Dipper › Co. Donegal

Ballyhiernan, Fanad

Excellent Quality 2025 Green Coast faces N

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Surf score now
70
Decent · overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s
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
2.8 m
Falling. Low at 04:50.
Wind
23 km/h
Moderate breeze, WSW, cross, gusts 32
Daylight
07:36
Sunrise. Sunset 19:03. Air 12°C.

Best surf each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
18:00
Grand 99/100
overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, offshore wind · 1.7 m · 13 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
08:00
Grand 94/100
overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind · 2.1 m · 28 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
09:00
Decent 78/100
overhead 2.5 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind · 2.5 m · 30 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:00 ▲ 15:00 ▼ 21:40
Tue, 6 Oct
19:00
Decent 78/100
overhead 1.5 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind · 1.6 m · 14 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Grand 80/100
overhead 1.5 m, period 9 s, cross-shore wind · 1.5 m · 18 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grim 0/100
no wave data here · 9 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:10 ▲ 17:40 ▼ 23:55
Fri, 9 Oct
13:00
Grim 0/100
no wave data here · 28 km/h
▲ 05:55 ▼ 11:45 ▲ 18:05

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Sat 02:0072 · Decentoverhead 2.1 m · period 10 s
Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 8Fri 90003060912151821Sat 00:00 · 65 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 72 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 93 Grand · nightSat 04:00 · 96 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 98 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 95 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 08:00 · 79 DecentSat 09:00 · 86 GrandSat 10:00 · 83 GrandSat 11:00 · 70 DecentSat 12:00 · 63 DecentSat 13:00 · 74 DecentSat 14:00 · 77 DecentSat 15:00 · 80 GrandSat 16:00 · 83 GrandSat 17:00 · 96 GrandSat 18:00 · 99 GrandSat 19:00 · 96 GrandSat 20:00 · 93 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 90 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 87 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 84 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 81 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 81 Grand · nightSun 02:00 · 84 Grand · nightSun 03:00 · 88 Grand · nightSun 04:00 · 91 Grand · nightSun 05:00 · 95 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 99 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 96 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 94 GrandSun 09:00 · 91 GrandSun 10:00 · 88 GrandSun 11:00 · 85 GrandSun 12:00 · 83 GrandSun 13:00 · 80 GrandSun 14:00 · 63 DecentSun 15:00 · 66 DecentSun 16:00 · 69 DecentSun 17:00 · 90 GrandSun 18:00 · 93 GrandSun 19:00 · 78 DecentSun 20:00 · 81 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 78 Decent · nightSun 22:00 · 75 Decent · nightSun 23:00 · 72 Decent · nightMon 00:00 · 56 Fresh · nightMon 01:00 · 30 Blowy · nightMon 02:00 · 32 Blowy · nightMon 03:00 · 51 Fresh · nightMon 04:00 · 37 Blowy · nightMon 05:00 · 40 Blowy · nightMon 06:00 · 32 Blowy · nightMon 07:00 · 47 Fresh · nightMon 08:00 · 51 FreshMon 09:00 · 78 DecentMon 10:00 · 75 DecentMon 11:00 · 72 DecentMon 12:00 · 70 DecentMon 13:00 · 67 DecentMon 14:00 · 64 DecentMon 15:00 · 61 FreshMon 16:00 · 64 DecentMon 17:00 · 67 DecentMon 18:00 · 70 DecentMon 19:00 · 73 DecentMon 22:00 · 50 Fresh · nightTue 01:00 · 46 Fresh · nightTue 04:00 · 68 Decent · nightTue 07:00 · 79 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 71 DecentTue 13:00 · 62 DecentTue 16:00 · 53 FreshTue 19:00 · 78 DecentTue 22:00 · 77 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 71 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 61 Fresh · nightWed 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 80 GrandWed 13:00 · 73 DecentWed 16:00 · 64 DecentWed 19:00 · 68 DecentWed 22:00 · 77 Decent · nightThu 01:00 · 75 Decent · nightThu 07:00 · 0 Grim · nightThu 13:00 · 0 GrimThu 19:00 · 0 GrimFri 01:00 · 0 Grim · nightFri 07:00 · 0 Grim · nightFri 13:00 · 0 GrimFri 19:00 · 0 Grim

Sat, 3 Oct, 02:00

72 Decent
  • overhead 2.1 m
  • period 10 s
  • cross-shore wind
  • low-ish tide
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset2.1 m23 km/h
faces 353° N · wind cross
Waves
2.1 m @ 11 s from NW
Wind
23 km/h WSW · gusts 32
Tide
2.6 m · lower 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
TimeSurfWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
01:0068 Decent2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW26 km/h W363.1 m dry12°overhead 2.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
02:0072 Decent2.1 m (1.3 swell)11 sNW23 km/h WSW322.6 m dry12°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
03:0093 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW282.0 m dry11°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
04:0096 Grand2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry9°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
05:0098 Grand2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW261.4 m ▼dry10°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
06:0095 Grand2.0 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW271.5 m ▼dry10°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
07:0092 Grand2.0 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SSW281.9 m dry11°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
08:0079 Decent1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SW302.3 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
09:0086 Grand1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW12 km/h SSW302.8 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
10:0083 Grand1.9 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW293.2 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
11:0070 Decent1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h WSW303.4 m ▲dry13°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
12:0063 Decent1.8 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW18 km/h W313.4 m ▲dry14°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
13:0074 Decent1.8 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW313.3 m dry14°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
14:0077 Decent1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW15 km/h WSW313.0 m dry15°overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
15:0080 Grand1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW13 km/h WSW312.5 m dry15°overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
16:0083 Grand1.7 m (0.9 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SW312.0 m dry15°overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
17:0096 Grand1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW301.7 m ▼dry15°overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
18:0099 Grand1.7 m (1.0 swell)10 sNW13 km/h SSW291.6 m ▼dry14°overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
19:0096 Grand1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW14 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry13°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
20:0093 Grand1.8 m (1.1 swell)10 sNW15 km/h S271.9 m dry12°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
21:0090 Grand1.8 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW17 km/h S322.2 m dry12°overhead 1.8 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
22:0087 Grand1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW18 km/h S362.6 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
23:0084 Grand1.9 m (1.2 swell)10 sNW21 km/h S392.9 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
Sunday, 4 October
00:0081 Grand1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S413.1 m ▲dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
01:0081 Grand1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S433.1 m ▲dry13°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
02:0084 Grand1.9 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h S443.0 m dry12°overhead 1.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
03:0088 Grand2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S452.6 m dry13°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
04:0091 Grand2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h S442.2 m dry13°overhead 2.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
05:0095 Grand2.0 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S441.8 m 0.1 mm13°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
06:0099 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW23 km/h SSW441.6 m ▼0.1 mm14°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
07:0096 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW431.7 m ▼0.1 mm15°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
08:0094 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW431.9 m 0.1 mm15°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
09:0091 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW442.2 m dry15°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
10:0088 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SSW432.5 m dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
11:0085 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW25 km/h SSW442.9 m dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
12:0083 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW453.2 m ▲dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
13:0080 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW463.3 m ▲dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
14:0063 Decent2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW30 km/h SW483.3 m ▲0.1 mm16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
15:0066 Decent2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW30 km/h SW483.1 m 0.1 mm16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
16:0069 Decent2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW472.8 m dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
17:0090 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW472.4 m dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
18:0093 Grand2.1 m (1.3 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW462.0 m dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
19:0078 Decent2.1 m (1.4 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW451.7 m ▼dry16°overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
20:0081 Grand2.2 m (1.4 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SW451.6 m ▼dry16°overhead 2.2 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
21:0078 Decent2.2 m (1.5 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SW451.7 m ▼dry16°overhead 2.2 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
22:0075 Decent2.3 m (1.6 swell)11 sNW29 km/h SW461.9 m 0.1 mm16°overhead 2.3 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
23:0072 Decent2.4 m (1.7 swell)11 sNW30 km/h SW462.2 m dry15°overhead 2.4 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
Monday, 5 October
00:0056 Fresh2.5 m (1.8 swell)11 sNW33 km/h WSW462.6 m dry15°overhead 2.5 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind

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 surf 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 surf · Grand · sea 15° · 1.7 mSat, 3 Oct 17:30–18:30 · overhead 1.7 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
🏄 Ballyhiernan, Fanad surf · Grand · sea 15° · 2.1 mSun, 4 Oct 07:30–08:30 · overhead 2.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
🏄 Ballyhiernan, Fanad surf · Decent · sea 15° · 2.5 mMon, 5 Oct 08:30–09:30 · overhead 2.5 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind

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.