Till Mueller
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IoM Aug 7-9, Belfast Aug 9-10, all WAW dates shift 1 day earlier. New 06i-wicklow.md: Glendalough, upper lake walk, Powerscourt on drive to Dublin. Cork Aug 27, Wicklow Aug 28-29, Dublin Aug 30 morning. Updated all section date headers, WAW overview table, README.
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Sligo
Type: WAW Section 2 of 7 Dates: ~Aug 13–14 (2 nights) 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.