Walking is a great way to build up an appetite, especially with all of the wonderful restaurants and food experiences we have here in Sligo. This week we team up with Sligo Food Trail to see what is available locally which incorporates two of our favourite pastimes – walking and eating!
Neantóg
Herbalist and naturopath Gaby Wieland leads regular forages around the Sligo countryside, teaching people what food can be found in the wild. Next Saturday August 11th, Gaby will lead a group around Ballintrillick, where they will look out for wild edible plants, explaining as she goes about their uses and benefits. You’ll then head back to the Neantóg kitchen where you’ll learn about their culinary uses, creating some exciting – and healthy – dishes to sample.
Irish Seaweed Kitchen
Streedagh doctor Prannie Rhatigan has been extoling the superfood virtues of seaweed for years. Her Irish Seaweed Kitchen cook book is a great guide for those who want to discover how to incorporate seaweed into everyday dishes as well as some unusual ones – dillisk chocolate truffles anyone? Last month Prannie led a walk to Coney Island near Strandhill where she taught guests how to identify seaweed as they rambled around the island. Contact Prannie’s to organize your next culinary trip.
Lough Talt Activity Break
Cawley’s Guesthouse and Wild Wet Adventures have teamed up to offer you a chance to get active in south Sligo, followed by a delicious 2 course meal. You get to choose between a selection of outdoor activities ranging from stand up paddling or kayaking on Lough Talt, to archery, or hill walking in the Ox Mountains, all accompanied by a guide. Afterwards head back to Cawley’s in nearby Tubbercurry for a well-earned and delicious lunch.
Coopershill
Located near Riverstown, Coopershill is a Georgian mansion which provides a beautiful woodland setting for walks and fine dining. With over 500 acres of farmland to walk, you’ll have no problem working up an appetite for the wonderful four course dinner which awaits you. The menu is dictated by what food is available locally, so your dining as well as your walk will have a distinctly local flavour.
Drafthouse with the Dog
A walk in Strandhill is a great idea at any time of the year, heading along the beach towards Culleenamore, or in the opposite direction towards Killaspugbrone Church. And afterwards you’ll have a number of wonderful places to eat along the seafront. And not just for you and the kids, one place in particular also encourages you to bring your favourite pet! The Drafthouse has a number of kennels at the rear of the restaurant where the pooch can relax with a bowl of water after the walk, while you and the family can enjoy great food in comfort. You can even check on Rover via cctv!
Ireland’s Earliest Takeaway
Experienced archaeologist Auriel Robinson is your guide on this walking trail which culminates in a very traditional lunch. Learn about the archaeology, geology, flora and fauna of this ancient landscape which hides so many secrets and treasures. You will be amazed at what is revealed on this leisurely, informative walk. The sea trail ends at beautiful Culleenamore Strand which is also a seal sanctuary, so keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready. Culleenamore is said to have the oldest oysterbeds in the country and features shell or kitchen middens dating back to prehistoric times. These middens are the discarded remains of our ancestors’ shellfish feasts, and we will enjoy something very similar. Freshly harvested mussels will be cooked for us on the rocks by one of Hooked chefs. You can quite literally dine as your ancestors did, in exactly the same place. The experience is seasonal.
Whiskey Tasting
Far be it for us to promote whiskey as part of a healthy lifestyle, but this one happens to take place on the edge of Sligo town’s beautiful Doorly Park lakeside walk. Heading away from town along the banks of the Garavogue, then onto the shores of Lough Gill, through tree lined walks and cycle paths. Before long you’ll have walked as far as Cleveragh, a wide expanse of parkland with clearly marked routes. If you want you can head on towards Sligo Racecourse, and then head back along the path you came. Ending at the Riverside, good food and that whisky tasting experience await.
Visit sligofoodtrail.ie for details on these and other food experiences. For details on walking in Sligo, visit SligoWalks.ie