Chilled and relaxed in Strandhill

Driving into Strandhill on a wet day in July , we couldn't but smile when we came down the hill into the village with views opening up towards the Atlantic ocean.
We had just missed the fabulous weather which lasted for a couple of weeks in Ireland, but the swell had arrived again after a few weeks of calm seas.
Strandhill is a small, thriving village in the North West of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, located in beautiful County Sligo.
Strandhill has established itself as a surf mecca in ireland, and can be compared to Gracetown  in Western Australia, Encinitas in San Diego or Laheina in Maui .

But Strandhill is so much more than just another surf town, there is a real community spirit which has turned this village into the place to be. For the surfers, there is everything you need, from the many surf schools to the brilliant waves. 

But after some fun in the water, you might feel hungry. And for a small village like Strandhill, you will find an amazing amount of brilliant establishments serving great food. From a burger at the Burger Shack  (https://www.facebook.com/BurgerShackStrandhill/) to the Draft house (https://www.thedrafthouse.ie/) where we sampled the fabulous flatcap mushroom and fivemiletown goat cheese burger, there is plenty of choice.
Feeling like a snack after your meal? We did, so we had a fabulous Ice cream from Mammy Johnston's ( https://www.facebook.com/MammyJohnston/) which is located at the beachfront.

And after all that food, you would think we couldn't fit any more food in our bellies, but we did. The next morning, we went to Shells cafe where we enjoyed a fabulous breakfast.
And shells (https://www.facebook.com/shellscafe/) is one of these establishments where you can sit down for a few hours watching the world go by. Watching the many surfers carrying their surfboards along the promenade, the seagulls gliding in the wind, the many campervans arriving and leaving this beautiful village, we couldn't but admire the amazing community spirit which we discovered during our visit to Strandhill.

Everybody is proud of this little gem located under the shadow of Knocknarea, and that shows even when you walk along the promenade. From the many flower pots to the nicely painted houses, from the sign telling every visitor to help out and do a #2minutebeachclean to the free car parking , it is unique to find such a community in today's modern society.
So what else is on offer in Strandhill ? You have the fabulous Voya seaweed baths (http://www.voyaseaweedbaths.com/) ,  you have the many walking trails along the beachfront and up Knocknarea, you can enjoy yoga sessions at Salt&Soul Yoga (http://www.saltandsoul.ie/)   or outdoor Yoga excursions with Wellbeing with Blaithin ( https://www.facebook.com/wellbeingwithblaithin/ )
On a Sunday, you can walk through the dunes towards Strandhill Airport where every Sunday, a brilliant market is held between 11am and 4pm.
Our advise is to talk to the locals and discover all the local secrets and events or head towards Strandhills website ( http://gostrandhill.com/ )