SurfCheck/ Ireland/ Antrim/ Ballycastle

Ballycastle Surf Report

County Antrim · Beginner-friendly beach break
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Wind
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Tide · Malin Head
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Ballycastle — surf & tide guide

Ballycastle is a beach in Antrim, Ireland. It works best on a N–NE swell with SSE–SW winds blowing offshore. The beach faces NNE. Ideal size is 0.5–2.0 m at 7–13 s.

Break type
beach
Faces
NNE (20°)
Best swell
N–NE · 0.5–2.0 m · 7–13 s
Best wind
SSE–SW (offshore)
Best tide
best around mid tide
Tidal range
small (~1.2 m)
Coordinates
55.2070, -6.2440
Region
Antrim, Ireland

Ballycastle has semidiurnal (two highs a day) tides with an approximate small range of 1.2 m. Works most tides. More Antrim spots →

About Ballycastle

Ballycastle sits at the north-east corner of Antrim, with Rathlin Island visible offshore. The beach is a sheltered north-east-facing bay - a different swell window from the rest of the north Antrim coast, picking up N or NE swells that wrap around the headland.

The bay is forgiving and family-friendly, and the town itself is one of the loveliest on the Antrim coast - it's also the ferry port for Rathlin Island. The surf scene is small and local; not a destination spot, but a reliable option when the right wind window opens up.

Type
Beach break · sheltered N–NE-facing bay
Best swell
N–NE (350–50°), 0.5–2.0m
Best wind
S–SW (offshore), 155–225°
Best tide
Works most tides · mid is best
Best period
7–13s
Skill level
Beginner-friendly
Best season
Sep–Apr
Parking
Seafront car parks in town

Hazards & Notes

  • Narrow swell window - often flat when north Antrim is firing
  • Ferry traffic from the harbour - keep clear of the channel
  • Watch the rocks at the headland ends of the bay
  • Cold water year-round

14-Day Forecast

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Other Antrim Spots

All conditions and 14-day forecast for every Antrim break: view the full Antrim page →