Strandhill Beach Guide: One Of The Best Surf Spots In The West

Strandhill Beach sits on the Coolera Peninsula, around 10 minutes west of Sligo town, and it’s one of the most recognisable stretches of coastline in the county.

This is an Atlantic-facing surf beach with heavy swell and permanent rip currents. Swimming is not safe here, and never has been.

If you’re planning a dip, skip Strandhill and head to one of the many other beaches in Sligo.

If you want waves, space, and a long coastal walk with good food close by, it’s a very different story.

About Strandhill Beach

Although a visit to Strandhill Beach in Sligo is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Strandhill lies at the base of Knocknarea, a short spin from Sligo town. It’s an easy drive and well signposted once you’re off the main road. The beach runs along the edge of the village, so everything is within a few minutes’ walk.

2. Parking

Parking is free on the seafront, however, it can be difficult to find a spot (especially at the weekends or on fine days). There is some parking at the promenade and there’s another car park up the main road (which should take you less than a 5 minute walk to get back to the beach).

3. NO SWIMMING

Do not swim here. The rip currents are strong and unpredictable, even on calm-looking days.

4. Surfing

Strandhill Beach is one of the best places to go surfing in Ireland. The beach is northwest- facing which means it picks up all that good quality swell from southwest to north. You’ll find info below on surf schools.

Things to do at Strandhill Beach

So, while you can’t go swimming on Strandhill Beach, there’s still plenty to see and do if you’re visiting the town.

From coffee and sweet stuff to pints and food with a view of the waves, here are some of our favourite things to do when visiting this beach.

1. Kick-start your visit with something tasty

Before you do anything else, sort food or coffee. Shell’s sits right on the beachfront and is my go-to stop here.

It’s been open since 2010 and is set up perfectly for visitors heading out to explore, good coffee, proper food, and quick service even when it’s busy.

Mammy Johnston’s Ice Cream is next door and has been part of Strandhill for nearly a century. If the weather’s decent, you’ll see a queue. It’s usually worth joining it.

Related read: Check out our guide to the best accommodation in Strandhill (with something that’ll suit most budgets)

2. Take surfing lessons from one of the many surf schools

If you’d like to try surfing in Strandhill, you’ve your pick of surf schools to choose from, some of which have been operation for well over 10 years.

If you’ve never hit the waves before, don’t worry – each surf school in Strandhill offers beginner lessons, tailored to suit those that have never surfed before. 

Below, you’ll find a handful of surf schools to check out:

• Strandhill Surf School
• Sligo Surf Experience
• Rebelle Surf

3. Grab a pint from the Strand Bar and soak up the views

There are plenty of great restaurants in Strandhill if you fancy a feed and The Strand Bar is one of our favourites. You’ll find it a few minutes walk from the beach and it has been in operation since way back in 1913.

The food here is excellent but the Guinness, in our opinion, steals the show. If you arrive when it’s fine, you can sip a pint out back while watching the waves roll in.

When the sun sets, the bar really springs to life, especially on a Wednesday when it’s Trad music night or on weekends when there’s live music. 

4. Or stretch the legs on the Knocknarea Walk

The Knocknarea Queen Maeve Trail is one of the best walks in Sligo. This is a short but steep hike to a 327 m summit overlooking Strandhill, Sligo Bay, and much of north-west Ireland.

Expect a 1.5–2 hour return walk, clear paths, exposed conditions near the top, and a strict no-climbing rule at the cairn.