Dipper › Co. Donegal

Ballyhiernan, Fanad

Excellent Quality 2025 Green Coast faces N

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Dip score now
15
Grim · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore
Waves
2.1 m
11 s period from NW · model cell 1.5 km out
Sea
15.1°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 245 km away.
Tide
2.5 m
Falling, nearly low. Low at 16:30.
Wind
25 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSW, offshore, gusts 52
Daylight
07:34
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 14°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring high tide
Today
19:00
Blowy 32/100
moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m · 2.2 m · 28 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
12:00
Fresh 56/100
gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m · 1.8 m · 18 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
13:00
Fresh 54/100
moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry · 2.1 m · 28 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
11:00
Blowy 33/100
moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.4 m · 2.4 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 1.6 m · 1.6 m · 15 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
19:00
Blowy 29/100
moderate breeze, showers possible, big sea 1.9 m · 1.9 m · 28 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
19:00
Decent 73/100
moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible · 23 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 14:0014 · Grimmoderate breeze · offshore, flatter inshore
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 11:00 · 35 BlowyFri 12:00 · 18 GrimFri 13:00 · 7 GrimFri 14:00 · 14 GrimFri 15:00 · 17 GrimFri 16:00 · 29 BlowyFri 17:00 · 23 GrimFri 18:00 · 28 BlowyFri 19:00 · 32 BlowyFri 20:00 · 33 Blowy · nightFri 21:00 · 38 Blowy · nightFri 22:00 · 42 Blowy · nightFri 23:00 · 29 Blowy · nightSat 00:00 · 41 Blowy · nightSat 01:00 · 36 Blowy · nightSat 02:00 · 31 Blowy · nightSat 03:00 · 37 Blowy · nightSat 04:00 · 27 Grim · nightSat 05:00 · 24 Grim · nightSat 06:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSat 07:00 · 37 Blowy · nightSat 08:00 · 42 BlowySat 09:00 · 46 FreshSat 10:00 · 50 FreshSat 11:00 · 55 FreshSat 12:00 · 56 FreshSat 13:00 · 52 FreshSat 14:00 · 48 FreshSat 15:00 · 43 BlowySat 16:00 · 39 BlowySat 17:00 · 35 BlowySat 18:00 · 31 BlowySat 19:00 · 33 BlowySat 20:00 · 37 Blowy · nightSat 21:00 · 41 Blowy · nightSat 22:00 · 45 Fresh · nightSat 23:00 · 45 Fresh · nightSun 00:00 · 50 Fresh · nightSun 01:00 · 50 Fresh · nightSun 02:00 · 45 Fresh · nightSun 03:00 · 40 Blowy · nightSun 04:00 · 38 Blowy · nightSun 05:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSun 06:00 · 27 Grim · nightSun 07:00 · 31 Blowy · nightSun 08:00 · 34 BlowySun 09:00 · 38 BlowySun 10:00 · 42 BlowySun 11:00 · 46 FreshSun 12:00 · 50 FreshSun 13:00 · 54 FreshSun 14:00 · 30 BlowySun 15:00 · 26 GrimSun 16:00 · 38 BlowySun 17:00 · 40 BlowySun 18:00 · 35 BlowySun 19:00 · 25 GrimSun 20:00 · 21 Grim · nightSun 21:00 · 25 Grim · nightSun 22:00 · 14 Grim · nightSun 23:00 · 18 Grim · nightMon 00:00 · 23 Grim · nightMon 01:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 02:00 · 28 Blowy · nightMon 03:00 · 32 Blowy · nightMon 04:00 · 5 Grim · nightMon 05:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 06:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 07:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 08:00 · 0 GrimMon 09:00 · 9 GrimMon 10:00 · 29 BlowyMon 11:00 · 33 BlowyMon 12:00 · 21 GrimMon 13:00 · 25 GrimMon 14:00 · 29 BlowyMon 15:00 · 33 BlowyMon 16:00 · 21 GrimMon 17:00 · 33 BlowyMon 18:00 · 28 BlowyMon 19:00 · 24 GrimMon 22:00 · 1 Grim · nightTue 01:00 · 14 Grim · nightTue 04:00 · 46 Fresh · nightTue 07:00 · 27 Grim · nightTue 10:00 · 22 GrimTue 13:00 · 35 BlowyTue 16:00 · 56 FreshTue 19:00 · 35 BlowyTue 22:00 · 46 Fresh · nightWed 01:00 · 54 Fresh · nightWed 04:00 · 62 Decent · nightWed 07:00 · 54 Fresh · nightWed 10:00 · 22 GrimWed 13:00 · 17 GrimWed 16:00 · 18 GrimWed 19:00 · 29 BlowyWed 22:00 · 16 Grim · nightThu 01:00 · 2 Grim · nightThu 07:00 · 59 Fresh · nightThu 13:00 · 69 DecentThu 19:00 · 73 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 14:00

14 Grim
  • moderate breeze
  • offshore, flatter inshore
  • rain
  • big sea 2.1 m
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset2.1 m25 km/h
faces 353° N · wind offshore
Waves
2.1 m @ 11 s from NW
Wind
25 km/h SSW · gusts 52
Tide
2.3 m · lower half
Air
14°C · 2.4 mm rain

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
13:007 Grim2.1 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW31 km/h S512.9 m 1.6 mm14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
14:0014 Grim2.1 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW25 km/h SSW522.3 m 2.4 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
15:0017 Grim2.1 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW21 km/h SSW481.7 m 1.1 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
16:0029 Blowy2.2 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW22 km/h SW461.4 m ▼0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
17:0023 Grim2.3 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW24 km/h WSW471.3 m ▼dry14°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.3 m
18:0028 Blowy2.2 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW24 km/h WSW471.5 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
19:0032 Blowy2.2 m (1.5 swell)11 sNW28 km/h WSW441.9 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
20:0033 Blowy2.2 m (1.5 swell)11 sNW27 km/h W382.4 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
21:0038 Blowy2.2 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW27 km/h W352.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
22:0042 Blowy2.1 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW27 km/h W373.3 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
23:0029 Blowy2.1 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW32 km/h W393.5 m ▲dry12°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0041 Blowy2.1 m (1.4 swell)11 sNW27 km/h W393.4 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
01:0036 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW26 km/h W363.1 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
02:0031 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW23 km/h WSW322.6 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
03:0037 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW282.0 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
04:0027 Grim2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
05:0024 Grim2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW261.4 m ▼dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
06:0033 Blowy2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW271.5 m ▼dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
07:0037 Blowy2.0 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SSW281.9 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
08:0042 Blowy1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SW302.3 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
09:0046 Fresh1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW12 km/h SSW302.8 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
10:0050 Fresh1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW293.2 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
11:0055 Fresh1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h WSW303.4 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
12:0056 Fresh1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW18 km/h W313.4 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
13:0052 Fresh1.8 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW313.3 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
14:0048 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW15 km/h WSW313.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
15:0043 Blowy1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW13 km/h WSW312.5 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
16:0039 Blowy1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SW312.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
17:0035 Blowy1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW301.7 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
18:0031 Blowy1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW291.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
19:0033 Blowy1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW14 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
20:0037 Blowy1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S271.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
21:0041 Blowy1.8 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW17 km/h S322.2 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
22:0045 Fresh1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW18 km/h S362.6 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
23:0045 Fresh1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW21 km/h S392.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0050 Fresh1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S413.1 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0050 Fresh1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S433.1 m ▲dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0045 Fresh1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S443.0 m dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0040 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S452.6 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0038 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h S442.2 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0033 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S441.8 m 0.1 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
06:0027 Grim2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h SSW441.6 m ▼0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0031 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW431.7 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
08:0034 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW431.9 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
09:0038 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW442.2 m dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
10:0042 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SSW432.5 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
11:0046 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h SSW442.9 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
12:0050 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW453.2 m ▲dry16°moderate 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 · Blowy · sea 15° · 2.2 mFri, 2 Oct 18:30–19:30 · moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 1.8 mSat, 3 Oct 11:30–12:30 · gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 2.1 mSun, 4 Oct 12:30–13:30 · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

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.