Enniscrone, Sligo – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Enniscrone, sometimes called Inishcrone or Inniscrone, is a seaside town on the Mayo border in County Sligo. A 15-minute drive from Ballina, this buzzy little town in the west of Ireland has plenty of amenities. The majority of visitors come here to see its glorious sandy beach overlooking Killala Bay. Pictures of the beach often pop up on social media, but is there more to the area than this sandy stretch along the Wild Atlantic Way?

Read below to find out!

Public Transport: Although the town doesn’t have a train station, both Ballina (15-minutes away) and Sligo Town (45-minutes away) do. Each of these towns are seamlessly connected to Enniscrone via bus.

The Bus Eireann route 458 runs from Enniskillen to Ballina via Sligo Town and Enniscrone. This handy service runs up to 10 times per day, with single tickets from Ballina or Sligo costing less than €10.

Surf’s Up Café have an extensive breakfast menu till 12pm and a lunch menu till close, with their chicken goujons and chips the pick of the lot for €14. We frequent this spot whenever we want something light, tasty and located very near the beach. Be warned however, Surf’s Up tends to get extremely busy during the summer months and tables can be hard to come by.

For something more fancy head to one of the town’s hotels. The Diamond Coast Hotel allows for fine dining in a beautiful setting in the Coral Restaurant or casual meals in the Inishaven Bar. We cannot wait to return to the Inishaven in particular, for the chicken schnitzel again. The Sunday carvery at the Diamond Coast Hotel is also a magnificent feast. Alternatively, the Ocean Sands Hotel offers indoor or outdoor dining in a fantastic setting with stunning views out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Hot Beverages: With gorgeous views of Killala Bay on offer, grab your hot drinks to-go at one of the seaside coffee stands. The most popular is undoubtedly Offshore Coffee, open 7 days per week till 6pm, near the beach car park. They serve tasty coffee and treats from a brilliant location next to the beach and right across from a public toilet.

If you find yourself near Enniscrone pier then the Sea Bean is your best option. They serve succulent brews and unbeatable sausage rolls but currently only open at weekends.

Alcohol: Although both the Diamond Coast Hotel (Inishaven Bar) and the Ocean Sands Hotel (Ocean Bar) have stylish modern bars, we prefer something more traditional.

Luckily the lively Gilroy’s Bar has the answer, with good pub grub accompanied by a cracking atmosphere and a cosy open fire. They show sports on three big screens, have live music every weekend and are dog friendly! Head there at 6pm on a Sunday during the summer to catch a traditional Irish music session.

Enniscrone Pier is a popular place for admiring the views of Killala Bay or for fishing for rays, mackerel, pollock and whiting. It’s also the starting point of a leisurely 2km long Coastal Loop Walk. This easy 30 minute amble offers beautiful views of the beach, the bay and Nephin Mountain as well as a vast array of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for the excellent informative signs dotted along the walk, with fun facts about all of the animals in the area.

Coastal Loop Walk Visitor’s Information

It’s easy to see why this 5km-long strand was awarded a Blue Flag in 2024. The gorgeous stretch has everything; great disabled toilets, lifeguards during the summer months and a sand dune system teeming with wildlife like skylarks and meadow pipits. The beach is also dog friendly, but clean up after your pooch!

Sligo has plenty of stunning beaches but what sets this one apart from the likes of Rosses Point is its areas of serene exclusion. The main section is popular with families but just a short stroll away you’ll find yourself alone with just birds and the crashing waves for company.

Check out our Travel Guide to Rosses Point

Enniscrone is fairly dead when the weather is poor but when the sun appears so does the jovial family atmosphere.

Park in the carpark near the beach to immediately feel the buzz, as excited people scoff ice-cream at the nearby coffee stand. Head to the Leisureland Casino and Arcade for a blast from the past with some harmless claw-machine fun. It’s not very modern, but children will surely get a kick out of it. Next hit the beach, where you’ll find children playing in the sand near the entrance or exploring the rock pools.

Excellent facilities mean the town caters well for its crowds and the vastness of the beach allows you to experience any sort of atmosphere you want. If you enjoy the liveliness of children and dogs playing, stay at the main section of the beach. For something more tranquil head on past the dunes. There is something for everyone here!

The habitats around Enniscrone are perfect for seasoned birdwatchers and newbies alike, so bring those binoculars! We have never visited a town with as much informative wildlife signage, meaning you don’t need to be familiar with any of the birds beforehand. Take a look at the signs near the pier or the beach car park before heading off towards the dunes to spot meadow pipits, stonechats and skylarks.

The glorious blue flag beach means water sports are a favourite past time here. Children and casual bathers can enjoy a dip on the main beach while more avid swimmers dive in from the nearby pier. There are numerous shallow pools for young children to splash in, along with rock pools for some creature-spotting.

Water sports enthusiasts can head surfing with the North West Surf School, when the weather permits. For just €30 each surfers of all levels can have a go, once they are over 8 years old and are able to swim. There are also special rates available for private group lessons. Avoid a wasted trip by checking out the waves beforehand via North West Surf School’s live webcam feed below.

Watch the live Webcam Feed

The blue and white castle-shaped building at the northern end of the beach once housed the Old Cliff Baths. Although they have long since closed, venture just past them to find the Kilcullen Seaweed Baths. Since 1912 visitors have come here to stew in baths of hot sea water filled with seaweed – a common tradition on Ireland’s west coast. The experience costs €30, or €40 for two people sharing, and your skin will feel sublime afterwards. Booking is required beforehand and the opening hours are seasonal, so check out their website below before your visit.

The Kilcullen Seaweed Baths are extremely old, so have fun without expecting anything too fancy!

Kilcullen Seaweed Baths Website

A short walk from the Kilcullen Seaweed Baths sits Waterpoint Aqua Park, a popular swimming centre which opens till 8pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends. Adults can enjoy a deep pool, hot tub and sauna while kids play on the water slide or in a shallow pool. Your children will likely love this place, but in truth it is dilapidated and in need of some serious updating!