Dipper › Co. Donegal

Ballyhiernan, Fanad

Excellent Quality 2025 Green Coast faces N

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Dip score now
16
Grim · fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore
Waves
2.6 m
12 s period from NW · model cell 1.5 km out
Sea
15.2°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 245 km away.
Tide
2.0 m
Rising. High at 10:05.
Wind
30 km/h
Fresh breeze, SSE, offshore, gusts 41
Daylight
07:34
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours
Today
17:00
Fresh 56/100
gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m · 2.1 m · 12 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
11:00
Fresh 59/100
gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m · 1.9 m · 17 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
10:00
Fresh 49/100
moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m · 2.1 m · 28 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
16:00
Blowy 41/100
moderate breeze, showers possible, big sea 2.3 m · 2.3 m · 28 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:00 ▲ 15:00 ▼ 21:40
Tue, 6 Oct
16:00
Fresh 56/100
gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m · 2.0 m · 17 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Decent 69/100
moderate breeze, rain, low tide · 20 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 83/100
gentle breeze, showers possible · 14 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:10 ▲ 17:40 ▼ 23:55

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 06:0016 · Grimfresh breeze · offshore, flatter inshore
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 02:00 · 32 Blowy · nightFri 03:00 · 32 Blowy · nightFri 04:00 · 32 Blowy · nightFri 05:00 · 32 Blowy · nightFri 06:00 · 16 Grim · nightFri 07:00 · 52 Fresh · nightFri 08:00 · 36 BlowyFri 09:00 · 36 BlowyFri 10:00 · 31 BlowyFri 11:00 · 31 BlowyFri 12:00 · 37 BlowyFri 13:00 · 39 BlowyFri 14:00 · 38 BlowyFri 15:00 · 51 FreshFri 16:00 · 48 FreshFri 17:00 · 56 FreshFri 18:00 · 49 FreshFri 19:00 · 46 FreshFri 20:00 · 46 Fresh · nightFri 21:00 · 46 Fresh · nightFri 22:00 · 46 Fresh · nightFri 23:00 · 46 Fresh · nightSat 00:00 · 46 Fresh · nightSat 01:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSat 02:00 · 51 Fresh · nightSat 03:00 · 51 Fresh · nightSat 04:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSat 05:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSat 06:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSat 07:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSat 08:00 · 56 FreshSat 09:00 · 56 FreshSat 10:00 · 56 FreshSat 11:00 · 59 FreshSat 12:00 · 59 FreshSat 13:00 · 59 FreshSat 14:00 · 55 FreshSat 15:00 · 59 FreshSat 16:00 · 55 FreshSat 17:00 · 59 FreshSat 18:00 · 59 FreshSat 19:00 · 59 FreshSat 20:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSat 21:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSat 22:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSat 23:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 00:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 01:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 02:00 · 39 Blowy · nightSun 03:00 · 39 Blowy · nightSun 04:00 · 39 Blowy · nightSun 05:00 · 39 Blowy · nightSun 06:00 · 25 Grim · nightSun 07:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSun 08:00 · 33 BlowySun 09:00 · 33 BlowySun 10:00 · 49 FreshSun 11:00 · 49 FreshSun 12:00 · 33 BlowySun 13:00 · 33 BlowySun 14:00 · 33 BlowySun 15:00 · 49 FreshSun 16:00 · 49 FreshSun 17:00 · 33 BlowySun 18:00 · 33 BlowySun 19:00 · 33 BlowySun 20:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSun 21:00 · 49 Fresh · nightSun 22:00 · 49 Fresh · nightSun 23:00 · 49 Fresh · nightMon 00:00 · 33 Blowy · nightMon 01:00 · 33 Blowy · nightMon 02:00 · 33 Blowy · nightMon 03:00 · 13 Grim · nightMon 04:00 · 13 Grim · nightMon 05:00 · 13 Grim · nightMon 06:00 · 13 Grim · nightMon 07:00 · 13 Grim · nightMon 10:00 · 21 GrimMon 13:00 · 25 GrimMon 16:00 · 41 BlowyMon 19:00 · 41 BlowyMon 22:00 · 41 Blowy · nightTue 01:00 · 57 Fresh · nightTue 04:00 · 53 Fresh · nightTue 07:00 · 48 Fresh · nightTue 10:00 · 48 FreshTue 13:00 · 48 FreshTue 16:00 · 56 FreshTue 19:00 · 48 FreshTue 22:00 · 48 Fresh · nightWed 01:00 · 48 Fresh · nightWed 04:00 · 83 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 83 Grand · nightWed 10:00 · 69 DecentWed 13:00 · 69 DecentWed 19:00 · 67 DecentThu 01:00 · 53 Fresh · nightThu 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 83 GrandThu 19:00 · 63 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 06:00

16 Grim
  • fresh breeze
  • offshore, flatter inshore
  • dry
  • heavy sea 2.6 m
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset2.6 m30 km/h
faces 353° N · wind offshore
Waves
2.6 m @ 12 s from NW
Wind
30 km/h SSE · gusts 41
Tide
1.7 m · lower half
Air
13°C · dry

Meteogram

Score, waves, wind (green offshore, amber cross, red onshore), rain and air, tide

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
06:0016 Grim2.6 m (2.3 swell)12 sNW30 km/h SSE411.7 m dry13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0052 Fresh2.5 m (2.2 swell)12 sNW27 km/h S422.3 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
08:0036 Blowy2.4 m (2.1 swell)12 sNW30 km/h SSE422.9 m dry13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
09:0036 Blowy2.4 m (2.0 swell)12 sNW30 km/h SSE453.5 m ▲dry13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
10:0031 Blowy2.3 m (2.0 swell)12 sNW32 km/h S473.7 m ▲0.2 mm13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
11:0031 Blowy2.2 m (1.9 swell)12 sNW31 km/h S483.7 m ▲0.4 mm13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
12:0037 Blowy2.1 m (1.8 swell)11 sNW24 km/h S453.4 m 1.4 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
13:0039 Blowy2.1 m (1.8 swell)11 sNW18 km/h S432.9 m 1.6 mm13°gentle breeze, rain, big sea 2.1 m
14:0038 Blowy2.1 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW23 km/h S412.3 m 1.2 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
15:0051 Fresh2.1 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SW401.7 m 0.7 mm14°gentle breeze, showers possible, big sea 2.2 m
16:0048 Fresh2.2 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW18 km/h SW371.4 m ▼0.2 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, big sea 2.2 m
17:0056 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW12 km/h SW381.3 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
18:0049 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW22 km/h WSW401.5 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
19:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW26 km/h W381.9 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
20:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW27 km/h W352.4 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
21:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW24 km/h WSW322.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
22:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW26 km/h W323.3 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
23:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW28 km/h W323.5 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.5 swell)11 sNW25 km/h W303.4 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
01:0056 Fresh2.1 m (1.5 swell)11 sNW16 km/h SW293.1 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
02:0051 Fresh2.1 m (1.5 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SSW272.6 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
03:0051 Fresh2.1 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW16 km/h SSW252.0 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
04:0056 Fresh2.1 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SSW241.6 m ▼dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
05:0056 Fresh2.0 m (1.4 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW241.4 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
06:0056 Fresh2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SW241.5 m ▼dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
07:0056 Fresh2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SW241.9 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
08:0056 Fresh2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SW242.3 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
09:0056 Fresh1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SW232.8 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
10:0056 Fresh1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW16 km/h SW243.2 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
11:0059 Fresh1.9 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SW263.4 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
12:0059 Fresh1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW16 km/h SW273.4 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
13:0059 Fresh1.8 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SW273.3 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
14:0055 Fresh1.8 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW21 km/h SW283.0 m dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
15:0059 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW282.5 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
16:0055 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW21 km/h SW282.0 m dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
17:0059 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SSW281.7 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
18:0059 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW16 km/h S271.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
19:0059 Fresh1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW18 km/h S251.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
20:0055 Fresh1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW22 km/h S271.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
21:0055 Fresh1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S312.2 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0055 Fresh1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW24 km/h S332.6 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0055 Fresh1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW26 km/h S352.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0055 Fresh1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW26 km/h S363.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0055 Fresh2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW26 km/h S383.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0039 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SSW483.0 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0039 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SSW482.6 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0039 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SSW482.2 m 0.1 mm15°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0039 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SW471.8 m 0.1 mm15°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

Where the energy comes from

Wave energy (H²·T) this week by direction, against the swell window

Swell arriving between W and E reaches this spot; anything else is blocked by land and counts for much less.

Tide today

Buncrana, 20 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:50
Low 03:55 · 1.1 mHigh 10:05 · 3.7 mLow 16:30 · 1.3 mHigh 22:50 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
353° N
Swell window
W 280° → E 80°
Exposure
Open coast · model cell 1.5 km out
Water
Excellent Quality

Facing and swell window are derived from the wave model's coastline around the spot, not surveyed. Know better? Tell us.

Water quality

Recent grades: 2024 Excellent, 2023 Excellent, 2022 Excellent. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

No lifeguard listedNo toiletsParkingDogs on lead

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 7 km · mobile

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 15 km · fixed

Cocoon Sauna · Portnablagh Pier, Dunfanaghy · 16 km · fixed

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 20 km · mobile

Ballyhiernan beach is a north facing, long sandy beach consisting of sandy dunes. There are three bays on the beach Carrickachurdin Bay, Kinlackagh Bay and Trabane Bay. Ballyhiernan Beach has a wide variety of wildlife including a vast variety of birds and two notable animal species have been spotted on the site, the Common Frog and Irish Hare. Activities include swimming, kayaking, boating, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, power boating, jet skiing, diving and other land based activities on the beach.

Put Ballyhiernan, Fanad in your calendar

Dipper Plus drops the best dip hour here into your phone every day, with waves, sea temperature, tide and a 45-minute nudge. Up to three spots.

Set up Dipper Plus
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 2.1 mFri, 2 Oct 16:30–17:30 · gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 1.9 mSat, 3 Oct 10:30–11:30 · gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 2.1 mSun, 4 Oct 09:30–10:30 · moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m

Nearby spots

Kinny Lough

2 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Magheradromman Lough

2 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Kindrum Lough

2 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Shannagh Lough

2 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Score is Dipper's own blend. It rates comfort, not safety. Forecast: Met Éireann. Waves: Marine Institute Irish Shelf wave model.