Ardmore / Munster / Ireland

Not one of the most impressive surfing spots, but popular with wind and kite surfers, Ardmore is a reasonably still and serene area to enjoy watersports. The main spot for water-based activities is located at an eerie cul-de-sac of land where the one local hotel can be found. It’s certainly an adventure in the making, but it may not satisfy all your windsurfing needs.

The small bay of Ardmore allows for a variety of small pebbles, sand and occasional rocks to form the beach. The local cliffs offer a nice variation of spots to lunch and dine on, and the cleanliness is certainly better than some in the area, causing few complaints.

There are few seasonal variations at Ardmore, and for the most part, it has an almost lake-like feel to it. Occasional weeks can pass without a single identifiable wave, which makes it nigh on useless for surfers. Wind surfing is much more popular, and Ardmore can be excellent for chopless wave sailing at certain times of the year. Stormier summer days are the most gratifying, with the warm winds coming fresh from the south Atlantic.

If you are looking for seclusion, look no further. One hotel, which caters for a range of watersport needs such as storage, is all there is to work with, meaning you’ll most likely be out of luck in the high season. Looking a little further afield in Whiting Bay, some 3km west may yield better results with an option to check out this spot on a day-by-day basis.

Rip tides can be dangerous here, especially given the serene looking nature of the area. All tide levels are recommended for water-based activity, but be aware of the rips.