Days Out NI
Water sports Portrush

Portrush Surf School

Book a beginner surf or paddleboard lesson on the Portrush coast, kit and instructor included.

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SeasonalWarmer months; weather-, tide- and swell-…
TicketedPer person
PortrushWater sports
Get directionsOfficial website
TicketedCost
Warmer months;…Season
Beginners welco…Best for
Beach by Portru…Launches
NearbyParking

Portrush Surf School — Book a beginner surf or paddleboard lesson on the Portrush coast, kit and instructor included.

  • What you can do: Group and private surf lessons, family sessions, kids' surf camps, bodyboard lessons, SUP and sunset paddleboard.
  • Public access: Open to the public — book a lesson online or by phone/email.
  • Booking: Essential.
  • Age / ability: Beginners welcome; basic swimming confidence sensible. Minimum age varies by lesson — check with the operator.
  • Kit provided: Wetsuit and board supplied.
  • Season: Warmer months; weather-, tide- and swell-dependent.
Plan your visit

Lessons for first-timers and improvers

Group surf lessons are built around beginners, with a full two hours of water time spent in waist-depth water and the dry time covering safety and technique. Sessions run morning (10:00-13:00) and afternoon (14:00-17:00). Beyond standard group surf you can book private one-to-one coaching, family sessions, kids' surf camps, bodyboard lessons and stand-up paddleboard sessions including a sunset paddle. Wetsuits and boards are supplied, and qualified surf instructors run every session alongside RNLI beach lifeguards. A basic level of swimming confidence and water comfort is sensible for any surf or SUP lesson, and minimum age varies by lesson, so confirm the right session for your child with the school when you book.

Surf lessons SUP & bodyboard Kit provided Beginners welcome Book ahead Portrush harbour
Good to know before you go:

Operators like this run kids' summer surf camps, taster sessions, SUP and seasonal sessions through the warmer months. Sessions are weather- and tide-dependent, so check their own pages for current dates, bookings and prices.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🩱Swimwear & a warm layerWear your togs under easy clothes; most places provide wetsuits.
  • 🧺A change of clothes & a towelYou WILL get wet — dry clothes for after are a must.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will be hungry after all that paddling and splashing.
  • 🎫Your bookingLessons and hire usually need booking ahead — have it ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
Surf, bodyboard and SUP school (book a lesson)
What you can do
Group and private surf lessons, family sessions, kids' surf camps, bodyboard lessons, SUP and sunset paddleboard
Public access
Open to the public — book a lesson online or by phone/email
Booking
Essential
Age / ability
Beginners welcome; basic swimming confidence sensible. Minimum age varies by lesson — check with the operator
Kit provided
Wetsuit and board supplied
Season
Warmer months; weather-, tide- and swell-dependent
Cost
Check current prices
Launches from
Beach by Portrush Yacht Club, harbour area
Parking
Around Portrush harbour and town
Address
Portrush Yacht Club, Harbour Road, Portrush, BT56 8DF
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Essential
How much is it?
Check current prices
When does it run?
Warmer months; weather-, tide- and swell-dependent
Getting there

Portrush Surf School launches from Beach by Portrush Yacht Club, harbour area. Around Portrush harbour and town. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around PortrushSee what else is close by More water sports across NISurf, sail, kayak, SUP and more
The story

About the operator

Portrush Surf School is one of the longest-established surf schools on the North Coast, based at Portrush Yacht Club in the harbour and headed by Martin 'TK' Kelly, an 11-times Irish National Champion. It is Northern Ireland's official Billabong-sponsored surf school.

Group lessons are supervised by RNLI beach lifeguards alongside qualified surf instructors, with a focus on getting beginners safely up and surfing in waist-depth water.