# Sligo

> **Type:** WAW Section 2 of 7
> **Dates:** ~Aug 13–14 (2 days)
> **Recommended stay:** 2 days
> **Best for:** Yeats country, surf beaches, megalithic sites, gentler cycling

## Why Visit
Sligo is a welcome breath after Donegal's intensity — gentler terrain, excellent surf beaches, a lively town, and one of Europe's most significant prehistoric landscapes. W.B. Yeats is buried here; the mountain that dominates the horizon is on his gravestone.

## Must-See

- **Benbulben** — The dramatically flat-topped quartzite mountain that looms over everything in Sligo. Yeats is buried in the churchyard at Drumcliff at its base. You see it from everywhere — you don't need to climb it to feel its presence, but the walk to the plateau edge is rewarding.
- **Strandhill** — Atlantic surf beach 8km west of Sligo town. Good food scene (Shells Café is a local institution), a traditional seaweed bath house (Voya Seaweed Baths — book ahead), and a lively village feel.
- **Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery** — One of the largest and oldest megalithic cemeteries in Europe, predating Newgrange and Stonehenge by centuries. Around 60 passage tombs on open farmland. Small entry fee, easy walk.
- **Sligo town** — Livelier than its size suggests. Good food scene, traditional music sessions most nights in August, useful for resupply and a proper sit-down meal.
- **Enniscrone** — Long sandy beach and a Victorian bath house (Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths) with individual timber cubicles filled with hot seawater and seaweed. Extraordinary.

## Itinerary

### Day 1 — Arrive from Donegal, Benbulben, Drumcliff
Drive from Donegal (~1.5h). Stop at Drumcliff churchyard (Yeats' grave, Benbulben backdrop — the classic photo). Check in to Sligo town. Afternoon walk or cycle out to Strandhill beach. Seaweed bath if booked.

### Day 2 — Carrowmore, Enniscrone, south toward Mayo
Morning: Carrowmore (1–2h). Lunch in Sligo town. Afternoon: drive or cycle the coast south via Enniscrone (Kilcullen's Baths if not done yesterday). End the day heading toward Ballina or Westport to position for Mayo.

## EV Charging

**Situation: Reasonable.** Sligo town is well-covered; smaller villages have slow chargers.

- **Sligo town** — Multiple ESB ecars chargers including at least one fast unit; best stop in the section
- **Enniscrone** — Slow public charger; sufficient for a top-up while at the baths
- **Ballina** (south, Mayo border) — ESB charger; good staging point toward Westport

## Practical Info
- **Base:** Sligo town — central, good food, EV charging, accommodation variety
- **Getting around:** Compact and easy to drive. Strandhill is 8km from Sligo town — a quick drive or a pleasant walk along the estuary path.
- **Seaweed baths:** Book Voya (Strandhill) or Kilcullen's (Enniscrone) in advance in August
- **Currency:** Euro
- **Workation:** Good in Sligo town. Decent cafés with wifi; fine for a half-day remote session.

## Links
- [Voya Seaweed Baths, Strandhill](https://www.voyaseaweedbaths.com)
- [Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths, Enniscrone](https://www.kilcullensseaweedbaths.net)
- [Carrowmore](https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/carrowmore-megalithic-cemetery/)
- [Visit Sligo](https://www.visitsligo.ie)