Stroove

Surfing
Shortboard, Longboard
Best for
Beginner to Expert
Skill Level
Chop
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

About

Stroove is a sheltered sandy beach break on the Inishowen Peninsula where surf is often unreliable and wave quality tends to be poor. It’s most consistently noted as a winter option, with January highlighted as the best month. Even then, the waves usually need the right scale of North or Northwest swell to wrap around the headland and become rideable. Because of the sheltering headland geometry, rideable conditions are typically exceptional—more common when other, more exposed areas are too rough or washed out. On smaller swells the lineup is often underpowered, producing short rides and a softer, mushier wave character. Safety planning matters here: rocks are reported at/near the beach (including at the ends and around the lighthouse area), and this affects both takeoff/landing and general setup. If you do paddle out, use a conservative approach—check your landing zones first and be mindful of the rocky edges. Windwise, south winds are described as offshore at this location, which can help groom the smaller waves when conditions are marginal. Plan for cold-water sessions in winter, and take note that lifeguards are only present seasonally.

  • Sheltered, retreat-style sandy beach break
  • Needs large North/Northwest swell to work
  • Rocks at either end and near the lighthouse
Great for
Surfing shortboardSurfing longboard
What's great
  • Sheltered sandy beach break that can offer a quiet retreat when conditions elsewhere are extreme
  • South winds are described as offshore here, helping groom small waves
  • Best known month is January
Heads up
  • Unreliable surf and often poor wave quality
  • Small, sheltered setup that usually needs a very large North/Northwest swell to wrap around
  • Rocks at/near the beach increase hazard level
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Practical spot guide

Wind, water and seasons

Wind

Direction
S
Offshore directions
S, SW
Reliability
unreliable
Best Months
January
Shadow Zones
Heavily sheltered from West and Northwest winds due to high ground of Inishowen Head.

Water & beach

Water Type
Chop
Beach
Sand — Sandy beach with rocks at either end and near the lighthouse.
Beach Size
Small
Waves
Small — Surf tends to be small unless swell is massive.
Chop Level
Water is described as chop.
Launch
Small — Small sandy beach launch located near Shrove Lighthouse.

Through the year

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
8–16 °C
Water Temperature
5–19 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Jan–Dec: 5/4mm + Boots, Gloves, HoodMay: 3/2mmJun–Sep: 4/3mm
Crowds by Season

Usually very quiet; may see locals when other spots are too big.

Storm/Rain Season

October to March

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

A highly sheltered sandy beach break where wave quality is often unreliable. It typically needs a massive North or Northwest swell to wrap around the Inishowen Head and become rideable.

Beach break
Wave Direction
Both
Optimal Swell
N, NW
Swell Height
3 m
Optimal Tide
All tides
Shelter
Sheltered — Sheltered beach setting; to get rideable waves it generally requires big swell wrapping in around the headland.
Wind Effect
South winds are described as offshore here, tending to groom the small waves.
Bigger Swell
Only begins to work when the surrounding, more exposed areas are washed out or too big.
Wave Quality
Poor — Often poor unless the swell is sufficiently large.
Wave Power
Soft — Rideable only when the swell is large enough to wrap around the headland.
Wave Shape
Mushy — Often lacks steepness/energy unless the swell is very large.
Peel Speed
Slow — Waves tend to be short and not powerful unless the swell is very large.
Ride Length
Short rides are typical unless conditions are extremely large.
Ride Length Details
Waves are usually short and lack power; better chances only on very large swell days.
Forecast

Check the forecast before you go

See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Stroove in the full forecast view.

Stroove wind and wave forecast summary

Wind
9–33 ktsGusts 55 kts
Direction
SW219°
Strongest day
Sun, Oct 2533 kts
Windy days
7/712 kts or more
Waves
0.7–4.9 m7s period
Temperature
8–16 °C

Over the next 7 days, Stroove is forecast for daytime winds of 9–33 kts, peaking around 33 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 55 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.7–4.9 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

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
Ability Level: Beginner to Expert
Recommended Safety Gear
HelmetImpact vestWetsuitHoodGlovesBoots

Rescue & support

Lifeguard
Seasonal — Lifeguard patrol in summer season (June–September, 12:00–18:30).
Rescue & Self-Rescue
Limited — Regional reporting indicates limited rescue availability, with summer lifeguard patrol and broader Coast Guard/RNLI coverage.
Emergency Info
Call 999 or 112.

Rules of the spot

Rocks are present at/near the beach—approach with care and check landing zones before paddling or setting up.

Local Tips
  • Stroove is a backup/retreat option—check it when other spots are too big or washed out.
  • When accessing from the lighthouse area, park in the designated area to avoid blocking narrow access roads.
  • If waves are only appearing after very large swell events, wait and reassess rather than forcing a small, underpowered setup.

Getting there & access

Nearest City
Derry
Nearest Town
Greencastle
Parking
Small public car park available at the beach.
Access
Accessible via the R238 from Greencastle towards Shrove Lighthouse.
Cost Level
Moderate
Local Language
English
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
Toilets
Accommodation
Nearby town — Guesthouses and B&Bs are available in Greencastle and Moville (nearby areas).
Food & Drink
Local pubs and restaurants are located in nearby Greencastle.
Equipment Rental:
Equipment rental is available through seasonal surf schools and local activity centers (reported regionally).
Gear Storage
Gear storage available (reported regionally).
Gear Repair
Gear repair available (reported regionally).
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

The area

Off the water

The Inishowen area is tied to coastal scenery, lighthouse viewpoints, and maritime history around Greencastle.

Best time to visit: May to September for milder weather; September to November for the best wind and wave conditions
Inishowen Head Lighthouse0 km

Lighthouse backdrop with sandy beaches.

Wild Atlantic Way0 km to 45 km (regionally referenced)

Coastal walking/driving routes with dramatic scenery.

Inishowen Head Walk0 km

Scenic coastal loop with views of the North Atlantic and the Scottish coast.

Inishowen Maritime Museum5–7 km

Local maritime history; also described as including a planetarium.

Malin Head45 km

Most northerly point of mainland Ireland.

Kealy's Seafood Bar5–7 km

Seafood restaurant and local food stop.

Stroove Beach Swimming0 km

Popular swimming spot; lifeguards in summer season.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

Latest reported conditions

Spot questions

Frequently asked questions

When is the best season at Stroove?

The best overall months at Stroove are January, February, March, December. The best wind months are January.

Which wind directions work at Stroove?

Stroove works with S winds. Offshore directions are S, SW.

What skill level is Stroove suitable for?

Stroove suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Expert.