Painterly view of Classiebawn Castle on the Mullaghmore headland in Sligo — Victorian Gothic turrets silhouetted on a green peninsula above a calm bay, the flat-topped silhouette of Benbulbin rising behind in golden evening light.

The Atlantic Companion · Wild Atlantic Way · Sligo

Welcome to Mullaghmore.
We're glad you're here.

Mullaghmore — An Mullach Mór, 'the big summit' — is a small fishing village and harbour on a peninsula in north Sligo, looking across to Donegal. Lord Palmerston built the harbour and the village in the 1820s. Classiebawn Castle on the headland was the holiday home of Lord Mountbatten, assassinated by the IRA on his boat off Mullaghmore in 1979. Offshore, the reef known to surfers simply as 'Mullaghmore' produces some of the largest tow-in waves in the world — 50-foot Atlantic swells in winter.

Classiebawn castle on the headland. The biggest wave in Ireland offshore.

Sharing from the Wild Atlantic Way

You're in Mullaghmore. Send it to someone who'd love it.

First things first

Where are you headed next?

Tell us once and we'll shape the rest of the page around it.

The essentials

What you shouldn't miss.

Locally chosen, not algorithmic. In rough order of "if you only do one thing".

History

Classiebawn Castle

A Victorian Gothic castle built in 1856 for Lord Palmerston (British Prime Minister), inherited by the Mountbatten family through marriage. Lord Mountbatten — Prince Philip's uncle, last Viceroy of India — holidayed here every August. He was killed when the IRA bombed his fishing boat in Mullaghmore harbour on 27 August 1979, along with two teenagers and his daughter's mother-in-law.

Good to know · Privately owned, no public access. The classic view is from the Mullaghmore Head loop road or from the harbour.

Get directions

Drive

Mullaghmore Head loop

A 5km loop road around the headland, with constant views of Donegal Bay, Slieve League across the water, and Benbulbin behind. The reef break is on the north-west side — on a big winter swell you'll see jet-skis and tow-in surfers from the road. The car park at the head is the viewpoint.

Good to know · Free, always open. Single-track road in places. Free car park at the head with a viewing platform.

Get directions

Town

Mullaghmore harbour

A horseshoe stone harbour built in the 1820s by Lord Palmerston as a famine-relief project. Still a working pier — a handful of fishing boats, kayak rentals in summer, and Eithna's by the Sea seafood restaurant on the pier. The Pier Head Hotel for a Guinness with the view.

Good to know · Free parking at the harbour. Toilets at the harbour. Restaurants seasonal — call ahead off-season.

Get directions

Beach

Mullaghmore beach

A long curve of pale sand on the east side of the peninsula, sheltered from Atlantic swells, looking across to Bundoran and the Donegal hills. Safe family swimming — the antithesis of the reef on the other side of the headland.

Good to know · Free parking. Lifeguards in summer at the main strand. Toilets in season.

Get directions

History

Creevykeel Court Tomb

One of the finest court tombs in Ireland, built around 3500 BC just inland from Mullaghmore on the N15 at Cliffony. An open oval forecourt leading to two burial chambers, with a dry-stone wall enclosure still mostly intact 5,500 years later.

Good to know · Free, always open. Small lay-by on the N15 just south of Cliffony — signposted.

Get directions

Local businesses

Places we'd point a friend to.

Hand-picked, not paid for. The ferries, the beds, the pubs and the bike hire that make a visit work.

Before you go. These listings are compiled from public sources and aren't yet verified by the businesses themselves. Hours, menus and prices change with the seasons — always check directly with the venue before travelling, and book ahead in July and August. Owners can get in touch to update their listing.

Eat

Drink

Stay

Do

Run a place in Mullaghmore?

Our directory is curated, not pay-to-play. If we'd recommend you, you can be on here.

See how to get listed

Got a window or a counter?

Download a free A5 QR card for Mullaghmore — print it, stick it up, and visitors land straight on the Mullaghmore guide.

Ask a local

The bits that aren't on Google.

Common questions

What people ask about Mullaghmore.

Is Mullaghmore worth visiting?

Yes — Mullaghmore is a small fishing village on a peninsula in north Sligo, with the long sandy beach at Mullaghmore Strand, the imposing Classiebawn Castle silhouetted against Benbulben behind it, and views to the Donegal mountains. It's also one of Europe's biggest big-wave surf spots, with Prowlers off the headland breaking in winter Atlantic storms.

Where is Mullaghmore beach?

Mullaghmore Strand is the long sandy bay between the village of Mullaghmore and Cliffony in north Sligo, about 35 minutes north of Sligo town. The R279 runs along the back of the beach. Lifeguarded in summer; gentle for swimming and good for beginner surfing on small days.

Is Classiebawn Castle open to the public?

No — Classiebawn Castle is a private residence (formerly the Mountbatten family's Irish home) and is not open to the public. The exterior is one of the most photographed buildings on the west coast and is best viewed from the road into Mullaghmore village or from the strand below.

Can you surf at Mullaghmore?

Yes — Mullaghmore Strand is a friendly beach break for beginners and improvers on small days, with a couple of local surf schools running lessons. The famous big-wave surf at Prowlers, off the headland to the west, is for experienced tow-in surfers only and only breaks in big winter Atlantic storms.

Practical

The things you'll wish you'd known.

Fuel
Cliffony (3km inland) or Bundoran (15 minutes north).
Cash
Bundoran or Sligo. Card accepted at the harbour spots.
Pharmacy
Cliffony, Bundoran. Sligo for anything urgent.
Parking
Free at the harbour, beach, and headland viewpoint.
Phone signal
Decent in the village. Patchy on the head loop.
The reef
Mullaghmore reef breaks only on big winter swells. Don't go in — it's a tow-in spot for experts only.

Designed & developed by ideapath.app