Ten Photos of beautiful Sligo

Sligo is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Ireland. This baffles me because we fell in love with the place after coming here on holiday 32 years ago. So much so that we moved over from the UK the following year. To show you just how beautiful it is I thought I post some of my photos.

The photo at the top of the post was taken in Ballincar almost opposite the Radisson Blu Hotel. Dunmoran Strand is the beach in the image above, one of the many beaches in Sligo you’ll find it after Skreen and you can also walk to Aughris from it.

Not only does Sligo have beautiful beaches it also has stunning lakes, above is Lough Gill. It’s so easy to see how the poet W. B. Yeats got his inspiration when you look around you. You can drive around Lough Gill and it’s well worth doing this and stopping off at Slish Wood, Dooney Rock and the Isle of Innisfree too.

When the light is right even something as simple as a field of cattle can look pretty special. This one was taken at Aughris Head – another stunning place with a fantastic cliff walk and check out the Beach Bar thatched pub too.

Sligo isn’t just a summer destination either, in fact Winter is probably my favourite season to photograph. The photo above is my ‘famous’ one! I should have retired after it! It was taken at the Gleniff Horsehoe – one of my favourite places in Sligo. Harrison’s in Cliffoney is the place to eat here – just fab.

Milk Harbour is just down the road from Gleniff, it’s also in North Sligo – a little road off the main N15 will bring you down there. It’s well worth a visit.

Mullaghmore is between Gleniff and Milk Harbour – a gorgeous place. Park up the car and go on the looped walk to see Classiebawn Castle. For something to eat check out Eithna’s by the Sea – one of the many award-winning Sligo restaurants.

Rosses Point is another beautiful place along the Wild Atlantic Way in Sligo. Not one, not two but three sandy beaches all in one place as well as a golf course and so much more. Harry’s Gastro Pub is the spot for dinner here. Not just great food but a pub with a well in the middle of it!

Visit Queen Maeve’s Cairn on top of  Knocknarea Mountain. Enjoy some of the most wonderful scenic views when you walk up Knocknarea, bring a stone for Maeve as it’s said to bring good luck. Nearby Strandhill is a must visit too. You’ll be spoilt for choice with food here, The Venue for lunch or dinner, Shells – a lovely seaside cafe or Mammy Johnson’s if ice cream is your thing. Also Voya Seaweed baths is a must do too.

Of course I had to include a photo of Benbulben. This is Ireland’s answer to ‘Table Mountain’ and as I drive into Sligo town it comforts me to see the sight of this beautiful mountain. You can climb it, and I’ve climbed with Northwest Adventure Tours, you can read about that here. If you are looking for a gentler walk, I can recommend the Gortarowey Looped Walk though around the base of it.

It was hard to keep this post to just ten photos but hopefully this might inspire you to visit some of these places or maybe encourage those of you who might not have thought of Sligo as a holiday destination to think again.