This was day four of our Ireland trip and our North Mayo road trip in a single day: by van from the Sligo coast to Erris Head, with a stormy beach, a tiny pier, a castle with three names, the cliffs of Downpatrick Head and a short walk at the far edge of Mayo. This post is the overview. For every stop you get the short version here and a link to the full post with parking, van access and our honest take.

The Route: Sligo Coast to Erris Head

We set off late in the morning from our base in Lisacul, hoping for a beach day. The first three stops are close together on the coast of west Sligo: Dunmoran Beach, Pollnadivva Pier a few minutes further on, and Roslee Castle in Easkey. From there we crossed into County Mayo for Downpatrick Head and finished the day far out in the north-west at Erris Head.

Stop 1: Dunmoran Beach

We had packed our swimming things, but when we arrived it was so stormy that the beach was empty apart from two surfers. So it became a walk on the sand instead of a swim. The car park is free, has no height barrier and room for 30 to 40 vehicles, and it is a beach we would happily come back to in better weather.

→ Read the full post: Dunmoran Beach parking, swimming and our stormy visit.

Stop 2: Pollnadivva Pier

Only a few minutes from Dunmoran Beach, this small pier was the one stop of the day we would skip next time. The access road is very narrow and overgrown, and the hedges scratched both sides of our van. Ten minutes are enough once you are there.

→ Read the full post: Pollnadivva Pier parking and access, and whether it is worth the drive.

Stop 3: Roslee Castle

In Easkey, a tower from 1207 stands right beside the pier. It is called Roslee Castle on the map, but many people know it as O’Dowd’s Castle or simply Easkey Castle. You park for free right next to it, with public toilets and benches, as long as the height barrier at the entrance is open. It was still very windy when we were there.

→ Read the full post: Roslee Castle parking, the height barrier and our windy stop.

Stop 4: Downpatrick Head

The highlight of the day. By the time we reached the north Mayo coast, the weather had improved, and we had a spectacular view of Dún Briste, the 45-metre sea stack just off the headland. From the free car park it is about ten minutes on foot past the blowhole to the cliff edge. The cliffs are not fenced, so take care.

→ Read the full post: Downpatrick Head, the Dún Briste sea stack and the cliff walk.

Stop 5: Erris Head Loop Walk

Our last stop took us all the way out to Erris Head. It was already late afternoon, so we did not walk the full loop and only went as far as the first viewpoint. Even that was worth it. Parking is free, dogs are not allowed, and the path was muddy and slippery in places.

→ Read the full post: the Erris Head Loop Walk, parking and the first viewpoint.

Our Honest Takeaway

This day started with a storm and a beach day that did not happen, and ended with two of the best cliff views of the whole trip. If you only have time for two of these stops, we would pick Downpatrick Head and Erris Head, and add Dunmoran Beach if the weather is on your side. Pollnadivva Pier is the one we would leave out.

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Planning your own Ireland road trip? Go back to day three, our Connemara road trip from Galway to Leenane, continue with day five, our Donegal road trip from Rossnowlagh to Bundoran, see every stop on our interactive Ireland road trip map and check our Ireland facts before you go.