Pampa Point
Pampa Point is Donegal's quiet reward—a quality right-hand point break in Ireland's wild northwest that delivers excellent waves to those willing to embrace cold water and remote access. The wave breaks along a rocky point with dramatic scenery: green headlands, rugged coastline, and often not another soul in sight. The farm-track access and thick wetsuit requirements filter out casual visitors, leaving the lineup to dedicated surfers who understand that Ireland's best waves require commitment. When winter swells arrive and southeast winds blow offshore, Pampa Point is world-class.
Pampa Point surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to CFN, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Europe is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Europe — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Pampa Point trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- WNW (290°)
- Direction range
- 260° - 330°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.6m - 2.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 80° - 160°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.8m
Water temp
10°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Farm track to coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Pampa Point?
Pampa Point is a point break in County Donegal, Ireland, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at Pampa Point?
Pampa Point picks up swell from the W round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the WNW. It starts working at around 0.8m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.1m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Pampa Point?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Pampa Point, and anything from the E round to the SSE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Pampa Point?
Pampa Point is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.5m to 1.8m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Pampa Point?
The most reliable run of swell at Pampa Point comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Sep too. Winter North Atlantic swells. Cold but uncrowded.
How cold is the water at Pampa Point?
The water at Pampa Point averages around 10°C, so you'll want a 5/4mm with boots. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Pampa Point good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Rocky entry. Cold water - 5/4 wetsuit required.
How do I get to Pampa Point?
The nearest airport on our list is CFN, then it's roughly a 30-minute drive. Farm track to coast.
What other surf spots are near Pampa Point?
The closest breaks we track are Mullaghmore Head (1.3 km), Bundoran Peak (11 km) and Easkey Right (39 km), handy when Pampa Point isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Apr, Sep
Winter North Atlantic swells. Cold but uncrowded.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Mullaghmore Head
☘️ Ireland's beast • Steps meet slabs • Inflatable vests mandatory
Bundoran Peak
🇮🇪 Ireland's premier reef • A-frame peaks • Wild Atlantic Way
Easkey Right
🍀 Sligo's quality right • Handles solid size • Celtic perfection
Aileens
🦅 Beneath the Cliffs of Moher • Towering backdrop • Atlantic power
Lahinch
🇮🇪 Ireland's surf capital • Atlantic consistency • Complete town
Riley's
🎓 Aileens training ground • Cliff trek access • Often too shallow