There are places that you visit, and places that stay with you. Sligo, The Wild West of Ireland, tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and Ireland’s myth-soaked mountains, is the latter for sure.
It’s a land of poetry and peaks, sea spray and sheepdogs, ancient cairns and cold‑water surfing with seaweed bathing chucked in for good measure.
At the heart of it all sits Temple House. This 1,000-acre estate feels like stepping into another century. You can even stay overnight—how amazing is that!
If you’re craving a long weekend that blends rugged adventure with slow, soulful luxury, Sligo delivers in every direction.
Arriving in Ireland’s Wild West: Sligo
Touching down at Ireland West Knock Airport, you’re just 30 minutes from Sligo’s rolling fields and dramatic coastline.
Direct flights from London Heathrow make it an easy escape. You can leave the city at breakfast and be sipping coffee in Sligo before lunch.
That’s the pure joy of travelling from the UK to Ireland, you’re never that far away for a quick visit!
Stay overnight in a Sligo country manor castle at Temple House
Your base in Sligo? Temple House, part country manor, part living museum, part wilderness retreat.
Think roaring cosy fires, antique-filled rooms, and views that stretch across green fields to the ruins of a Knights Templar castle.
And the incredible service and hospitality were put on perfectly by the family owners.
And don’t forget the Guinness on tap, And delightful full Irish breakfasts ready to greet you in the morning.
Day One: Sheepdogs, Poetry & Oysters by the Sea
Your Sligo story begins with brunch at Pink Clover Café, a bright, modern spot serving colourful plates and excellent coffee.
It’s the perfect fuel for what comes next: the Atlantic Sheepdogs Experience.
Watching nine border collies work in perfect synchrony with their shepherd is nothing short of mesmerising.
A dance of instinct, whistles, and centuries-old tradition set against the backdrop of Benbulben’s iconic cliffs.
A short drive away lies Drumcliffe Parish, the final resting place of W.B. Yeats.
His famous epitaph, “Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by,” feels even more powerful when read in the quiet of this ancient monastic site.
By mid-afternoon, you’re standing at the water’s edge for the Sligo Oyster Farm Experience, a guided tour that ends with oysters, cheese, and wine overlooking Knocknarea and the bay. Fresh, briny, unforgettable.
Sligo town invites a gentle wander: artisan shops, riverside strolls, and a creative energy that hums beneath its historic streets.
Dinner at The Glasshouse Hotel brings modern Irish cuisine with panoramic views of the River Garavogue.
And if your timing is right, the Cannonball Supercar event might roar through town, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and a festival atmosphere that lights up the evening.
Day Two: Kayaks, Seaweed Baths & Queen Maeve’s Mountain
Morning breaks with a paddle. Sligo Kayak Tours takes you through calm estuaries or along the coastline, depending on the weather.
Herons, reeds, and mirror‑still water create a kind of quiet you didn’t know you needed.
Lunch at Honestly Farm Kitchen in Strandhill is wholesome, organic, and deeply satisfying, the kind of meal that tastes like it came straight from the earth.
Then comes one of Sligo’s most iconic experiences: A seaweed Bath at Voya Seaweed Bath.
In a private mountain-view room, you sink into warm water infused with wild Atlantic seaweed.
Your skin tingles, your muscles melt, and Knocknarea watches over you through the window.
Speaking of Knocknarea, the afternoon is for climbing it.
With North West Adventures, you take the forest route to the summit, where Queen Maeve’s cairn stands guard over Sligo Bay.
The views are sweeping, wild, and worth every step.
End the day back at Temple House with a nightcap by the fire, wrapped in velvet armchairs by the fire.
Day Three: Surf, Castles & Caves
Your final morning begins with a full Irish breakfast at Temple House, homemade soda bread, locally sourced sausages, rashers of bacon and the kind of hospitality that makes you feel at home (Even in a castle!).
Before leaving, wander the estate’s Knights Templar castle ruins, where ivy climbs ancient stone and history feels close enough to touch.
History comes to life on these grounds.
Then it’s off to Strandhill for a surf lesson with David Mulcahy at Strand Hill surf school.
Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or wobbling on your first wave, the Atlantic gives you a thrill you won’t forget.
Afterwards, warm up with coffee and a snack at Shells Café, a beloved beachside spot.
The afternoon brings craft beer and conversation at The White Hag Brewery, where a new taproom is taking shape.
And before you say goodbye to Sligo, there’s one last adventure: a hike to the Caves of Keash, ancient limestone caverns perched high above the countryside.
It’s the perfect final chapter, myth, landscape, and a view that’s perfect to end your trip to Sligo with.
Why Sligo is a great place to visit in the West of Ireland?
Sligo is a place of contrasts. Wild yet welcoming, ancient yet alive, rugged yet deeply restorative.
The Wild West of Ireland is a region where you can surf in the morning, soak in seaweed by afternoon, and sip whiskey by a castle fire at night.
And Temple House? It ties it all together, a sanctuary for adventurers who love muddy boots as much as they love old-world charm (Be sure to say hello to all the dogs in residence!).
If you’re craving a trip that feeds your soul, awakens your senses, and leaves you changed in the best way, then Sligo is the place calling for you.
Thank you for reading my blog post about Sligo, West Ireland
Thank you for passing by and reading my blog post about Sligo in the West of Ireland.
I hope you’ve found it to be useful and helps towards your own trip planning.
Have an amazing time exploring Sligo and the West of Ireland.
This trip was put together in collaboration with TBEX and Visit Sligo.
