Overview
Roskeeragh Point is the northern headland of Sligo Bay, with Aughris Head facing it across the water on the south side. Among Irish climbers it is better known than it is among walkers: the short sandstone cliffs here carry a reputation for tough, traditionally protected routes. For everyone else it is a wild, unserviced stretch of shore where the wave-cut limestone platform runs out beneath the cliffs and seals haul out on the rocks offshore. If you are not carrying a rack, come for the quiet and the wildlife rather than a marked trail, because there isn’t one.
Climbing at Roskeeragh
For climbers this is the reason to come. The sandstone cliffs are relatively short but steep, offering cracks, corners and arêtes that reward careful footwork and solid gear placement. The north-west aspect helps the rock dry quickly, so it comes back into condition faster than most after rain. The routes are documented in David Flanagan’s guidebook Rock Climbing in Ireland (2014); the crag sits at grid reference 686562 on Sheet 16.
Be warned that the grading is old-school – routes tend to feel harder than the number suggests, so this is not the place to push your limit on a first visit. Bring a full trad rack of nuts, hexes and slings; there is no fixed protection.
Access is the other thing to get right. The traditional coastal right-of-way has been restricted, and the landowner now asks visitors to approach from the south, through the community playing fields and along the beach below the headland. Stick to that route and leave no trace; the crag stays open only as long as climbers respect it.
The coastal walk
Away from the crag, the shoreline gives a wild, self-guided walk with no waymarkers and no amenities. The coast itself is the path: firm sand in places, uneven limestone platform in others, all of it worth checking a tide table for before you set out, as the lower rocks disappear at high water. Sturdy footwear matters. Views open across Sligo Bay to the Donegal hills, and there is nowhere to buy so much as a bottle of water, so carry your own.
Wildlife and marine life
The intertidal platform beneath the cliffs shelters seaweeds, invertebrates and coastal birds, and the shallow water draws small fish and crustaceans in behind the rocks. Seals are a regular sight, hauling out on the offshore cluster known locally as Seal Rocks. Early morning is the quietest time and usually the calmest sea, which is when you are most likely to see them settled.
Practical information
- Getting there: Approach from the N15 at Drumcliffe, following minor roads toward Carney and the coast. Take the left turn at the castle gate lodge and park on the roadside at the first sight of the sea, at the little junction before the village. From there, follow the route through the community playing fields and down to the southern beach to reach both the crag and the shore.
- Access and etiquette: Use the southern approach only, stay off private land elsewhere, and leave no trace. Dogs are welcome but keep them under control near the wildlife haul-outs and any climbers below the cliffs.
- Nearby stops: Aughris Head, across the bay to the south, has cliff-top walking and fossil-bearing rock. Classiebawn Castle and the wildfowl of Ballygilgan Nature Reserve are both an easy drive.
- Facilities: None at all – no visitor centre, café or toilets, and only limited roadside parking. Atlantic weather turns quickly, so pack waterproofs and check the forecast before you go.