Walk · Co. Sligo
Benbulbin
Benbulbin is a 526 m table mountain in the Sligo country, characterized by a flat top and a sheer face. It is the peak referenced in Yeats’s poetry and serves as the primary hiking destination for the area.
The beach
Strandhill is built around the surf. The beach faces north-west, catching swell from the south-west through to the north. That exposure makes it one of the most consistent breaks in the country. When the swell sits between one and four feet, the water works for shortboards and longboards alike. Local surf schools operate on the sand, and a National Surf Centre sits at the north end. The County Sligo Surf Club is based above the seaweed baths.
Swimming is off the table. The currents are strong, and this is a surfing beach, not a bathing one. The village has produced a generation of Ireland’s top surfers, which explains the gear shops and the crowd on the sand.
The village
Strandhill sits on the Coolera Peninsula. The old name is Ros Dragnige. With a population of about two thousand, it functions as a proper village rather than a strip of holiday lettings. You'll find pubs and cafés along the seafront. The Strandhill People’s Market runs on Sundays at Sligo airport.
Two landmarks stand out. Dolly’s Cottage is a 200-year-old thatched cottage, open to the public. VOYA Seaweed Baths offers Victorian-style baths filled with seaweed, just off the seafront. The beach is one of the county’s Wild Atlantic Way discovery points. The sunset from the sand, with Benbulbin filling the horizon, is the photograph the place is known for.
The walks
Sligo Head marks the west end of the village. From the beach, the coastal path runs south to Culleenamore. Benbulbin stays on your left for the full length. The Killaspugbrone Loop takes you around the coast beyond.
The climb to Benbulbin itself starts from the village. The standard walk is a full day from the car park at the foot of the climb. Plan accordingly.