Tremone Strand
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Ocean, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Tremone Strand is a quiet, low-profile beach break on the Inishowen Peninsula that’s most dependable when the north pulse (north swells) is running. The spot is described as fairly exposed overall, with summer frequently turning mostly flat, while winter conditions tend to provide more consistently surfable sets. The break is beach-based but hazardous in practice: rocks are present at both ends of the strand (and some boulders may be submerged at higher tides). Because of this, approach and line choice matter, especially when sets are coming in fast off the beach. Wind is typically moderated in a favorable way by offshore components: South or Southwest winds are described as offshore for grooming wave faces. Operationally, the best month highlighted for surf conditions is January, aligning with the spot’s emphasis on cooler-season reliability. Water temperatures are cold throughout the year, so a winter wetsuit setup is strongly recommended (with hood, gloves, and boots). Finally, pay attention to water movement: rip currents can form—particularly near the rocky sections at the ends of the bay—so stay alert and avoid turning the shoreline into a crowded swim zone.
- Quiet, secluded Inishowen beach break
- Reliable surfing when north swells arrive
- Rocks at both ends of the beach; rip currents possible near rocky sections
- South/Southwest winds can act offshore and groom the faces
- Quiet/low-profile setting on the Inishowen Peninsula.
- Exposed, reliable surf when the north pulse arrives; summer can be flatter, so conditions are best in the colder season.
- South/Southwest offshore winds can improve wave face groom.
- Cold water year-round—winter requires full wetsuit protection.
- Rocks at both ends and possible submerged boulders at higher tides create a serious hazard.
- Rip currents can form near rocky sections at the ends of the bay.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE, SW, W, WSW
- Offshore directions
- S
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Primarily driven by frontal systems; occasional weaker thermal influence only at times of stable weather (regional pattern).
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- January
- Shadow Zones
- High ground around the bay can create wind shadows when winds come from southerly directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with rocky hazards at the ends.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size described as medium; summer can be mostly flat.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Not explicitly quantified as chop, but wind-driven conditions can affect wave face quality; offshore winds may reduce harshness.
- Launch
- Small — Sandy beach launch accessible from the car park area.
Through the year
Generally quiet year-round; small increase during weekend swells.
Late autumn and winter (October to March) see the most frequent storm activity.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach break with rocky hazards. Works reliably with north swells; summer is often mostly flat. Some sets can be moderated by the beach’s orientation; larger, more direct swell may close out.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NNW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide is noted as optimal.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Mostly exposed to Atlantic conditions; described as semi-sheltered in the bay context, but still fairly exposed overall.
- Wind Effect
- South or Southwest winds are offshore and can groom the wave faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can handle some size, but may close out if the swell is too direct and large.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average.
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Fast beach break peaks; ride depends on shifting sandbanks.
- Ride Length
- Short — Ride length is short and depends heavily on shifting sandbanks.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50 m
- Ride Length Details
- Fast beach break peaks that depend heavily on shifting sandbanks.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tremone Strand in the full forecast view.
Tremone Strand wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 8–32 ktsGusts 57 kts
- Direction
- SW219°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2532 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–3.7 m7s period
- Temperature
- 8–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tremone Strand is forecast for daytime winds of 8–32 kts, peaking around 32 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 57 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.4–3.7 m with a period of about 7s. 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 (particularly near rocky sections at the ends of the bay)
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional rescue is coordinated via the Irish Coast Guard (Malin Head station as a regional coordination center).
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Letterkenny. Emergency numbers: 999 or 112.
Rules of the spot
General surfing etiquette applies. No specific local bylaws found.
- Check when the north pulse shows—this beach break is known to be reliable under the right swell conditions.
- Watch for rocks at both the northern and southern ends of the strand (hazard especially when sets/shorebreak are active).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Derry
- Nearest Town
- Culdaff
- Nearest Airport
- City of Derry Airport (LDY) (~45 km).
- Parking
- Small gravel parking area available near the beach.
- Public Transport
- Limited rural bus services connect nearby towns, but a private car is essential for coastal access.
- Access
- Accessed via narrow rural roads on the Inishowen Peninsula.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Holiday cottages and B&Bs are available in nearby Culdaff and Moville.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on the beach; nearest pubs and shops are in Culdaff.
- Equipment Rental:
- No rentals available on-site (at the beach).
- Gear Storage
- No dedicated public gear storage in the immediate area.
- Gear Repair
- Limited to basic DIY or small-scale local surfboard repairers (regional).
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 Tremone Strand?
The best overall months at Tremone Strand are October, November, December, January, February, March. The best wind months are January.
Which wind directions work at Tremone Strand?
Tremone Strand works with S, SSE, SW, W, WSW winds. Offshore directions are S.
What skill level is Tremone Strand suitable for?
Tremone Strand suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.