County Sligo: Coast, Megaliths and Experiences

County Sligo combines striking coastal locations with monuments thousands of years old, walking trails and local markets. By the sea, there are various ways to enjoy the water and the coastline; inland, discoveries lead to prehistoric tombs and historic sites. You can tailor your stay to the experiences that interest you most.

Coast and water activities

Streedagh Beach is a 3 km-long sandy beach connecting Streedagh Point with Connor’s Island. Sand dunes and an estuary shape the landscape; both are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. The coastal waters offer surfing and windsurfing, while stand-up paddleboarding takes place in the sheltered estuary. These different water activities give families and other travellers several ideas for a day at the beach.

Mullaghmore Head is a well-known surf spot in County Sligo. If you would rather explore the coast on foot, there is also a coastal walking route there. In Strandhill, Sligo Surf Experience offers group and one-to-one lessons for beginners and newcomers. This means there are different ways to engage with surfing: a well-known surf spot and lessons in Strandhill.

Boat trips are another possible coastal experience. Enniscrone Boat Tours departs from Enniscrone Pier and offers RIB safaris as well as one- and two-hour boat trips. There are also half-day and full-day sea safaris in Killala Bay. The different formats give you a concrete reference point when deciding whether a shorter trip or a longer safari better suits your day’s plans.

Discover megaliths and history

Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs. More than 30 surviving monuments are almost 6,000 years old. Carrowkeel offers a different insight into megalithic history: the site includes tombs that are more than 5,000 years old and may be explored by visitors. Please do not climb on or damage the tombs.

Sligo Abbey adds another historic stop. The Dominican priory has extensive surviving medieval remains of the church, sacristy and chapter house. The Spanish Armada Visitor Centre at Streedagh Beach displays recovered artefacts and immersive exhibitions about the wreck and its sole survivor. Prehistoric burial sites, a medieval priory and exhibitions about the history of a shipwreck offer different topics for visitors interested in culture.

Lissadell House & Gardens is located on the shore of Sligo Bay in the north of Sligo and was the childhood home of Countess Markievicz. Visitors can use the woodland trails and walking paths there. If you also enjoy getting around on foot during your stay, you can include these paths alongside the coastal routes and the walking route at Mullaghmore Head when considering possible experiences.

Landscape and local food

At the foot of Benbulben, there are trails and small roads where you can explore the mountain landscape. Coney Island also offers a special point to consider when planning your day: at low tide, you can reach the island from Rosses Point via a 5 km-long causeway, by car or on foot. Low tide is explicitly a condition of the access described here.

The Sligo Food Trail is a network of more than 70 food-related businesses from County Sligo. The trail also includes four weekly arts, crafts and food markets. This adds a local perspective on food and markets to days spent at the beach, on trails or at historic sites.

When choosing a holiday rental in County Sligo, you can start by asking yourself which themes you want to shape your stay: the coast and water sports, prehistoric and medieval history, walking paths or local food. These priorities can help you focus your search on a suitable base without having to commit to just one kind of holiday.

Places in County Sligo

More places to help plan your trip: Sligo, Inishcrone, Castlebaldwin, Streedagh, Tobercurry, Ballygawley, Collooney, Ballisodare, Aclare, Riverstown, Tiratick, Grange, Ballymote, Mullaghmore, Cloghboley, Lavagh, Templeboy, Strandhill, Ballaghnatrillick, Gorteen, Drumcliff, Carney, Derrybeg, Cloonacool, Cliffony, Easky, Curry, Geevagh, Barroe, Derry and Ballinphull.

For the broader travel overview: Connacht.