Home >
Ireland >
Sligo Holiday Cottages
From the rugged mountains to the picturesque lakes with their wooded islands, Sligo is a delight. Like many parts of Ireland, it carries constant reminders of a rich and fascinating past and also boasts a varied and contrasting landscape. Sligo holiday cottages offer an alternative to standard holiday accommodation and allow visitors to discover the true character and charm of Ireland. See below for more details.
As is typical with Ireland's western reaches, Sligo's coastline has an abundance of excellent beaches. These are popular with surfers who flock from far and wide to visit the shores of Strandhill, Rosses Point and Enniscrone.
The wonderful scenery found throughout the county inspired the likes of Yeats who wrote of the 'land of heart's desire'. The dramatic landscape is also punctuated by countless monuments which illustrate a rich and diverse history. Sligo Abbey is one of the most notable and is a Dominican Friary dating from 1252 - it houses the oldest high altar in an Irish Monastic church.
Notable places to visit include Hazlewood Forest Trail and its scenic path as well as the 17th century Parkes Castle, which is reached by cruise boat. Culkin's Emigration Museum also offers a poignant reminder of Irish history and exhibits the trials and tribulations of emigration. You can book Sligo holiday cottages and weekend breaks through the site featured after this guide.
Sligo self catering attractions and amenities
The county of Sligo is an ideal venue for cottages holiday makers looking for a relaxing holiday . Mountains dominate the landscape, it has two beautiful loughs – Gill and Glencar - and is said to possess some of the best surfing beaches in Ireland.
Outdoor Activities
There are aplenty of outdoor adventures to be enjoyed in this wild and mountainous area with its beautiful coastline. Strandhill has an excellent surfing beach and is also a good base for coastal walks. The
Perfect Day Surf School offers instruction for all ages and levels of ability. For the less energetic, The Wild Rose at Innisfree operates a water bus which cruises Lough Gill and gives you an opportunity to visit the lake isle made famous by the poem by W.B. Yeats.
At Streedagh Strand, try Island View Stables and go horse riding on the fantastic beach. And for pure relaxation, go to
Kilcullen’s Bath House in Enniscrone and step into a bath of seaweed, followed by a steam in a cedarwood cabinet, said to alleviate arthritic and rheumatic pain. Open times are May-October 12.00 - 21.00 and November to April 12.00 - 20.00.
Food and drink
Restaurants in County Sligo are reasonably priced and many of the pubs offer bar food, snacks and sandwiches. Killoran’s Coffee Shop on Main street in Tubberdcurry serves breakfast and lunch and The Crossbar in Gurteen serves meals in the evening. At Ballymote try The Millhouse, moderately priced and modern which also serves breakfasts. The
Beach Bar in Aughris offers a variety of seafood dishes and also has lively music sessions in the summer months.
History and Culture
Two miles west of Sligo is Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery where you can see some thirty passage tombs - it is the largest prehistoric graveyard in Europe. Pick up a stone and make a wish as you place it on Medb’s Cairn, a huge burial mound in the Knockarea Mountains. The town of Sligo became prominent in the 13th century after the Anglo Norman invasion of Connacht.
And the Dominican Friary, known as the Abbey was founded in 1250, burned down in 1412 and subsequently rebuilt. Parke’s Castle is another interesting site and was built in 1620 near Sligo. It has amazing views of the lough from the battlements and is open from March - October, 10.00 - 18.00.