Sutton (Leinster)
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Burrow Beach in Sutton (Dublin Bay) is a large sandy, clean, shallow-water riding area where conditions are often described as flat to small-wave, but can turn choppy depending on tide and wind. Wind is most consistently from northerly through northwesterly directions (N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, NW, NNW), with the best months generally given as March, April, May, September, and October. Typical on-water wind is commonly reported in the 15–25 knots range, with moderate reliability and gustiness described as light to moderate depending on conditions. This is a tidal spot: launching is best around mid-tide, and at full high tide the water can reach dunes/sea wall areas, leaving little to no usable launch beach (and potentially making launching dangerous or impossible). At low tide, sandbanks can emerge and shallow/changing bottom conditions flatten the bay, but they also introduce navigation hazards for riders operating close to the sand. For safety, the most repeated warning is to watch the currents—especially on ebb tide. Additional hazards include groynes/posts along parts of the beach, strong ebb/transition-current effects, and beach-user conflicts. During summer months, riders are advised to avoid designated swimming areas and follow no-kiting zones near swimmers.
- Large sandy beach with shallow, clean water
- Best wind directions are N through NW with easterly components also working
- Mid-tide is the practical target; beach access changes dramatically with tide
- Big sandy area with clean water
- Frequent winds from N to NW (also easterly components work well)
- Relatively easy access from Dublin and via DART, with practical launch space at low to mid tide
- Very tide-dependent: at high tide the usable beach can reduce dramatically or be unsafe/impossible to launch
- Shallow water increases depth-change risk, especially near low-tide transitions
- Currents can be strong, particularly on ebb tide
- High pedestrian and dog presence, especially on weekends and sunny days
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, NW, NNW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Wind is described as either frontal-driven or frontal-like by providers; it also includes a small thermal component at times (thermal mentioned by one source, frontal by another).
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Some sources describe light gustiness (others say moderate gusts).
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Shallow, Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small — Small waves are noted; chop can develop depending on tide and conditions.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Sources describe flat water with chop possible, and one baseline notes chop.
- Launch
- Big — Spacious and mostly flat/shallow at low to mid tide; at high tide the beach can nearly disappear near dunes/sea wall.
Through the year
Can get busy in summer months; very popular with walkers and families year-round, especially weekends and sunny summer days.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A primary kitesurfing spot at Burrow Beach in Sutton (Dublin Bay). Large sandy area can work on northerly and easterly winds, with shallow water and flat-to-choppy conditions. Launch area depends strongly on tide level.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Possible but less popular; tends to work best at mid to high tide to reduce long gear walks.
Suitable especially at mid to high tide; shallow water requires attention to depth during low-tide transitions.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil-friendly is explicitly stated.
- Min Depth
- 1.0m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Sutton (Leinster) in the full forecast view.
Sutton (Leinster) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 6–24 ktsGusts 47 kts
- Direction
- SW219°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2424 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.2–2.3 m4s period
- Temperature
- 9–17 °C
Over the next 7 days, Sutton (Leinster) is forecast for daytime winds of 6–24 kts, peaking around 24 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 47 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.2–2.3 m with a period of about 4s. 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
- Currents
- Sand banks at low tide
- Groynes/posts along some beach sections
- Strong currents especially on ebb tide
- Tidal variation (beach can disappear near dunes/sea wall at high tide)
- Beach walkers, dogs, and high pedestrian presence
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards are mentioned.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — One source says limited availability; another says no on-spot rescue. The regional baseline indicates Coast Guard/RNLI response with no guaranteed on-site base.
- Emergency Info
- Limited rescue availability on-site; in an emergency call 112 or 999. Dublin Coast Guard coordinates rescues in the area.
Rules of the spot
Best is mid-tide; launching can become dangerous or impossible at full high tide. Avoid designated swimming areas in summer; there are summer no-kiting zones near swimmers. Check tide times carefully as the beach can retreat far at low tide.
- Avoid kiting in designated swimming areas during summer months.
- No-kiting zones near swimmers in summer.
- Watch the currents, especially on ebb tide.
- Spot is best at mid-tide; at full high tide there may be very little or no launch area near the sea wall/dunes.
- Stay vigilant for chop and currents at high/transition tides.
- Check tide times carefully because the water retreats a long way at low tide.
- Avoid kiting in designated swimming areas during summer months.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Dublin
- Nearest Town
- Sutton
- Parking
- Free parking is mentioned near walking path access (Burrow Road). Another source notes limited parking at Sutton DART station and residential roads, which can get very crowded on sunny days.
- Public Transport
- DART rail access to Sutton is noted (walk from the station).
- Access
- From Dublin drive towards Howth. Get onto Claremont Road and Burrow Road. Access the north-facing beach between the last building and golf course. A short walk from Sutton DART station is also noted.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation is available in Howth and Dublin area.
- Food & Drink
- Limited street food and cafes near Howth; cafes/pubs/supermarket near Sutton Cross about a 10-minute walk from the beach.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental is available via watersports schools.
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 Sutton (Leinster)?
The best overall months at Sutton (Leinster) are March, April, May, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Sutton (Leinster)?
Sutton (Leinster) works with N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, NW, NNW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Sutton (Leinster)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Sutton (Leinster): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Sutton (Leinster) suitable for?
Sutton (Leinster) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Beginner to Intermediate.