Sligo: Wandering Through Ireland’s Wild Beauty and Yeats Country

Some places in Ireland invite you in with a steady kind of magic. Sligo is one of them. The county rests between the Atlantic and a sweep of lakes, forests, and mountains, each carrying an atmosphere that’s ancient and intimate.

When you spend a few days here, you’ll quickly understand why Yeats never quite let it go. These landscapes shaped him, and they have a way of shaping our thoughts, too. Come explore the places where sea, stone, and poetry still meet.

Benbulben Forest Walk

Benbulben stands like a great wall at Sligo’s northern edge, its flat top unmistakable from miles away.

You can follow an easy loop trail at its base, where forest paths will lead you into meadows with spectacular views of the limestone cliffs.

If you walk slowly, you’ll feel the mountain watching over you. The shape of it will settle into your memory in a way that makes returning feel inevitable.

Lough Gill and the Lake Isle of Innisfree

East of Sligo Town, Lough Gill stretches out in smooth, quiet waters. Reed beds whisper along the shoreline, and quiet woodlands slip down toward the lake.

This is where Yeats found the spark for The Lake Isle of Innisfree, a poem born from the sound of the gentle waves and the promise of peace.

The stillness here is gentle and real, shaped by reeds, water, and the quiet sound of the surrounding woods.

Strandhill Beach

Strandhill is open to the Atlantic, a long sweep of surf, sand, and shifting light. You could spend the day watching the surfers gather along the promenade with their boards tucked under their arms as the tide rolls in.

Yet, even on calm days, the ocean feels powerful, full of movement and silver glints of sunlight. Be sure to walk the dunes or sit with something warm as you look out over the water. The beach offers us that rare combination of wild energy and absolute clarity.

Mullaghmore Head and Classiebawn Castle

Farther north, the headland at Mullaghmore curves toward Donegal Bay. The road loops around in a full, scenic circle, offering us views of cliffs, sea spray, and the distant outline of Classiebawn Castle rising from the fields.

On bright mornings, the headland feels wide and open. On stormy days, the waves lift and break hard against the rocks. No matter the weather, the coastline always moves with a kind of energy that never really leaves us.