Aileens, Ireland
Also within 20 km of Doolin
- Doolin point Surf spot · 1.5 km from Doolin
- Crab Island Surf spot · 2.2 km from Doolin
- Lahinch Surf spot · 9.7 km from Doolin
- Lahinch Left Surf spot · 10.1 km from Doolin
- Barrtrá Surf spot · 11.1 km from Doolin
- Fanore Surf spot · 12.6 km from Doolin
- Cream point Surf spot · 17 km from Doolin
- Spanish Point Surf spot · 19.1 km from Doolin
Watch this spot We email you when Aileens is worth the trip.
About Aileens
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (279°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (99°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 50 m out (1 in 7). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 9°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in July, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 1 good days in 7; in June and July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Doolin, 5.4 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 15 h 55 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. ORD to DUB, direct. About 26 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → DUB · Skyscanner from about £370 returnAdGetting there. 4 h 05 from the airport to Aileens.
Accommodation.
Stay in DoolinAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Doolin (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Doolin 10 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 61 places to stay · where Aileens stays
Places to stay in Doolin · Booking.com AdLahinch 15 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 20 places to stay
Places to stay in Lahinch · Booking.com AdSpanish Point 27 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 10 places to stay
Places to stay in Spanish Point · Booking.com AdFanore 32 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 5 places to stay
Places to stay in Fanore · Booking.com AdDoonbeg 51 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 1 places to stay
Places to stay in Doonbeg · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Doolin · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Doolin · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Aileens on Google Maps · Directions
The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.
One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 51, good | 4 ft8 shollow | 233kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 2 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft11 shollow | 958kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft10 shollow | 626kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 17 knots | 12°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft10 smushy | 1,572kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 18 knots | 12°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft9 smushy | 1,290kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 13 knots | 12°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 6, poor | 4 ft11 smushy | 375kJ | wind from the north-west, 23 knots | 11°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft9 shollow | 1,609kJ | wind from the south, 24 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 10, too small | 3 ft11 smushy | 167kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 34 knots | 12°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 11 ft9 smushy | 1,989kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 20 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 9, poor | 5 ft10 smushy | 373kJ | wind from the west, 27 knots | 11°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 4h 05 by road. About 15h 55 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Doolin point
Best 16:00 to 19:00 local time: 6 ft at 10 s, wind 12 kn (23 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 19 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 4h 05 by road. About 15h 55 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Doolin each day: Aileens, Crab Island, Doolin point.
Rough cost
About £1,115–£2,055 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to DUB, estimated from distance and season, 3 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £370–£770 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £110–£180 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £260–£430 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £95–£155 |
| Total | £1,115–£2,055 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Doolin
- Russells Seafood BarSeafood · 0.2 km from the centre
- The Ivy CottageSeafood · 0.7 km from the centre
- Anthony's at Doolin Inn0.3 km from the centre
- The Riverside Bistro0.4 km from the centre
- Oar Restaurant0.6 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.