Dipper › Co. Donegal

Downings

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag faces NNW

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
23
Grim · fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore
Waves
1.1 m
12 s period from NW · model cell 3.6 km out
Sea
14.9°
Fresh. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 246 km away.
Tide
3.8 m
High tide. Low at 16:30.
Wind
30 km/h
Fresh breeze, S, offshore, gusts 46
Daylight
07:35
Sunrise. Sunset 19:06. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
17:00
Decent 71/100
gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m · 1.1 m · 19 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:40
Sat, 3 Oct
19:00
Decent 76/100
light winds, dry, waves 0.9 m · 0.9 m · 12 km/h
▼ 04:55 ▲ 11:05 ▼ 17:40 ▲ 23:50
Sun, 4 Oct
19:00
Decent 65/100
moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m · 1.0 m · 28 km/h
▼ 06:00 ▲ 12:30 ▼ 19:20
Mon, 5 Oct
19:00
Fresh 51/100
moderate breeze, showers possible, waves 1.1 m · 1.1 m · 20 km/h
▲ 01:25 ▼ 07:30 ▲ 14:05 ▼ 20:45
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Decent 67/100
light winds, showers possible, waves 1.3 m · 1.3 m · 12 km/h
▲ 03:00 ▼ 09:10 ▲ 15:30 ▼ 22:00
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Decent 78/100
gentle breeze, rain, low tide · 18 km/h
▲ 04:05 ▼ 10:10 ▲ 16:30 ▼ 22:45
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Decent 74/100
gentle breeze, showers possible · 13 km/h
▲ 05:00 ▼ 11:05 ▲ 17:15 ▼ 23:40

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 11:0024 · Grimfresh breeze · offshore, flatter inshore
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 09:00 · 46 FreshFri 10:00 · 17 GrimFri 11:00 · 24 GrimFri 12:00 · 33 BlowyFri 13:00 · 34 BlowyFri 14:00 · 42 BlowyFri 15:00 · 58 FreshFri 16:00 · 64 DecentFri 17:00 · 71 DecentFri 18:00 · 56 FreshFri 19:00 · 62 DecentFri 20:00 · 47 Fresh · nightFri 21:00 · 53 Fresh · nightFri 22:00 · 22 Grim · nightFri 23:00 · 36 Blowy · nightSat 00:00 · 41 Blowy · nightSat 01:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSat 02:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSat 03:00 · 65 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 70 Decent · nightSat 05:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 06:00 · 74 Decent · nightSat 07:00 · 64 Decent · nightSat 08:00 · 59 FreshSat 09:00 · 54 FreshSat 10:00 · 50 FreshSat 11:00 · 48 FreshSat 12:00 · 52 FreshSat 13:00 · 56 FreshSat 14:00 · 60 FreshSat 15:00 · 65 DecentSat 16:00 · 69 DecentSat 17:00 · 69 DecentSat 18:00 · 74 DecentSat 19:00 · 76 DecentSat 20:00 · 65 Decent · nightSat 21:00 · 57 Fresh · nightSat 22:00 · 52 Fresh · nightSat 23:00 · 48 Fresh · nightSun 00:00 · 45 Fresh · nightSun 01:00 · 33 Blowy · nightSun 02:00 · 54 Fresh · nightSun 03:00 · 42 Blowy · nightSun 04:00 · 63 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 67 Decent · nightSun 06:00 · 56 Fresh · nightSun 07:00 · 68 Decent · nightSun 08:00 · 57 FreshSun 09:00 · 53 FreshSun 10:00 · 49 FreshSun 11:00 · 44 BlowySun 12:00 · 40 BlowySun 13:00 · 40 BlowySun 14:00 · 44 BlowySun 15:00 · 48 FreshSun 16:00 · 52 FreshSun 17:00 · 56 FreshSun 18:00 · 45 FreshSun 19:00 · 65 DecentSun 20:00 · 47 Fresh · nightSun 21:00 · 58 Fresh · nightSun 22:00 · 54 Fresh · nightSun 23:00 · 49 Fresh · nightMon 00:00 · 29 Blowy · nightMon 01:00 · 24 Grim · nightMon 02:00 · 25 Grim · nightMon 03:00 · 29 Blowy · nightMon 04:00 · 34 Blowy · nightMon 05:00 · 38 Blowy · nightMon 06:00 · 43 Blowy · nightMon 07:00 · 48 Fresh · nightMon 10:00 · 47 FreshMon 13:00 · 31 BlowyMon 16:00 · 38 BlowyMon 19:00 · 51 FreshMon 22:00 · 62 Decent · nightTue 01:00 · 44 Blowy · nightTue 04:00 · 42 Blowy · nightTue 07:00 · 55 Fresh · nightTue 10:00 · 67 DecentTue 13:00 · 48 FreshTue 16:00 · 39 BlowyTue 19:00 · 52 FreshTue 22:00 · 71 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 57 Fresh · nightWed 04:00 · 56 Fresh · nightWed 07:00 · 63 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 78 DecentWed 13:00 · 57 FreshWed 19:00 · 50 FreshThu 01:00 · 53 Fresh · nightThu 07:00 · 64 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 74 DecentThu 19:00 · 59 Fresh

Fri, 2 Oct, 11:00

24 Grim
  • fresh breeze
  • offshore, flatter inshore
  • showers possible
  • waves 1.1 m
  • high tide
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset1.1 m30 km/h
faces 340° NNW · wind offshore
Waves
1.1 m @ 12 s from NW
Wind
30 km/h S · gusts 46
Tide
3.7 m · high
Air
13°C · 0.4 mm rain

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
10:0017 Grim1.2 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW29 km/h SSE443.8 m ▲0.2 mm13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
11:0024 Grim1.1 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW30 km/h S463.7 m ▲0.4 mm13°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
12:0033 Blowy1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW24 km/h SSE463.3 m 1.6 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
13:0034 Blowy1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW21 km/h S452.7 m 2.1 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
14:0042 Blowy1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW23 km/h SSW432.1 m 1.0 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
15:0058 Fresh1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SSW411.5 m 0.4 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, waves 1.1 m
16:0064 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW27 km/h WSW431.1 m ▼0.1 mm13°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
17:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW19 km/h W421.1 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
18:0056 Fresh1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h WSW431.4 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
19:0062 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SW401.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
20:0047 Fresh1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h WSW342.5 m dry11°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
21:0053 Fresh1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW333.0 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
22:0022 Grim1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW30 km/h W323.4 m ▲dry11°fresh breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
23:0036 Blowy1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h W313.5 m ▲dry11°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0041 Blowy1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW23 km/h W303.3 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
01:0055 Fresh1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW282.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
02:0055 Fresh1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW13 km/h SW252.3 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
03:0065 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW11 km/h SSW241.7 m dry10°light winds, dry, waves 1.2 m
04:0070 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW10 km/h SSW231.3 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, waves 1.2 m
05:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW10 km/h SSW251.2 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, waves 1.1 m
06:0074 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW10 km/h SW271.4 m ▼dry11°light winds, dry, waves 1.1 m
07:0064 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW281.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
08:0059 Fresh1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW16 km/h WSW272.3 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
09:0054 Fresh1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW15 km/h WSW262.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
10:0050 Fresh1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW16 km/h WSW263.4 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
11:0048 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW19 km/h WSW283.6 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
12:0052 Fresh1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW293.5 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
13:0056 Fresh1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SW303.2 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
14:0060 Fresh0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SW312.8 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
15:0065 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SW312.2 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
16:0069 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SSW321.7 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
17:0069 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW20 km/h SSW321.4 m ▼dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
18:0074 Decent0.8 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW311.3 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
19:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW12 km/h SSW291.5 m dry14°light winds, dry, waves 0.9 m
20:0065 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SSW311.9 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
21:0057 Fresh0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW21 km/h SSW352.3 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0052 Fresh0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SSW392.8 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0048 Fresh0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW413.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0045 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW433.2 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0033 Blowy1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW29 km/h SSW453.1 m ▲dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0054 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW452.8 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0042 Blowy1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SSW462.4 m dry14°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0063 Decent1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW471.9 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0067 Decent1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW471.6 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
06:0056 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW29 km/h SSW481.4 m ▼0.1 mm15°fresh breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0068 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW471.5 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
08:0057 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW461.8 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
09:0053 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SW462.2 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m

Where the energy comes from

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

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

Tide today

Tory Island (modelled), 23 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:40
Low 03:55 · 0.9 mHigh 10:05 · 3.8 mLow 16:30 · 1.1 mHigh 22:40 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
340° NNW
Swell window
W 270° → NE 50°
Exposure
Bay · model cell 3.6 km out
Water
Excellent Quality · Blue Flag

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

Lifeguard: YesToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead (Dogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of the beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June to 15th September). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.)

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 4 km · fixed

Cocoon Sauna · Portnablagh Pier, Dunfanaghy · 6 km · fixed

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 14 km · mobile

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 23 km · mobile

Downings beach consists of a sandy beach in Sheephaven Bay that is confined by Downings pier to the west and a small headland called Maslack to the South. There is a sea cave in the Maslack headland that is exposed at low tide. The Peninsula comprises an excellent variety of coastal habitats including high rock cliffs, offshore islands, sand dunes, salt marshes, a large intertidal bay and rocky shingle and sandy beaches. These habitats support a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation. Activities at Downings beach include swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, power boating, jet skiing (outside the designated area), diving and other land based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.273km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 687m. There is a very shallow gradient off Downings Beach with the water depth reaching 1m approx. 50m from the water line and gradually getting deeper.

Put Downings 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
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 1.1 mFri, 2 Oct 16:30–17:30 · gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 0.9 mSat, 3 Oct 18:30–19:30 · light winds, dry, waves 0.9 m
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 1.0 mSun, 4 Oct 18:30–19:30 · moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m

Nearby spots

Rosapenna Lake

1 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Marble Hill

4 km · Co. Donegal · Excellent Quality

Lough Solomon

5 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Lough Naposte

5 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.