Sitting beneath Knocknarea Mountain on the edge of the Atlantic, Strandhill is one of the liveliest coastal villages in County Sligo. It's famous for surfing, but you definitely don't need a surfboard to enjoy it. There are coastal walks, cafés, restaurants, seaweed baths, mountain trails and huge views across Sligo Bay towards Benbulben. And because Strandhill is only around 8km from Sligo Town, it's incredibly easy to visit.

There is, however, one really important thing to know before you arrive: do not swim at Strandhill Beach. The beach has extremely dangerous rip currents, and Sligo County Council states clearly that swimming is forbidden. Strandhill is a surfing beach, not a swimming beach. For a proper sea swim around Sligo, nearby Rosses Point is a much better option.

Strandhill is located on the Strandhill Peninsula in County Sligo, around 8km west of Sligo Town. Its Irish name is An Leathros, which loosely translates as 'the half promontory'. The village sits directly beneath Knocknarea and faces west towards the Atlantic. That location gives Strandhill one of the best combinations of mountain and coastal scenery in Sligo — you can literally spend the morning climbing Knocknarea and the afternoon sitting beside the sea.

Surfing is what really put Strandhill on the map. Sligo County Council describes it as one of the country's major year-round surfing destinations, while Discover Ireland highlights the range of local schools for both beginners and experienced surfers. Strandhill is also home to the National Surf Centre, which provides changing areas and hot showers and acts as a base for surfing activities in the village. If you've never surfed before, this is exactly the kind of place to try it — book a lesson, use proper equipment and go with qualified instructors.

Strandhill sits directly beneath Knocknarea, one of the most distinctive mountains in Sligo. The mountain rises to roughly 327 metres, with the huge stone cairn known as Queen Maeve's Cairn dominating its summit. From the top you'll get fantastic views across Strandhill, Sligo Bay, Coney Island, Rosses Point, Benbulben and, on clear days, much farther towards Donegal. It's one of the best short mountain walks in the northwest.

The main route onto Knocknarea is the Queen Maeve Trail. Discover Ireland currently lists the trail as approximately 2.3km, around 2 hours, with 300 metres of ascent and a strenuous grade. The path includes gravel trail, steps, woodland and a raised bog bridge. It's well developed, but don't confuse that with easy — you're still climbing a mountain. At the summit is the enormous cairn known as Misgaun Maeve, dating to around 3000 BC. Do not climb on the cairn or remove stones.

If Knocknarea sounds a little energetic, Strandhill has an excellent coastal alternative. The Killaspugbrone Loop starts from the northern end of the Strandhill seafront promenade and runs approximately 6.8–7km, around 2 hours, with only around 30 metres of ascent. The route passes through dunes, salt marsh, woodland and coastline before looping back into Strandhill. One of the highlights is the ruined Killaspugbrone Church, with early Christian associations and a wonderful setting beside the coast.

Strandhill is also famous for its seaweed baths. VOYA Seaweed Baths sits right beside the seafront and continues a wellness tradition that has existed along Ireland's Atlantic coast for generations. The experience involves a steam treatment followed by a private bath filled with hot seawater and hand-harvested seaweed. There's also a VOYA sauna experience in the village. After climbing Knocknarea, this suddenly starts sounding like a very sensible idea.

One of the reasons Strandhill works so well as a day trip is the food. The village has built a really strong collection of cafés, bakeries, restaurants, pubs and food trucks. Discover Ireland specifically highlights Strandhill's cafés, pubs and restaurants as one of the rewards after walking Knocknarea or the coastal trails. You could easily come here purely for lunch and a walk along the promenade — no surfing required.

Stay into the evening if the weather allows. Strandhill faces west towards the Atlantic, making it a fantastic sunset location. On a clear evening, the sky can light up behind the surf while Knocknarea darkens behind the village. Grab a coffee or something to eat, walk the promenade and let everyone else begin the drive home first. There are worse ways to spend an evening in Sligo.

Between Strandhill and Sligo lies Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, one of Ireland's most important prehistoric landscapes. That makes it a brilliant addition to a Strandhill day — Carrowmore first, then Knocknarea. Suddenly the huge Neolithic cairn on the summit makes much more sense within the wider ancient Sligo landscape. The S2 bus connects Strandhill with Sligo Town and continues through to Rosses Point, making a car-free day entirely possible.