Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

206 BACK ROADS IRELAND

9 Strandhill
Co Sligo
This small seaside resort, overlooked
by the brooding Knocknarea
Mountain, is a popular surfing
destination. The beach is unsafe
for swimming (it is prohibited), but
the strands are great for leisurely
walks in both directions – at low
tide it is possible to walk over
Dorrin’s Strand to Coney Island.
The village has a surf club, two surf
schools and a challenging 18-hole
links golf course. It is also home to
the Voya spa, which specializes in
Ireland’s only indigenous therapy –
seaweed baths (open daily; book in
advance in summer 071 916 8686;
www.voyaseaweedbaths.com).
ª Leaving Strandhill, keep to the
right at the Y-junction at the pink
church. There is a sign for Ballysadare
Above Fishing at Rosses Point Above top and Carrowmore. Continue along the
right An open fire in the Strand Bar, Strandhill 8 Rosses Point R292 until a left turn signposted for
Above right Native seaweed, used as a spa Co Sligo Knocknarea. Park in the car park.
treatment at the seaweed baths at Strandhill After the bustle of Sligo, drive out to
and Enniscrone the quiet peninsula of Rosses Point, 0 Knocknarea
ideal for a relaxing beach walk. The Co Sligo
village has pubs and restaurants and This enormous cairn atop
at the end of the peninsula there are Knocknarea is 55 m (180 ft) in
beaches, sand dunes, an 18-hole diameter and 10 m (33 ft) high.
links golf course and a yacht club. According to folklore, it was built
In the harbour stands the “Metal as a burial place for the legendary
Man”, a giant statue of a sailor, Queen Maeve (Medbh in Irish), an
pointing ships safely into the channel Iron Age queen. She is supposed
for Sligo. Oyster Island and Coney to have been buried standing up, in
Island are both visible from here. full battle uniform. Archaeologists
ª Retrace the route back into Sligo. believe the cairn actually dates from
Take the R292 at the bus and train around 3000 BC, much earlier than
station, for Strandhill, about 8 km the legend suggests. Maeve’s cairn
(5 miles) from Sligo. In Strandhill, park is a 45-minute walk from the car
in the seafront car park. park. On a clear day there are fine

WHERE TO STAY AROUND
BALLYSADARE
Castle Dargan expensive
Set in 170 acres of mature landscape,
this hotel also has an 18-hole golf
course which was designed by golfer
Darren Clarke and a spa with a
hydrotherapy pool and oxygen bar.
From the N4, take the R284 exit and
follow signs to Ballygawley. Castle
Dargan is on Dromahair Road; 071 911
8080; www.castledargan.com Above Surfers on the beach at Strandhill, one of Ireland’s best beaches for surfing
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under €100; moderate, €100–€200; expensive, over €200

202-209_Back_Roads_Ireland.indd 206 11/09/17 11:38 am