Tullaghan Left
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Advanced to Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean, Swell
- Spot Type
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Range
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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Tullaghan Left is a powerful left-hand point break that breaks over a boulder/reef bottom. When it lines up, it delivers long, fast rides and is described as a regional-classic wave quality spot—particularly for surfers who specifically want northwest swell-driven performance.
- Best with northwest swell and mid to high tide
- Long rides reported around 150–300m on good days
- Rocky/bouldery entry and exit requires careful footwork
- Long, fast left-hand point-break rides with regional-classic quality.
- Best performance aligns with northwest swell and mid to high tide.
- Access is a short walk from nearby parking (though access may cross private land).
- Advanced, powerful character makes the spot unforgiving.
- Boulders at entry and exit can be tricky, especially on bigger swells.
- Rock/reef bottom and strong currents/rip risk increase danger.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSE, E
- Offshore directions
- E, ESE, SSE, S, SSE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Sources describe frontal/large-scale wind patterns over the North Atlantic, with offshore-supportive conditions when winds come from S/SE/E.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusts reported.
- Best Months
- June, July, August
- Thermal Window
- Thermal effects are reported as generally weak/rare for this region; summer can still produce a daily wind window.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean, Swell
- Beach
- Concrete — Beach/launch area described as concrete in one dataset; other descriptions emphasize rocky/boulder bottom for the wave.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Big — Works from about 1.5–2m and can build to larger sizes.
- Launch
- Small — Small rocky shelf; entry can require navigating moderate slope and boulders.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Reported as moderate to difficult due to rocky entry and navigating boulders.
Through the year
Calm in winter; can get crowded in summer when working (with fewer surfers reported overall in some datasets).
October–February more prone to strong Atlantic storms and heavy rain; winter primary storm season with frequent low-pressure systems.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A powerful left-hand point break over a boulder bottom/reef that can produce long, fast, regional-classic rides when a suitable northwest swell and mid tide align.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- NW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Best tide position reported as mid and high tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Reported as exposed, with some shelter from SW winds compared to more open beaches.
- Wind Effect
- Works best with offshore winds that groom the face; SE/E winds are described as offshore. Onshore NW winds can create choppy conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds larger NW swells well; becomes more powerful and potentially dangerous as size increases.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Regional classic reputation; wave quality described as excellent.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Fast, powerful left-hand waves.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Fast
- Ride Length
- Long — Good days commonly produce 150–300m rides.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Rides typically range from about 150 to 300 meters on a good day.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tullaghan Left in the full forecast view.
Tullaghan Left wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–36 ktsGusts 58 kts
- Direction
- WSW237°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2436 kts
- Windy days
- 6/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–3.9 m9s period
- Temperature
- 8–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tullaghan Left is forecast for daytime winds of 7–36 kts, peaking around 36 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 58 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Waves run 0.4–3.9 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- Reef
- Boulders
- Strong currents (especially on larger NW swells)
- Slippery boulders at launch
- Rip currents possible
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No rescue availability reported for the spot itself. (Regional context notes RNLI search and rescue coverage for the wider area.)
- Emergency Info
- Nearest major medical facilities are in Sligo or Donegal town.
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — Reported as a regional classic with an experienced lineup; local respect for the lineup is expected.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect access and the local lineup. Some access paths cross private land—use discretion and respect.
- No dedicated rescue coverage at the spot (plan accordingly).
- Respect private land boundaries on access routes.
- Watch out for boulders at entry and exit; it can be very tricky to get in and out when the swell is big.
- It can be significantly more dangerous at low tide due to the shallow boulder bottom.
- Enter carefully over boulders and avoid surfing alone due to remoteness.
- Watch for rip currents.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tullaghan village
- Nearest Town
- Tullaghan
- Parking
- Parking available at the east end of Tullaghan village; limited parking near the coast in the broader area is also reported with visitors walking to the point.
- Access
- Short walk (about 5–15 minutes) from parking near the east end of Tullaghan village; discretion required because the path may cross some private land.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Limited lodgings in Tullaghan village; broader options in Sligo and the wider area.
- Food & Drink
- Village shops and cafes in/near Tullaghan.
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 Tullaghan Left?
The best overall months at Tullaghan Left are June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Tullaghan Left?
Tullaghan Left works with S, SSE, E winds. Offshore directions are E, ESE, SSE, S, SSE.
What skill level is Tullaghan Left suitable for?
Tullaghan Left suits these riding levels: Surfing: Advanced to Expert.