Keel Beach Surf Report
Keel Beach — surf & tide guide
Keel Beach is a beach in Mayo, Ireland. It works best on a W–NNW swell with E–SSE winds blowing offshore. Ideal size is 0.8–3.5 m at 10–16 s.
- Break type
- Beach break
- Best swell
- W–NNW · 0.8–3.5m
- Best wind
- E–SSE offshore
- Best tide
- Most tides
- Best period
- 10–16s
- Skill level
- Beginner+
- Best season
- Sep–Apr
- Parking
- Free car park
3 km multi-peak strand · summer also works.
Keel Beach has semidiurnal (two highs a day) tides with an approximate large range of 4.3 m. Mid tide works best. More Mayo spots →
About Keel Beach
Keel Beach is a 3 km west-facing strand on Achill Island, sitting at the foot of Slievemore mountain. It's one of the most photographed beaches on the Wild Atlantic Way and a serious surf venue in its own right - the beach faces straight into the Atlantic and catches W to NW swells with no obstacles in the way.
Multiple peaks shift up and down the strand. The beach handles size well and works on most tides. Mid is best for the cleanest banks. A surf school and board hire operate on the strand in season; Keel village has cafes, accommodation and parking right behind the beach.
Achill itself is a destination - rugged scenery, the Atlantic Drive, Keem Bay just a short drive west - so it's worth more than a day if you make the trip from Sligo or Galway.
Hazards & Notes
- Exposed beach - wind builds quickly
- Strong rips between sand bars on bigger swells
- Cliff at the west end - know which way the wind is pushing
- Cold North Atlantic water year-round
14-Day Forecast
Tap any day for hourly detail.
Other Mayo Spots
All conditions and 14-day forecast for every Mayo break: view the full Mayo page →