Wild Atlantic Surf Escape in County Donegal, Ireland

County Donegal sits at the top-left corner of Ireland, and Bundoran has been called the surfing capital of the country for decades. The town itself is small, built around a main street of pubs, chip shops and surf shops, with several quality waves within a short drive. The Peak, Tullan Strand and Rossnowlagh are the best-known, and further afield you have Easkey and the reefs around Mullaghmore for experienced surfers. What makes this trip different from a warm-water camp is exactly what makes it memorable: you're surfing in a raw Atlantic environment with big skies, cold water, and very few other people in the lineup.

A typical day starts around 8:00 with breakfast at the accommodation. By 9:30 the group has checked the swell and wind forecast and picked a spot. You'll be in the water for a two-hour coached session, then back for lunch and a debrief. The afternoon is either a second surf, a coastal walk, or a free block depending on conditions and energy levels. Dinner is usually around 19:00, either cooked at the house or eaten in town.

Coaching is delivered by surf instructors who live and surf in Donegal year-round. They know how the banks shift after a storm and which beach works on which wind. Sessions are split by ability so beginners stay in the inside reform while improvers head to the outside sets. Video analysis is a real part of the week — you'll watch clips of yourself and get specific things to change, rather than just being told you did well.

The accommodation is a comfortable guesthouse or shared surf house a short walk from the beach, with a drying room for wetsuits — a small detail that matters a lot when everything you own is wet. Rooms are shared or private depending on what you book. There's a kitchen, a living area for evenings, and wifi.

Non-surfing hours are best spent on the coast. The Slieve League cliffs, about an hour's drive away, are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. There are long beach walks at Tullan and Murvagh, and the town of Sligo is close enough for a half-day trip. If you get a flat day, the instructors will usually swap in a coasteering or SUP session rather than cancel.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation in a surf house or guesthouse (shared or private room depending on booking) - Daily breakfast - Most dinners - Daily coached surf sessions (around 2 hours per session) - Wetsuit, boots, gloves, hood and board hire for the week - Video analysis and feedback sessions - Transport to the day's surf spot - Drying room and gear storage - Local surf guiding by resident instructors

What's not included

- Flights to Ireland - Airport transfers (can be arranged on request) - Lunches and some evening meals - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional extra activities (coasteering, SUP, excursions) - Alcohol and drinks