(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
“Coumeenole is located at the far Western tip of the Dingle Peninsular, below the scenic Slea Head Drive. There is parking very nearby, and in summer an excellent mobile coffee shop often parks above the beach. The area has become a very popular spot on sunny summer days but for the rest of the year you'd be unlucky to find crowds of surfers in the water.
Coumeenole is a picture perfect beach, one of the finest in Ireland, and the waves are up there too. Facing southwest and very exposed to any swell from that quarter Coumeenole is sheltered from northeast, north, northwest and to some degree, even westerly winds.
It is often surprising how much of a westerly swell gets in here because it looks like it should be mostly blocked by the Blasket Islands. Somehow enough gets through. A Westerly swell of just 1.8 m and 8 seconds is about the minimum that will produce surfable waves here, at about knee to waist high but if the same size swell comes from the SW or if a 3m swell comes from the west, it will be head-high and excellent.
This makes Coumeenole a very good bet on days when west winds accompany a small to moderate west swell - a very common situation in this part of Ireland, especially in Summer. At these times, Coumeenole can be pretty much the only surfable spot in the area because most spots in Dingle are blown out in westerly wind. In a northwest wind, the contrast is even greater - head-high onshore mush at Brandon Bay versus pristine little waves here and clean and flat as a tack at Inch Reef.
Expect to find some of the clearest water in Europe and plenty of harmless marine life. Low to mid tide dishes up very peaky waves that are very easy to get into. As the tide pushes up onto the bank at the back of the bay, the waves tend to get heavier and at high tide the close out is probably best left to spongeboarders who can get little cover-ups.
Although I have never surfed here when the waves are overhead, this must happen frequently outside of summer. I have no idea whether or not the break can handle very big winter swells, which must easily exceed 10 feet here, but I have it on good account that at 6 foot it is just fine.”
Rob Davies from NEW ZEALAND - 01 Aug 2010
Coumeenole Ratings
Overall: 3.0. Based on 4 votes and 1 review. Vote
Quality on a good day: 3.7(1 star: Even when the swell and winds are optimum, the waves are poor quality, 5 stars: If conditions are right, the waves will be World Class). |
Consistency of Surf: 4.0(1: Coumeenole is a fickle surf spot that only works a few times a year. 5: Reliable year-round spot). |
Regional Rating: 3.5(1: Coumeenole is usually very poor quality compared to other spots in Kerry. 5: the best break in Kerry). |
Difficulty Level: 4.0(1: Suitable for Groms. 3: Intermediates. 5: Expert tow-in surfers only). |
Onshore Wind: 3.0(1: even a light onshore ruins the surf. 5: Coumeenole can offer better rides with a light wind behind them). |
Other Options: 4.0(1: If wind or tide conditions are poor at Coumeenole, it will be poor everywhere nearby. 5: other locations nearby provide a rich variety of wind and swell exposures). |
Wind and Kite Surfing: 3.0(1: An unsuitable spot. 5: Wind and wave conditions at Coumeenole are often excellent). |
Water Quality: 4.3(1: Known health risks from pollution. 5: Never any pollution). |
Crowds: 4.0(1: Often too crowded. 5: Coumeenole is an isolated spot where you are unlikely to meet other surfers). |
Access: 4.5(1: Getting to Coumeenole requires an overland expedition or chartering a boat. 3: A 30 minute walk from the nearest parking. 5: Park a vehicle right by the break). |
Scenery: 5.0(1: An ugly industrial backdrop. 5: A spectacular setting). |
Local Attitude: 5.0(1: Locals are hostile to visitors. 5: Either there are no locals who surf, or else they are accommodating and friendly). |
Accommodation: 3.5(1: No convenient places to stay indoors. 5: A wide variety of accommodation near Coumeenole for all budgets from hostels to luxury hotels). |
Camping: 3.0(1: Camping at Coumeenole is not possible. 3: Camping tolerated but no facilities. 5: A nearby camp ground has excellent facilities and a good vibe). |
Entertainment: 4.0(1: Besides the surf and the solitude there is nothing to do when it is flat. 5: Coumeenole is in such an interesting area to visit that getting wet is a bonus). |
Equipment and Repairs: 3.0(1: Nothing can be sourced, not even wax. 5: Quality surfing equipment can be purchased or hired. Major repairs can be fixed too). |
Eating: 4.0(1: Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop. 5: A wide variety of places to eat and drink at Coumeenole, from fast food and cafes to fancy restaurants). |
Drinking: 5.0(1: Alcohol is not allowed in the country. 5: There is an excellent pub near Coumeenole where you can stay or park a camper van overnight). |
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