Murvagh, Ireland
Also within 20 km of Donegal
- Rossnowlagh Surf spot · 12.8 km from Donegal
- Tullan Strand Surf spot · 20 km from Donegal
Watch this spot We email you when Murvagh is worth the trip.

About Murvagh
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (252°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (72°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 5–20 ft of swell. 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). The town to stay in is Donegal, 6.4 km away (about 15 min by car).
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 10 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. 3 h 20 from the airport to Murvagh, 219 km.
Accommodation.
Stay in DonegalAd
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 Donegal (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Donegal 11 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 25 places to stay · where Murvagh stays
Places to stay in Donegal · Booking.com AdRossnowlagh 11 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 10 places to stay
Places to stay in Rossnowlagh · Booking.com AdBundoran 28 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 39 places to stay
Places to stay in Bundoran · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Donegal · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Donegal · GetYourGuideAd
Where it is
Murvagh on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 22, too small | 4 ft9 s | 203kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 4 knots | 12°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 52, good | 6 ft11 s | 661kJ | offshorewind from the east, 7 knots, offshore | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 26, too small | 4 ft10 s | 342kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 11 knots | 13°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 16, too small | 6 ft10 s | 576kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 13 knots | 10°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 46, fair | 6 ft9 s | 419kJ | offshorewind from the east-south-east, 6 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 8, too small | 5 ft9 s | 361kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 17 knots | 9°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 45, fair | 7 ft9 s | 860kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 7 knots | 10°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 3, too small | 2 ft14 s | 154kJ | wind from the west, 18 knots | 11°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 17, poor | 8 ft10 s | 1,045kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 20 knots | 11°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 9, too small | 3 ft10 s | 170kJ | wind from the south, 10 knots | 9°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. 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 expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 3h 20 by road. About 15h 10 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 4 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 19 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Murvagh
Best 16:00 to 19:00 local time: 6 ft at 9 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 10 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Murvagh
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 7 ft at 9 s, wind 7 kn (14 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to DUB, then 3h 20 by road. About 15h 10 door to door
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 Donegal
- Apache Pizza DonegalPizza · in the centre
- Market House RestaurantSteakhouse · in the centre
- The Napoli Express Donegal TownItalian · in the centre
- Blazers Burger Bar & GrillBar and grill · 0.1 km from the centre
- Chandpur Indian Restaurant DonegalIndian · 0.1 km from the centre
- La Bella Donna RestaurantItalian · 0.1 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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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.