. Safety considerations are a priority here. Rocks are reported at the ends of the beach (and rocks/nearby areas are mentioned), and one input also flags rip-current potential and a narrow approach road. Guidance includes avoiding riding too close to the north harbor wall, driving slowly due to limited passing space on the access road, and checking tide timing because the beach can narrow significantly at high tide. Rescue availability is listed as not present at the spot and there are no lifeguards reported, so rider self-reliance and a conservative plan are important.
- Wide sandy shoreline and easy launching
- NE to S winds for wind sports
- Quiet crowd even in good surf
- Rocks at both ends; check tide and avoid harbor wall
- Wide sandy beach with easy launch conditions and generally clean water.
- Works well for wind sports with common NE-to-S wind directions.
- Usually quiet/low crowding even when surf is up.
- Spot access can be tricky (narrow road) and parking may fill quickly.
- Rocks at the ends of the beach; caution advised.
- No on-site lifeguards/rescue support reported.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Provider disagreement: Perplexity describes thermal wind; Gemini describes frontal wind. Both report the same prevailing wind directions (NE to S).
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Perplexity: moderate-gusts. Gemini: light-gusts (conflict not fully resolved).
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October
- Shadow Zones
- Wind can be turbulent very close to the cliffs behind the beach
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves, Medium waves, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Provider disagreement: Perplexity says small; Gemini says medium.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Spot is described as chop; one provider implies smaller chop but no single enum perfectly matches all descriptions.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach with gentle slope and ample space during mid to low tide; suitable for self-launch (varies at high tide).
Through the year
Quiet year-round; local kiters/surfers possible on weekends.
Winter months (December through February) see the most frequent storms and colder conditions.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Suitable for freeride and wave riding, with the wide sandy beach making it practical for launching; best with NE to S winds.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Described as excellent for bump and jump or wave sailing when swell is up; best with Easterly directions.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.5–6 m²
Suitable for foiling due to depth clearing quickly, though waves can make the launch tricky for beginners.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil friendly per Gemini.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Sheltered beach break on the southeast Irish coast, usually suited to smaller surf rather than holding up for larger swell events.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Gemini: works best with mid tide.
- Shelter
- Sheltered — Perplexity: sheltered; Gemini: semi-sheltered (conflict).
- Wind Effect
- Works best with NE–S winds; surfing is described as sheltered with typically cleaner conditions at more favorable wind angles.
- Bigger Swell
- Gemini: can handle larger SE swells but starts to close out; Perplexity: does not hold large swells well (small-to-medium waves only).
- Wave Quality
- Good — Perplexity: good; Gemini: average (conflict).
- Wave Power
- Soft — Perplexity: soft. Gemini describes moderate wave power (conflict).
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Both indicate mushy waves.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Perplexity: slow. Gemini: medium (conflict).
- Ride Length
- Short — Gemini: short ride length; Perplexity does not quantify.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Gemini: fast, peaky waves that tend to close out as the tide drops; typical ride length 30–50 m.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) in the full forecast view.
St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 10–33 ktsGusts 49 kts
- Direction
- SW224°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2433 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–2.1 m6s period
- Temperature
- 9–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) is forecast for daytime winds of 10–33 kts, peaking around 33 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 49 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.4–2.1 m with a period of about 6s. 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
- rip-currents
- narrow-access-road
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — Some regional material indicates limited rescue; spot-level entries here list no spot lifeguards and no rescue availability.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital is in Wexford Town.
Rules of the spot
Avoid riding too close to the north harbor wall; check tide before arrival because the beach narrows significantly at high tide.
- seasonal dog restrictions may apply
- Drive slowly: the access road is very narrow with few passing places.
- Check the tide before arrival as the beach narrows significantly at high tide.
- Best wind directions for the spot are NE through S; best surf months reported include December in one surf guide database.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Wexford
- Nearest Town
- Rosslare Harbour
- Parking
- Small car park available at the end of the access lane; can fill up quickly on sunny days. Parking also reported near the beach.
- Access
- Accessible via the Dublin–Rosslare route; continue to Rosslare Harbour, then to Kilrane and proceed east to the coast. Another access note: use a narrow lane from Kilrane village and then reach the beach area.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Hotels and B&Bs in Rosslare Harbour and Kilrane (spot-level).
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals directly on the beach (spot-level). Regional context indicates equipment rental is primarily available through local mobile schools serving the Wexford coast.
- Gear Storage
- Not available at the beach; riders typically use personal vehicles or holiday parks (regional context).
- Gear Repair
- Basic sail and kite repair is available through local schools or specialist shops in the wider Leinster region (regional context).
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 St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare)?
The best overall months at St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) are March, April, May, September, October.
Which wind directions work at St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare)?
St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) works with NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare)?
Recommended equipment sizes at St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.5–6 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) suitable for?
St. Margaret's Beach (Rosslare) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.