Dipper › Co. Donegal

Ballyhiernan, Fanad

Excellent Quality 2025 Green Coast faces N

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
29
Blowy · moderate breeze, dry
Waves
2.1 m
11 s period from NW · model cell 1.5 km out
Sea
15.0°
Fresh. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 245 km away.
Tide
3.0 m
Falling. Low at 04:50.
Wind
26 km/h
Moderate breeze, W, cross, gusts 36
Daylight
07:36
Sunrise. Sunset 19:03. Air 12°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
18:00
Fresh 59/100
gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m · 1.7 m · 13 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
08:00
Fresh 48/100
moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry · 2.1 m · 28 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
10:00
Blowy 41/100
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
10:00
Fresh 46/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, big sea 2.0 m · 2.0 m · 18 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Fresh 46/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, big sea 1.5 m · 1.5 m · 18 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 81/100
light winds, showers possible · 9 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:10 ▲ 17:40 ▼ 23:55
Fri, 9 Oct
13:00
Fresh 53/100
moderate breeze, rain, low tide · 28 km/h
▲ 05:55 ▼ 11:45 ▲ 18:05

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Sat 01:0028 · Blowymoderate breeze · dry
Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 8Fri 90003060912151821Sat 00:00 · 23 Grim · nightSat 01:00 · 28 Blowy · nightSat 02:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSat 03:00 · 47 Fresh · nightSat 04:00 · 47 Fresh · nightSat 05:00 · 50 Fresh · nightSat 06:00 · 51 Fresh · nightSat 07:00 · 47 Fresh · nightSat 08:00 · 42 BlowySat 09:00 · 38 BlowySat 10:00 · 34 BlowySat 11:00 · 29 BlowySat 12:00 · 34 BlowySat 13:00 · 38 BlowySat 14:00 · 42 BlowySat 15:00 · 47 FreshSat 16:00 · 51 FreshSat 17:00 · 55 FreshSat 18:00 · 59 FreshSat 19:00 · 51 FreshSat 20:00 · 47 Fresh · nightSat 21:00 · 43 Blowy · nightSat 22:00 · 39 Blowy · nightSat 23:00 · 31 Blowy · nightSun 00:00 · 26 Grim · nightSun 01:00 · 26 Grim · nightSun 02:00 · 31 Blowy · nightSun 03:00 · 36 Blowy · nightSun 04:00 · 44 Blowy · nightSun 05:00 · 49 Fresh · nightSun 06:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 07:00 · 51 Fresh · nightSun 08:00 · 48 FreshSun 09:00 · 44 BlowySun 10:00 · 40 BlowySun 11:00 · 36 BlowySun 12:00 · 32 BlowySun 13:00 · 28 BlowySun 14:00 · 8 GrimSun 15:00 · 12 GrimSun 16:00 · 32 BlowySun 17:00 · 42 BlowySun 18:00 · 47 FreshSun 19:00 · 45 FreshSun 20:00 · 49 Fresh · nightSun 21:00 · 45 Fresh · nightSun 22:00 · 24 Grim · nightSun 23:00 · 20 Grim · nightMon 00:00 · 15 Grim · nightMon 01:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 02:00 · 2 Grim · nightMon 03:00 · 10 Grim · nightMon 04:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 05:00 · 0 Grim · nightMon 06:00 · 3 Grim · nightMon 07:00 · 8 Grim · nightMon 08:00 · 13 GrimMon 09:00 · 29 BlowyMon 10:00 · 41 BlowyMon 11:00 · 37 BlowyMon 12:00 · 17 GrimMon 13:00 · 13 GrimMon 14:00 · 9 GrimMon 15:00 · 5 GrimMon 16:00 · 1 GrimMon 17:00 · 21 GrimMon 18:00 · 26 GrimMon 19:00 · 30 BlowyMon 22:00 · 26 Grim · nightTue 01:00 · 10 Grim · nightTue 04:00 · 22 Grim · nightTue 07:00 · 31 Blowy · nightTue 10:00 · 46 FreshTue 13:00 · 33 BlowyTue 16:00 · 28 BlowyTue 19:00 · 33 BlowyTue 22:00 · 68 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 60 Fresh · nightWed 04:00 · 40 Blowy · nightWed 07:00 · 48 Fresh · nightWed 10:00 · 46 FreshWed 13:00 · 23 GrimWed 16:00 · 0 GrimWed 19:00 · 19 GrimWed 22:00 · 32 Blowy · nightThu 01:00 · 14 Grim · nightThu 07:00 · 47 Fresh · nightThu 13:00 · 81 GrandThu 19:00 · 57 FreshFri 01:00 · 44 Blowy · nightFri 07:00 · 47 Fresh · nightFri 13:00 · 53 FreshFri 19:00 · 26 Grim

Sat, 3 Oct, 01:00

28 Blowy
  • moderate breeze
  • dry
  • big sea 2.1 m
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset2.1 m26 km/h
faces 353° N · wind cross
Waves
2.1 m @ 11 s from NW
Wind
26 km/h W · gusts 36
Tide
3.1 m · upper half
Air
12°C · dry

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
01:0028 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW26 km/h W363.1 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
02:0033 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW23 km/h WSW322.6 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
03:0047 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW282.0 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
04:0047 Fresh2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
05:0050 Fresh2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW261.4 m ▼dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
06:0051 Fresh2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW271.5 m ▼dry10°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 2.0 m
07:0047 Fresh2.0 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
09:0038 Blowy1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW12 km/h SSW302.8 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
10:0034 Blowy1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW293.2 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
11:0029 Blowy1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h WSW303.4 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
12:0034 Blowy1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW18 km/h W313.4 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
13:0038 Blowy1.8 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW313.3 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
14:0042 Blowy1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW15 km/h WSW313.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
15:0047 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW13 km/h WSW312.5 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
16:0051 Fresh1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SW312.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
17:0055 Fresh1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW301.7 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
18:0059 Fresh1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW291.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
19:0051 Fresh1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW14 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
20:0047 Fresh1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S271.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
21:0043 Blowy1.8 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW17 km/h S322.2 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.8 m
22:0039 Blowy1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW18 km/h S362.6 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.9 m
23:0031 Blowy1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW21 km/h S392.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0026 Grim1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S413.1 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0026 Grim1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S433.1 m ▲dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0031 Blowy1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S443.0 m dry12°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0036 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S452.6 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0044 Blowy2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h S442.2 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0049 Fresh2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S441.8 m 0.1 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
06:0055 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h SSW441.6 m ▼0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0051 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW431.7 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
08:0048 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW431.9 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
09:0044 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW442.2 m dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
10:0040 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SSW432.5 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
11:0036 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h SSW442.9 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
12:0032 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW453.2 m ▲dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
13:0028 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW463.3 m ▲dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
14:008 Grim2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW30 km/h SW483.3 m ▲0.1 mm16°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
15:0012 Grim2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW30 km/h SW483.1 m 0.1 mm16°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
16:0032 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW472.8 m dry16°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
17:0042 Blowy2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW472.4 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
18:0047 Fresh2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW462.0 m dry16°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
19:0045 Fresh2.1 m (1.4 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW451.7 m ▼dry16°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.1 m
20:0049 Fresh2.2 m (1.4 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SW451.6 m ▼dry16°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
21:0045 Fresh2.2 m (1.5 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SW451.7 m ▼dry16°moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.2 m
22:0024 Grim2.3 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW29 km/h SW461.9 m 0.1 mm16°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.3 m
23:0020 Grim2.4 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW30 km/h SW462.2 m dry15°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.4 m
Monday, 5 October
00:0015 Grim2.5 m (1.8 swell)11 sNW33 km/h WSW462.6 m dry15°fresh breeze, dry, big sea 2.5 m

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
04:5011:2017:55
Low 04:50 · 1.4 mHigh 11:20 · 3.4 mLow 17:55 · 1.6 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° · 1.7 mSat, 3 Oct 17:30–18:30 · gentle breeze, dry, big sea 1.7 m
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Fresh · sea 15° · 2.1 mSun, 4 Oct 07:30–08:30 · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
🌊 Ballyhiernan, Fanad dip · Blowy · sea 15° · 2.4 mMon, 5 Oct 09:30–10:30 · moderate breeze, dry, big sea 2.4 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.