I had a lovely weekend out and about in Sligo, and it was so enjoyable I thought I’d tell you about it. I had no real plan on Saturday morning other than to see where the road took me. The weather wasn’t great, but if I let the weather dictate what I did, I wouldn’t do much at all.
I ended up at the Benbulben Forest Walk. At 8am I had the place to myself, which suited me perfectly. I didn’t get very far because the heavens opened and I got absolutely drenched. The path was already starting to flood before the downpour arrived.
The little stream that runs through the forest was almost completely dry, so at least the rain was welcome from its point of view.
I took a small detour to the egg honesty box, which I still think is the prettiest honesty box in Ireland.
Breakfast was calling, and I was delighted that Pink Clover opened at 9.30am. It’s such a gorgeous café beside Drumcliffe Church and Yeats’ Grave. I always say hello to WB when I’m there. I had porridge for breakfast, and it was delicious as always.
My next stop was Rathcormac Market. I bought a Pepperoni & Mozzarella Stromboli Pizza from Stevo’s – one of my favourite lunches, when I manage not to eat it before I get home. I also bought a candle from Spark of Soy and spent about 20 minutes smelling every scent before making up my mind.
I popped into Windy Shore Crafts, which I’ve written about before. I picked up some granola from Maddy’s Sweet Treats. I really miss her cakes at the market, but there were no cake stalls on Saturday – probably just as well for my non-existent waistline. I also bought a grounding oil that smells gorgeous.
I called into Open Door Gallery and Studio to admire the beautiful artwork. There are some incredibly talented people exhibiting there.
More than anything, I enjoyed the chats at Pink Clover and Rathcormac. It’s important to me to feel welcome when I visit places, and I really did.
My final stop of the day was Feeney’s Garden Centre. I was looking for a particular plant that I’ve had no luck finding so far. It’s probably just as well because I spotted another plant the following day that I’d never seen before and now want even more.
Sunday was much quieter. I visited Skreen and one of the Secret Gardens of Sligo. It’s such a lovely initiative, with people opening their gardens on certain days to raise money for local charities.
I really enjoyed my visit. The garden was stunning, with incredible views of Benbulben and Knocknarea, and it was full of beautiful planting. I didn’t know anyone there, so I skipped the tea afterwards, and it was quite busy too. The midges, however, seemed delighted to see me and made sure I didn’t leave without plenty of bites.
The visit did leave me with a new obsession though – I now really want a Chilean Lantern Tree.
On the way home, I took another little detour and visited a holy well. It was my first time seeing it, and it was beautiful. The local women’s group has done amazing work preserving it, and it’s well worth a visit.
So that was my weekend in a nutshell. Forest walks, markets, gardens, good food, plenty of chats, a few impulse purchases, and a couple of new places discovered along the way. Exactly the kind of weekend I enjoy most.
magnumlady.com 
Leave a comment