Surf School in Donegal for Every Level
Beginner-friendly surf lessons on Ireland's wild Atlantic coast. Your first wave starts here.
Surf Lessons in Ireland for Every Level
A Surf School in Ireland
at the top of Donegal
Inishowen sits at the very top of Ireland, and the Atlantic arrives here with nothing in its way. That makes it a serious place to surf and, oddly, a good place to learn. Inishowen Surf School teaches every level, from the first wobbly attempt at standing up to the surfer who wants one specific thing fixed.
We run surf lessons in Ireland for adults, kids, families, groups and anyone who'd like an instructor to themselves. There are summer camps too, and days out for stag parties, hen parties, work teams and schools.
Learn to surf in Ireland
Every lesson starts on the sand. You get to know the board, find where to lie on it, practise paddling and work out how a wave actually gets caught, all before you go near the water. Then comes the bit everyone's been waiting for: getting to your feet.
That might happen first go. It might take five falls. Both are normal.
Surfing is learned by doing it. You try, see what happens, and try again. Once you're comfortable, the focus shifts to balance, choosing the right wave and staying up for longer.
Surf Lessons for Every Level
First-timers usually start with our beginner surf lessons. Grown-ups who'd like some space to be bad at something together can book adult surf lessons, and anyone bringing children should look at our kids and family surf lessons or, for older ones, the kids and teen surf lessons in Ireland page.
Friends travelling together suit group surf lessons. If you want your instructor to yourself, private surf lessons in Ireland are the way. And if you already stand up and want to get better, there's more on surf coaching and instructors.
Camps, Groups and Days Out
Summer is camp season, and our kids summer surf camp is the easiest way to keep children busy and salty for a few days. Plenty of other kids activities in Inishowen fill the gaps around it.
Stag and hen groups and work teams can book a stag, hen or corporate surf day, which makes a better story than another dinner. Teachers planning a trip should see our school group surf trips.
Where We Teach in Ireland
We're based in Inishowen, Co. Donegal, and we pick the beach on the day to suit the swell and the wind. Our page on surf lessons at Malin Head, Fanad and near Derry covers the areas we work in. The guide to the best surf spots in Donegal is worth a read if you like knowing what else is out there.
Make a Trip of It
A lesson fills a morning or an afternoon. If you're travelling to Ireland's north coast for it, our surf holidays and weekend breaks page will help you plan around it, and the guide to things to do in Inishowen covers the rest of the day. For more on dry land, see adventure activities in Donegal.
An Eco Surf School in Ireland
We teach on a coastline we'd like to keep in good shape, so looking after the beach is part of the lesson. Leave nothing behind, keep off the dunes and pick up any rubbish you spot. It shapes how we run as a sustainable surf school, and it's a big reason people look for an eco surf school in Ireland.
Book your surf lesson
Ready?
Book your surf lesson online, or buy a surf lesson gift voucher for someone who'd rather be handed the nerves than organise them.
Want to ask something first? Get in touch and we'll answer properly. You can also meet the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answers to what people usually ask before a first lesson.
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None at all. We teach total beginners and improvers, and we split the session to match what each person needs.
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You should be comfortable in the water. You'll be wearing a wetsuit and holding a board, so you're never treading water, but confidence in the sea helps.
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Summer gives the warmest weather and generally friendlier waves. The Atlantic works all year though, and a wetsuit takes care of the cold. Ask us what's running when you book.
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Swimwear, a towel, something warm for afterwards and water to drink.
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On the Inishowen coast in Co. Donegal, at whichever beach suits the swell and wind that day. See where we teach.
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Yes. A surf lesson gift voucher works for birthdays, Christmas or a nudge to a friend who keeps saying they'll try it.