What is there to see in County Sligo?

County Sligo has Benbulben mountain, the grave of W. B. Yeats at Drumcliff, Lough Gill and the surf beach at Strandhill. Sligo town has a museum and an arts centre. The coast west to Enniscrone has long beaches and small villages, and the mountain roads give wide views over the county.

Is Sligo town a good base for exploring County Sligo?

Yes. Sligo town has the widest choice of accommodation and the best transport links in the county. It is close to Benbulben, Drumcliff and Lough Gill, and within easy reach of Strandhill and Enniscrone by car or bus. Trains and buses also connect it with Dublin and other towns, which helps if you arrive without a car.

How do I get to County Sligo without a car?

Trains from Dublin Connolly run to Sligo town, and buses connect Sligo with other towns in the region. Local buses serve Strandhill and Enniscrone, but they are not frequent, so plan around the timetable. Check the current times with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann before travelling, as services change through the year.

Can I climb Benbulben?

Benbulben is on private land and the summit is not open to the public. Walks in the area include the path to the base of the mountain and the forest trails near Glencar. Check with the National Parks and Wildlife Service for access advice before setting out, and keep to marked routes where they exist.

Where can I surf in County Sligo?

Strandhill is the main surf beach, with surf schools and board hire in the village. Easkey, further west, also has a surf beach. Conditions vary with the tide and wind, so check the forecast from Met Éireann before travelling, and ask a local school about currents and the best state of the tide for your level.

What is the connection between Sligo and Yeats?

The poet W. B. Yeats spent childhood holidays in Sligo and used its landscape in his poetry. He is buried at Drumcliff, at the foot of Benbulben. The area around the mountain and Lough Gill is known as Yeats country, and the name appears on road signs and in guidebooks across the north of the county.

Is there a Gaeltacht in County Sligo?

No. The Gaeltacht areas are in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Meath. Irish is spoken in Sligo but it is not a Gaeltacht area. Road signs are mostly in English, with Irish names on some, and Sligo itself is Sligeach in Irish.

What is the weather like in County Sligo?

Sligo has a mild, wet climate. Rain is possible in every month, and the west coast is wetter than the east. Summers are cool and winters mild. Bring waterproof clothing and check the forecast from Met Éireann before a walk or a day on the beach, as showers can move through quickly.

How many days should I spend in County Sligo?

Two or three nights based in Sligo town or Strandhill allows time for Benbulben, Drumcliff, Lough Gill and the coast. Add a day for walking or surfing. A car helps to reach the more remote beaches and villages, though buses serve the main ones if you plan around the timetable.

County Sligo: Benbulben, Yeats and the coast

County Sligo sits on the Atlantic coast in the province of Connacht. The flat-topped mountain of Benbulben stands over the north of the county, and the coast runs west from Sligo town to Enniscrone, with surf beaches and small harbours along the way.

Mountain and coast

The north of County Sligo is dominated by Benbulben, a table-topped mountain of limestone and shale that rises sharply from the fields. It is part of the Dartry Mountains, which run east into County Leitrim. The mountain is best seen from the north, along the road between Grange and Sligo town.

South of the mountain, the land falls away to Sligo town and the wide estuary of the Garavogue River. The town sits where the river meets the sea, with Lough Gill just inland to the east. The lake holds several small wooded islands.

West of the town, the coast turns sandy. Strandhill faces the Atlantic with a long beach and a headland at Killaspugbrone. Further west, the shoreline runs past Easkey to Enniscrone, where a broad beach backs onto the village. Inland, the land is farmland and bog.

An aerial view of Sligo, featuring a historic church, colorful buildings, and a distant mountain under an overcast sky — Benbulben from the north, County Sligo

Yeats country

The poet W. B. Yeats spent much of his childhood in Sligo and drew on its landscape throughout his work. The area around Benbulben, Lough Gill and the villages to the north is often called Yeats country, and the name is used on road signs and in guidebooks.

Yeats is buried in the churchyard at Drumcliff, a village at the foot of Benbulben on the main road north from Sligo town. The grave is marked with a simple headstone bearing the words he chose for it. The churchyard also holds a high cross and the remains of a round tower.

Lough Gill, east of Sligo town, is the setting for the poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree. The small island of Innisfree lies in the lake and can be seen from the shore road. Boat trips on the lake run in season, weather permitting.

The grave at Drumcliff is in an active churchyard. Check opening times with the Office of Public Works before visiting.

Sligo town

Sligo town is the county town and the main base for visitors. It has a compact centre with shops, cafes and pubs, and a river walk along the Garavogue. The town is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes.

The Sligo County Museum holds material on Yeats and the history of the county. The Model arts centre has a gallery and a theatre. Both are in the town centre and are open to the public, though hours vary.

Sligo is a good base for the north of the county, including Benbulben and Drumcliff, and for Lough Gill. It also has the widest choice of accommodation and the best bus links to other towns.

Strandhill and the surf

Strandhill is a village on the coast about 8 kilometres west of Sligo town. It has a long sandy beach that faces the Atlantic swell, and it is one of the main surf spots in the northwest. Surf schools operate from the beach in season, and boards can be hired in the village.

The beach is backed by dunes and a promenade. At the southern end, a low headland runs out to the ruins of Killaspugbrone church. The walk to the headland gives views back over the beach and across to Benbulben, and it is short enough for an evening.

Strandhill also has a seaweed bath and a few places to eat. It is a popular base for surfers and for walkers, with accommodation in the village and nearby. The village is close enough to Sligo town for an evening out, and buses run between the two.

Surf conditions change with the tide and wind. Check the forecast from Met Éireann and ask a local surf school about currents.

Brown cows grazing peacefully on green pastures by the ocean in Sligo, Ireland — Strandhill beach, County Sligo

Enniscrone and the west

Enniscrone is a seaside village in the west of the county, near the border with County Mayo. It has a long sandy beach and a promenade, and it is a traditional holiday spot. The beach is backed by low dunes.

The village has a seaweed bath and a few shops and pubs. It is quieter than Strandhill and makes a good base for the western end of the county and for day trips into Mayo.

Inland from Enniscrone, the land is farmland and bog. The village of Easkey, between Enniscrone and Strandhill, has a surf beach of its own and a ruined castle by the river.

Getting around

Sligo town is on the main road and rail routes between Dublin and the northwest. The N4 runs from Dublin to Sligo, and the railway line from Dublin Connolly serves Sligo town. The journey takes about three hours by train.

Bus services link Sligo town with Strandhill, Enniscrone and other villages, but they are not frequent. A car gives more freedom to explore the coast and the mountain roads. Traffic drives on the left.

The nearest airport is Ireland West (Knock), about an hour's drive south. Dublin Airport is about three hours by road. Car hire is available in Sligo town and at the airport.

Timetables for trains and buses change. Check with Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann before travelling.

Where to base yourself

Sligo town is the most practical base for a first visit. It has the widest range of accommodation, the best bus and rail links, and is within easy reach of Benbulben, Drumcliff and Lough Gill. Strandhill is a short drive or bus ride away.

Strandhill suits surfers and walkers who want to be by the sea. It has a handful of places to stay and eat, and the beach is on the doorstep. It is less convenient for the north of the county.

Enniscrone is a good choice for a quieter seaside stay in the west, with a long beach and easy access to County Mayo. For a rural stay, the villages around Benbulben and Lough Gill have guesthouses and self-catering cottages.