Dipper › Co. Donegal

Lady's Bay, Buncrana

Sufficient Quality 2025 faces WNW

🌊 Dip🏄 Surf
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Dip score now
82
Grand · gentle breeze, showers possible
Waves
0.3 m
2 s period from SW · model cell 1.7 km out
Sea
15.2°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 226 km away.
Tide
1.3 m
Low tide. Low at 16:30.
Wind
18 km/h
Gentle breeze, SSW, cross, gusts 43
Daylight
07:33
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
17:00
Grand 82/100
moderate breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.2 m · 24 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
18:00
Grand 94/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 13 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
19:00
Grand 90/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 19 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
09:00
Grand 90/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 18 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:00 ▲ 15:00 ▼ 21:40
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Grand 87/100
light winds, showers possible, calm sea · 0.0 m · 9 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Grand 82/100
light winds, showers possible, calm sea · 0.0 m · 9 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

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 16:0081 · Grandgentle breeze · showers possible
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 12:00 · 40 BlowyFri 13:00 · 33 BlowyFri 14:00 · 34 BlowyFri 15:00 · 56 FreshFri 16:00 · 81 GrandFri 17:00 · 82 GrandFri 18:00 · 71 DecentFri 19:00 · 64 DecentFri 20:00 · 76 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 71 Decent · nightFri 22:00 · 67 Decent · nightFri 23:00 · 54 Fresh · nightSat 00:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 77 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 82 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 85 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 81 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 77 Decent · nightSat 08:00 · 72 DecentSat 09:00 · 68 DecentSat 10:00 · 69 DecentSat 11:00 · 70 DecentSat 12:00 · 72 DecentSat 13:00 · 79 DecentSat 14:00 · 83 GrandSat 15:00 · 82 GrandSat 16:00 · 92 GrandSat 17:00 · 90 GrandSat 18:00 · 94 GrandSat 19:00 · 86 GrandSat 20:00 · 82 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 22:00 · 64 Decent · nightSat 23:00 · 60 Fresh · nightSun 00:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 01:00 · 55 Fresh · nightSun 02:00 · 44 Blowy · nightSun 03:00 · 65 Decent · nightSun 04:00 · 70 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 75 Decent · nightSun 06:00 · 81 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 77 Decent · nightSun 08:00 · 77 DecentSun 09:00 · 73 DecentSun 10:00 · 69 DecentSun 11:00 · 65 DecentSun 12:00 · 61 FreshSun 13:00 · 57 FreshSun 14:00 · 59 FreshSun 15:00 · 63 DecentSun 16:00 · 77 DecentSun 17:00 · 81 GrandSun 18:00 · 86 GrandSun 19:00 · 90 GrandSun 20:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 22:00 · 85 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 81 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 66 Decent · nightMon 01:00 · 72 Decent · nightMon 02:00 · 67 Decent · nightMon 03:00 · 69 Decent · nightMon 04:00 · 64 Decent · nightMon 05:00 · 69 Decent · nightMon 06:00 · 68 Decent · nightMon 07:00 · 89 Grand · nightMon 08:00 · 84 GrandMon 09:00 · 90 GrandMon 10:00 · 86 GrandMon 11:00 · 82 GrandMon 12:00 · 62 DecentMon 13:00 · 74 DecentMon 14:00 · 54 FreshMon 15:00 · 50 FreshMon 16:00 · 70 DecentMon 17:00 · 66 DecentMon 18:00 · 71 DecentMon 19:00 · 83 GrandMon 22:00 · 84 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 76 Decent · nightTue 04:00 · 58 Fresh · nightTue 07:00 · 77 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 87 GrandTue 13:00 · 68 DecentTue 16:00 · 55 FreshTue 19:00 · 77 DecentTue 22:00 · 89 Grand · nightWed 01:00 · 81 Grand · nightWed 04:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 82 GrandWed 13:00 · 68 DecentWed 16:00 · 39 BlowyWed 19:00 · 59 FreshWed 22:00 · 72 Decent · nightThu 01:00 · 70 Decent · nightThu 07:00 · 58 Fresh · nightThu 13:00 · 81 GrandThu 19:00 · 61 Fresh

Fri, 2 Oct, 16:00

81 Grand
  • gentle breeze
  • showers possible
  • calm sea
  • low tide
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.3 m18 km/h
faces 288° WNW · wind cross
Waves
0.3 m @ 2 s from SW
Wind
18 km/h SSW · gusts 43
Tide
1.4 m · low
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
16:0081 Grand0.3 m2 sSW18 km/h SSW431.4 m ▼0.4 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
17:0082 Grand0.2 m2 sSW24 km/h SW411.3 m ▼dry14°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0071 Decent0.2 m2 sSW23 km/h W401.5 m dry14°moderate breeze, onshore, choppy, dry
19:0064 Decent0.1 m2 sSW21 km/h WSW371.9 m 0.1 mm13°moderate breeze, onshore, choppy, dry
20:0076 Decent0.1 m2 sSW17 km/h WSW272.4 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0071 Decent0.1 m2 sSW14 km/h WSW222.9 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0067 Decent0.1 m1 sSW15 km/h SW223.3 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0054 Fresh0.1 m1 sSW21 km/h SW233.5 m ▲dry10°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
Saturday, 3 October
00:0068 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h W223.4 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0068 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h SW193.1 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0073 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h SW182.6 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0077 Decent0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h SSW162.0 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0082 Grand0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h S161.6 m ▼dry8°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
05:0085 Grand0.1 m1 sSW14 km/h S161.4 m ▼dry8°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
06:0081 Grand0.0 m1 sSW13 km/h S171.5 m ▼dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
07:0077 Decent0.0 m1 sSW14 km/h S171.9 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0072 Decent0.0 m1 sSW13 km/h SSE182.3 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0068 Decent0.0 m1 sSW14 km/h SSE182.8 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0069 Decent0.0 m–SW15 km/h S193.2 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0070 Decent0.0 m–SW12 km/h SSW223.4 m ▲dry11°light winds, dry, calm sea
12:0072 Decent0.1 m–SW11 km/h SW253.4 m ▲dry13°light winds, dry, calm sea
13:0079 Decent0.1 m–SW9 km/h WSW273.3 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
14:0083 Grand0.1 m1 sSW11 km/h SW283.0 m dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
15:0082 Grand0.1 m2 sSW13 km/h SW292.5 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0092 Grand0.1 m2 sSW12 km/h SSW302.0 m dry15°light winds, dry, calm sea
17:0090 Grand0.1 m1 sSW17 km/h SSW301.7 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0094 Grand0.1 m1 sSW13 km/h S271.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0086 Grand0.0 m1 sSW16 km/h SSE241.6 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0082 Grand0.0 m1 sSW19 km/h SSE281.9 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0068 Decent0.0 m–SSW20 km/h S312.2 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0064 Decent0.1 m–SSW21 km/h S332.6 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0060 Fresh0.1 m1 sSW22 km/h S352.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
Sunday, 4 October
00:0055 Fresh0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h SSE363.1 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0055 Fresh0.1 m2 sSW26 km/h S383.1 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0044 Blowy0.2 m2 sSW29 km/h S393.0 m dry12°fresh breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0065 Decent0.2 m2 sSW27 km/h S392.6 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0070 Decent0.2 m2 sSW24 km/h S392.2 m 0.1 mm11°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
05:0075 Decent0.2 m2 sSW24 km/h S381.8 m 0.1 mm12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
06:0081 Grand0.2 m2 sSW21 km/h S371.6 m ▼dry12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
07:0077 Decent0.1 m2 sSW21 km/h S371.7 m ▼0.1 mm12°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0077 Decent0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h S361.9 m 0.1 mm13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0073 Decent0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h S372.2 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0069 Decent0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h SSW372.5 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0065 Decent0.1 m2 sSW23 km/h SSW372.9 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
12:0061 Fresh0.1 m2 sSW22 km/h SSW373.2 m ▲0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0057 Fresh0.2 m2 sSW20 km/h S393.3 m ▲0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0059 Fresh0.2 m2 sSW20 km/h SW453.3 m ▲0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0063 Decent0.2 m2 sSW21 km/h SW453.1 m 0.1 mm16°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea

Where the energy comes from

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

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

Tide today

Buncrana, 1 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
288° WNW
Swell window
W 280° → WNW 290°
Exposure
Sheltered · model cell 1.7 km out
Water
Sufficient 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 Poor, 2023 Poor, 2022 Poor. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

No lifeguard listedToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 6 km · mobile

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 13 km · mobile

The Sea View Sauna (Culdaff) · Culdaff Beach car park · 26 km · fixed

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 28 km · fixed

Lady's Bay beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly confined by Buncrana pier to the South and a small rocky outcrop 550m to the North. It is one of a series of beaches along the West of Inishowen. Lady's Bay beach supports a number of different plant and wildlife species. Important wildlife species include otters and Mallard, while important plant species include Lady's fern and wood sage. Lady's Bay beach is part of The Lough Swilly SAC which is of conservation importance and contains good examples of at least four habitats listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Activities at Lady's Bay beach include swimming, boating, power boating, jet skiing and other land-based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.02633 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 550m. There is a medium gradient off Lady's Bay Beach continuing out at a medium slope before beginning to get gradually deeper until it reaches the channel.

Put Lady's Bay, Buncrana 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
🌊 Lady's Bay, Buncrana dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.2 mFri, 2 Oct 16:30–17:30 · moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Lady's Bay, Buncrana dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSat, 3 Oct 17:30–18:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Lady's Bay, Buncrana dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSun, 4 Oct 18:30–19:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea

Nearby spots

Lisfannon

4 km · Co. Donegal · Good Quality

Rathmullan

6 km · Co. Donegal · Good Quality

Lough Doo

8 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Gort Lough

8 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.