Tremone Strand

Surfing
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

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
Great for
Surfing shortboardSurfing longboardAdvanced riders
What's great
  • 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.
Heads up
  • 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.
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Practical spot guide

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

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: 5/4/3mm + Boots, Gloves, HoodApr–Sep: 4/3mm
Crowds by Season

Generally quiet year-round; small increase during weekend swells.

Storm/Rain Season

Late autumn and winter (October to March) see the most frequent storm activity.

By sport

What to expect for each.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

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.

Beach break
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.
Forecast

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.

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
  • Rip currents (particularly near rocky sections at the ends of the bay)
Ability Level: Intermediate
Recommended Safety Gear
HoodGlovesBootsWetsuitHarnessKnifeLeashHelmetImpact vest

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.

Local Tips
  • 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
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
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).
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

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.