Streedagh Beach

Walk Category: Coastal Walk
Walk Grade: Easy
Walking Terrain: Sand
Waymarking: None
Trailhead: Carpark

Length: 6km
Ascent: 0m
Time: 1.5hrs
Suggested Gear: Trainers, Barefoot
Longitude: 54.404480
Latitude: -8.560176

Directions to the Trailhead

Take the N15 to Grange and the L3203 Signposted to Streedagh. Turn right after 1.1km again following signage for Streedagh. Car Parking is available at the beach. Be aware of high tide times as this parking area can become flooded.

The Trail Map:- OSI Map Series 16

The Route

Streedagh Beach is an impressive 3km long sandy beach located on the north western shore of a sandbar linking Streedagh Point to an area known as Connor’s Island. This is an exposed beach with reef breaks which create ideal surfing conditions all year round.

The walk is linear, along a horseshoe shaped beach. When you reach Connor’s Island, retrace your steps back to the car park.

Geology and Nature
If you look closely at the rocks on the left hand side of the beach, you’ll see that the rock is layered here, the oldest of these being carboniferous limestone that are among the oldest anywhere in the region. Further around the coast (beware of rising tides!), you can find some incredible fossils. Zaphrentis are particularly common here, formed about four hundred million years ago.

Did you know?
Three ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked on Streedagh Beach in 1588. The Armada set sail to dethrone Elizabeth I, the Protestant Queen of England. However the Spanish lost the decisive naval battle at Gravelines in the English Channel, and the fleet sailed northwards rounding Scotland and Ireland in the hope of returning to Spain. The ships encountered a ferocious Atlantic storm, however, and up to 26 were wrecked off the Irish coast. These included three at Streedagh, where an estimated 1,100 Spaniards were lost to the sea. However, some survived through a mixture of good fortune and assistance from some of the Irish chieftains of the area. Captain De Cuéllar’s account of his experience of these events is an extremely significant piece of social history and his epic journey back to his homeland is commemorated to this day as part of Remembering the Armada, an annual commemorative festival held in Grange each September.
The carboniferous limestone rocks at Streedagh contain many species of fossil coral. Zaphrentis are particularly common here, formed about four hundred million years ago

Nearby walks you might like

Raghly Loop Trail

Looped walk with views of Sligo Bay
and Drumcliff Bay

Lisadell

A pleasant linear walk along a forest path which runs between the public road and Drumcliffe bay

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5 responses to “Streedagh Beach”

  1. John Ryan

    Staying in Radisson Blue in Sligo and receptionist highly recommended Streedagh Beach. We checked tides and arrived at low tide. Fabulous 3 km long walk in gale force winds and showers. Exhilarating. The beach is excellent and easy to walk on. Waves were spectacular. A little piece of unspoilt paradise. Be sure not to be caught by tide- go at low tide. Met several people also out walking and without exception all waved and called out greetings. Add Streedagh Beach to your must see place while in Sligo.

  2. Michael Bailey

    Possibly the best beach we found on our short stay at Bundoran. And the next bay (beyond Black Rock see map above) is even more special for its solitude.

  3. Shannon

    Definitely my favourite beach in Sligo! Would reccommend walking through the Dunes there too, there is some beautiful views when you climb high on the Sand Dunes. The walk to Connors island is beautiful and the view from the island is amazing.
    A clean, quiet and peaceful beach. Cannot say enough good things about it!

    1. Ursula Schweiger

      Just a note that Connors island is private farmland with livestock including a bull grazing there, with no public right of way …. I know it’s beautiful but you should not walk on the island ….

  4. Carole redpath

    In 1963 i was 12…my family and i stayed in a b and at grange. The sound of tbe sea on the large stones at streda strand was like an audience applauding.it was amazing. Ive never forgotten it. We went to graveyard where w.b.yeats is buried. It was september early evening and misty. We heard a chain rattling and got out pretty fast! It was a old man and his bycicle chain had broken….but we were already in the car!! Beautiful place…lovely memories.

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