How to get out Sligo
Glencar Waterfall, approximately 15 km (10 mi) from Sligo
Sligo is very well located for exploring the Northwest Ireland and Lakelands area of Ireland, and the following are very easily accessible as day trips:
County Sligo.
Carrowmore, on the Knocknarea peninsula. The site of a prehistoric ritual landscape. Around 30 megalithic tombs can be seen in Carrowmore today, older than Newgrange or Knowth (in the east of Ireland) and which even predate the Egyptian Pyramids. �
Rosses Point, (Follow the R291 from Sligo). Rosses Point is a pretty little village with a beautiful golden sandy beach, perfect for families. The Atlantic Ocean is cold for swimming, but perfectly safe here �
Strandhill, (Follow the R292 from Sligo). The village itself is not as pretty as Rosses Point, but is undergoing much renovation, and has a great walking beach. NOTE, it is not safe to swim here. It is, however, a great surfing beach. �
Knocknarea Mountain (Queen Maedbh's Cairn), Strandhill (Follow the R292 from Sligo, signposted on the left). Just over 1000 ft (305 m) high, and can be climbed in 20 to 40 minutes. Fantastic views of the coast-line with a very large cairn or burial mound on the summit, which local legend says is the grave of the ancient Celtic warrior Queen Maedbh (pronounced May-v). Climbers are now requested NOT to climb on the cairn or to use the stones from the cairn due to much damage in recent years. An old local tradition has it that a climber should bring a stone from the bottom of the mountain and place it on the cairn on the top. Failure to do so, according to the legend, will result in your dreams being haunted by the Queen Maeve herself! �
Ben Bulben. Prominent table mountain, dominating the landscape to the North. Can be climbed at certain points in about 1 hour or so. It is said to be the final resting place of Diarmuid and Gráinne, the eloping lovers from the Fenian cycle of Irish mythology. �
Coney Island, (Follow the R292, about 4km on the right, watch for small finger signpost.). Said to have given its name to its better known namesake in New York City. In Irish it translates as Oilean na gCoiníní (Island of the Rabbits, Coinín means rabbit). If you're feeling adventurous, and the tide is out, you can drive across the strand to the island. Do check with locals regarding tide times, as almost every year tourists (and locals) get stuck in the sand. �
County Donegal. The forgotten county, Donegal has some of the best scenery anywhere in Ireland. It is also probably the least developed county (from a tourist perspective) in Ireland, due to it's relative isolation, and proximity to the border with Northern Ireland.
County Leitrim. The least densely populated county in Ireland, and suffered much from emigration, particularly during the 1950s to 1990s. In recent years the population has started to rise, and consequently, more development is occuring all over the county.
Glencar Waterfall, Glencar, County Leitrim (take the N16 road north from Sligo in the direction of Manorhamilton, watch for signs to the left to Glencar, approximately 15 km (10 mi) from Sligo). Beautiful waterfall in a small narrow glen, immortalised by the poet W.B. Yeats in his poem, The Stolen Child: Where the wandering water gushes/From the hills above Glencar,/In pools among the rushes/That scarce could bathe a star. �
County Mayo.
Achill Island, stunning beaches making it a family holiday favourite.
County Galway.
Galway is a thriving, bustling, university city, very popular with tourists, and well worth the 140 km (90 mi) trip down the N4/N17.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Sligo
