Portstewart Strand Surf Report
Portstewart Strand — surf & tide guide
Portstewart Strand is a beach in Derry, Ireland. It works best on a NW–NNE swell with SE–SSW winds blowing offshore. The beach faces N. Ideal size is 0.6–2.5 m at 8–14 s.
- Break type
- Beach break
- Best swell
- NW–NNE · 0.6–2.5m
- Best wind
- SE–SSW offshore
- Best tide
- Most tides
- Best period
- 10–16s
- Skill level
- Beginner+
- Best season
- Sep–Apr
- Parking
- Beach car park
long north-facing dune strand · mid is best · all levels · National Trust; drive-on at the entrance.
Portstewart Strand has semidiurnal (two highs a day) tides with an approximate moderate range of 2.1 m. Works most tides. More Derry spots →
About Portstewart Strand
Portstewart Strand is a 3 km dune-backed beach stretching west from Portstewart town toward the mouth of the Bann river. It's part of National Trust land and one of the most popular beaches on the Causeway Coast - long, sandy, with car access onto part of the beach.
The Strand catches the same NW swells as Benone and Castlerock to the east - they're effectively three connected beaches separated by the Bann river mouth. Mid tide is best. Beginner-friendly peaks shift along the strand. Surf school in town.
Hazards & Notes
- Strong currents near the Bann river mouth at the west end
- Cars on the beach - keep an eye when paddling out
- Rips between sand bars on bigger swells
- Cold North Atlantic water year-round
14-Day Forecast
Tap any day for hourly detail.
Other Derry Spots
All conditions and 14-day forecast for every Derry break: view the full Derry page →