St Finian's Bay

Ballinskelligs · Ireland South · Ireland

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for St Finian's Bay (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/st-finians-bay.

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A rugged cove on the Skellig Ring, looking out to the Skellig islands. Short, punchy peaks break over sand and rock, and the bay can get big and powerful. Very strong rips make it dangerous for swimming.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A south-west swell of 1–2 m with a north-east wind.

When it doesn't

✕ Westerly and southerly winds; very big swells close it out.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks

Best months

March, April, May, September, October, November

Local tips

Park up on the top and walk down. The guides disagree on the best tide, so watch it for a while before paddling out.

Getting there

Over the mountain road from Ballinskelligs on the Skellig Ring; park above the beach and walk down.

Travel notes

How often it works
Consistent in south-westerly swells, with some shelter from northerly winds.
Crowd and vibe
Usually quiet; it can get busy on summer weekends.
Facilities
Small parking area above the beach only.
Water quality
Not an EPA-monitored bathing water. Ballinskelligs beach nearby was rated Excellent in 2025.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SSW–WSW best, S–W works
Size
1.2–2.2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.9 m, holds to 3 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore NNE–E; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best, on the rising tide
Faces
SW (230°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

Nearby spots

All spots in Ireland South · All spots

Sources