Strandhill beach (skyscape)

Strandhill is a coastal town in County Sligo.

Understand

Strandhill is a surfing mecca and attracts hundreds of people a year to one of the best surfing beaches in Ireland. While main beach is an excellent strand the water is generally considered dangerous and not suitable for swimming.

Get in

By bicycle

Urban Cycle Sligo route 001 links Sligo to Strandhill.

By road

Strandhill is accessible via the R472 road from Sligo or by the R292 from just north of Ballysadare if approaching via the N4 or N59 from the south.

By bus

The 472 bus from Sligo operates hourly during the day. The journey time is about twenty minutes.

By plane

Sligo airport is only suitable for those with a private pilot's license or willing to charter an aircraft. West of Ireland Knock is the nearest airport with scheduled passenger flights. Distance from Knock airport is approximately 60km with a drive time of one hour, there may be some workable but limited bus connections via Sligo early in the day.

• 1 Sligo Airport (SXL  ^IATA). Small general aviation airport with no scheduled passenger flights.  

Get around

The town is small enough that it is easy to walk around and see everything. The roads are well serviced and the pathways near the beach are maintained.

See

• 1 Killaspugbrone Church (Facing the main beach, turn right and walk towards the airport. A small gate will lead through a fence and near the airport runway. It is perfectly legal to walk near the runway as long as no planes are flying in. Follow the well-beaten path and you will see the church in the distance.). This small church dates back to the 12th century, perhaps earlier. Legend has it that Saint Patrick lost a tooth near the site and the church was erected in the area in his honor. Around the church is an old overgrown cemetery used by the residents of near-by Coney Island up until the 1960s. A fence borders the church but intrepid adventurers have bypassed it and walked around inside. This is not recommended as the church is very old and not exactly structurally sound.  

Do

• 1 Strandhill Surf School, Beach Front, ☏ +353 71 916-8483, strandhillsurfschool@gmail.com. Offers courses ranging from beginning to advanced, also children's lessons. 

Buy

• 1 Strandhill Peoples Market, Hanger 1, Sligo Airport. sun: 11am-4pm. Sunday and Christmas Market (updated Nov 2017)

Sleep

• Strandhill Lodge, Shore Road, ☏ +353 71 916-8313, info@strandhillaccommodation.com. Lodge accompanying the surf school. Package deals available. Budget; from €16 (dormitory) to €25 (ensuite). 

Go next

• Sligo
• Ballymote