Drive to Clonakilty town and follow the signs to Inchydoney for another 2km. Park on the headland infront of the Hotel. Surf both sides of the headland. Beware of the channels on a dropping tide. Also sandbars further down the beach on both sides of the headland.
Inchadony consists of a long beach with up to 6 peaks and breaks of various directions and quality. In general any peak in front of the hotel/point is a mellow longboarder / beginners delight, often needing more paddle power to catch than it looks. Sometimes there are really good long right-handers to the right of the point for lovers of the long ride home! Over near the sandbar it's more hollow with a pretty fast left hander being produced on long interval swells that can pitch, requiring a good take off. However it's mostly bigger/better at Castlefreke on those kinds of swells. The crowd factor is beginnning to become an issue with up to 50 surfers and kayaks in the water on some Sundays.Car park is full during the summer due to the hotel. The winter offers the best surf conditions. The hotel has good hot chocolate afterwards. Lessons available for beginners during the summer. Ask for Colm or Aidan. Access from the rocks has to be timed well during big swell.
Overview
Atmosphere
The beach holds many waves on many differen conditions. The standard of surfing is improving and the atmosphere is chilled. Make eye contact and chat away. Clonakilty is especially good. De Barra's is a cracking pub with great music. Watch Noel Redding play every Friday night or any other music every night. Well cool. Meet the local surfers and all sorts of parties await you in the town. Ask for Murphy's stout and not Guinness. When you've surfed Inchydony then there are 3 other beaches to check. Ask the local crew. Sound welcome here.
General
Can be very good. On average a longboarder would be in their element here. Long rides and easy sections. The sandbars are escpecially good for shortboarders.
Inchy
Nice beach. Quite messy most of the time. Some good days. I've surfed around 6ft waves off the beaches and once saw 8-10ft(!!!!). Friendly locals, if you're at the line up, they'll give you waves. The beginners are all over the place though. It's getting quite cold there. Do NOT forget your booties.Happy surfing.
comment by Itchy Boner, 2006-08-28 19:22:06
rubbish
If you like weak, foamy waves with no discernable banks then you will enjoy it here. Absolute rubbish 360 days of the year. It takes a massive swell with plenty of South in it plus a N wind to get things going here which may only happen 5-10 days in the winter. Then add the fact that you have only 7 hours of daylight in winter and 4m tides here your chances of scoring even average waves here are low.
comment by Local # 8000000111, 2006-05-22 17:58:48
OK break
Fun beach break on its day. Unfortunately only works on strong(ish) SW swell, and the banks are a bit all over the place some of the time. Waves are weakish, so leave your shortboard at home unless the swell is above 3.5m SW @ 12 sec. Longboarding is fun in front of the hotel.
comment by Eddy, 2006-10-17 19:57:43