Loughros point, Ireland
Also within 20 km of Ardara
- Maghera beach Surf spot · 7.4 km from Ardara
- Muckros Surf spot · 20 km from Ardara
Watch this spot We email you when Loughros point is worth the trip.
About Loughros point
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (299°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (119°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up, because of a steep sea floor. It works in 3–12 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 100 m out (1 in 8). 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 August, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually March, April, May and June, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ardara, 9.3 km away (about 20 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 13°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 15 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Dublin Airport (DUB), direct. About 26 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → DUB · Skyscanner from about £370 returnAdGetting there. 4 h from the airport to Loughros point.
Accommodation.
Stay in ArdaraAd
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 Ardara (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Ardara 16 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 14 places to stay · where Loughros point stays
Places to stay in Ardara · Booking.com AdDonegal 56 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 25 places to stay
Places to stay in Donegal · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Ardara · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Ardara · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
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Luxury Where it is
Loughros point on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Loughros point does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 29, poor | 5 ft9 shollow | 392kJ | wind from the south, 8 knots | 11°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft11 shollow | 1,362kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 5 knots | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft10 shollow | 799kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 16 knots | 12°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 11 ft9 smushy | 1,756kJ | wind from the north-west, 19 knots | 10°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft9 shollow | 1,015kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 9 knots | 11°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft9 smushy | 832kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 22 knots | 10°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, too big | 10 ft10 shollow | 1,737kJ | wind from the south, 11 knots | 11°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 15, poor | 4 ft13 smushy | 637kJ | wind from the west, 19 knots | 10°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 13 ft10 smushy | 2,610kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 19 knots | 12°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft7 shollow | 400kJ | wind from the south, 14 knots | 10°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 by road. About 15h 50 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- 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 0 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 by road. About 15h 50 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Ardara each day: Loughros point, Maghera beach.
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 Ardara
- Caspian pizzaPizza · 0.3 km from the centre
- Taj Indian & European restaurant & takeawayPizza · 0.3 km from the centre
- Top PizzaPizza · 0.3 km from the centre
- The Courthouse RestaurantIrish · 0.2 km from the centre
- The Gatsby House Experience - ArdaraBreakfast and brunch · 0.3 km from the centre
- Whatcha McCollum's0.3 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
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