Description
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This Sligo stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way brings stunning scenery. The coastal route brings you along nice coastal towns, beautiful picturesque harbours,....
It's a great opportunity to learn about Sligo's history where women gathered seaweed along Sligo's shoreline, where William Butler Yeats visited the coastal town of Rosses Point,..... |
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The waypoints
Enniscrone pier
Did you ever hear about the legend of the black pig? It is said that a wild boar appeared from the sea, killing anyone who touched its poisonous bristles. Even after the people of Inishcrone chased it out of town and killed it, its bristles were still deadly. They hastily buried it. Even year during the summer, the town celebrates the Black pig Festival, an event filled with music, song, family events,...
Bathing with a difference... Housed in a "fortress", the cliff baths opened its doors in 1850 at the end of the promenade. A pool was chiseled out of the cliff face to hold the water when the tide went out. Once the tide came back in, fresh water replenished the pool. The kids called it carb pool because it was a great location to catch crab when they were trapped by the tide. From 1912, a different experience was offered to bathers where the water was heated and seaweed was added. There are still seaweed baths in Enniscrone, so experience the benefits of a hot soak in a seaweed bath.
Bathing with a difference... Housed in a "fortress", the cliff baths opened its doors in 1850 at the end of the promenade. A pool was chiseled out of the cliff face to hold the water when the tide went out. Once the tide came back in, fresh water replenished the pool. The kids called it carb pool because it was a great location to catch crab when they were trapped by the tide. From 1912, a different experience was offered to bathers where the water was heated and seaweed was added. There are still seaweed baths in Enniscrone, so experience the benefits of a hot soak in a seaweed bath.
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Easky pier
The Atlantic delivers some of the best surfing conditions nearby Easky castle and has been attracting surfers from across the world. With its sandbars, long beaches and offshore reefs, the Sligo coast is famous for surfing. Wild Atlantic storms funnel massive swells into Sligo Bay which south westerly winds whip up further. What sets Easky apart is that its wave break over rock rather than sand. its to reef breaks produce hollower, faster waves. There is the chance to ride the tube inside the barrel of the breaking wave. On stormy nights, waves battered Rosslea castle, the west Sligo O'Dowd clan's stronghold by the pier. The highest part of the 15th Century tower house is known as the sailor's bed.
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Aughris
Listen to the sound of the Atlantic. In spring, the cliffs are noisy with nesting seabirds. The kittiwake takes its name from its distinctive call. The wing tips from this gentle-looking gull looks like they have been dipped in paint. Listen to the waves as they rush through the slice in the rock, known as Coragh dTonn 'Coffin of the waves' into an underground cave. After winter storms, the boom of the waves can be heared for miles around.
Seaweed from the ocean.... women sang as they gathered seaweed along the Sligo coast. This cold, wet work added to the family income as food or fertiliser to spread on the fields. Farmers in the now deserted village of Aughris harvested seaweed until the early 20th Century.
Seaweed from the ocean.... women sang as they gathered seaweed along the Sligo coast. This cold, wet work added to the family income as food or fertiliser to spread on the fields. Farmers in the now deserted village of Aughris harvested seaweed until the early 20th Century.
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Strandhill
Strandhill boasted 9 seaweed baths in the early 20th Century. An ordinary bath is filled with hot water and seaweed, steam treated to release its nutrients. Soaking in a seaweed batch is said to soothe aches and pains, relieve stress and promote healing.
The village of Strandhill is overlooked by Knocknarea. A huge pile of stones on the summit of Knocknarea marks the grave of Medbh, the legendary warrior queen of the west. She was supposedly buried standing upright facing her enemies in full battle gear with spear in hand.
The village of Strandhill is overlooked by Knocknarea. A huge pile of stones on the summit of Knocknarea marks the grave of Medbh, the legendary warrior queen of the west. She was supposedly buried standing upright facing her enemies in full battle gear with spear in hand.
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Rosses Point
William Butler Yeats, Arguably Ireland's finest poet, and his artist brother Jack spent boyhood holidays in Rosses Point in the 1870's. Their Uncle, Henry Middleton owned Elsinore House and several other relatives lived nearby.
Elsinore House was once a smuggler's haunt with a tunnel running under it to the sea. The sea and the scenery provided a lifetime's inspiration for the boys.
Off the coastline is the metal man. Dressed as an officer of the royal navy, he stands 4.3 meters high and weights 6.3 tonnes. He has pointed to a safe, deep channel keeping mariners safe since 1821.
Elsinore House was once a smuggler's haunt with a tunnel running under it to the sea. The sea and the scenery provided a lifetime's inspiration for the boys.
Off the coastline is the metal man. Dressed as an officer of the royal navy, he stands 4.3 meters high and weights 6.3 tonnes. He has pointed to a safe, deep channel keeping mariners safe since 1821.
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Streedagh
"A sea up to heaven", that is how Fransisco De Cuellar, a captain on the Spanish Armada ship La Lavia, described the mountainous seas of Streedagh beach in 1588. After failing to invade England, the retreating Armada had run into storms off the Irish coast. Three ships were blown towards Streedagh beach, breaking up within an hour. Over 1000 men drowned and the English slaughtered 140 survivors, too weak to escape.
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Mullaghmore
Mullaghmore brings you scenery that needs to be seen. Standing tall is Classiebawn castle with Benbulben as a backdrop. Mullaghmore is world-renowned for its huge swells during the winter. These swells bring in the best big wave surfers from across the world.
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