Visit Coney Island, Sligo: Tidal Causeway, Scenic Walks & Hidden Charm

Coney Island sits quietly between Rosses Point and Strandhill in County Sligo, a small island with a big sense of adventure. You can reach it the traditional way — by boat from Rosses Point — but the most memorable route is the one that only appears at low tide.
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When the tide recedes, a natural causeway across Cummeen Strand is revealed, allowing you to walk or drive the 2.5 km stretch to the island. The path is marked by 14 stone pillars, standing like silent guides across the sand, leading you safely from the mainland to the island. It’s a surreal experience: part beach walk, part pilgrimage, part stepping into another world.

In summer, Coney Island becomes lively enough with seasonal residents returning to their holiday homes, but once winter arrives, the island settles into a deep quiet. With no shops and only one small pub — the wonderfully traditional Michael J. Ward’s — life here moves at a slower, gentler pace.
One of the best ways to experience the island is by taking the loop walk around its western side. Start by turning onto the small road signposted for the beach. The lane winds between peaceful pastures where cows graze lazily, and on a sunny day the views towards Knocknarea are nothing short of spectacular.

When you reach the beach, turn right towards the fields and follow the curve of the headland. As you round the point, the landscape opens dramatically: the Ox Mountains rise in the distance, the village of Carney comes into view, and even Blackrock Lighthouse seems close enough to touch. It’s a beautiful, remote stretch of coastline — the kind of place where you feel like you’ve stepped out of time.

Turning around the headland, the views shift once again — this time opening towards Rosses Point, with the dramatic outline of Benbulben rising behind it. It was here, on a grassy patch overlooking the water, that we settled down for an improvised picnic and soaked in one of the most peaceful panoramas in Sligo.
Coney Island is a true hidden gem: easy enough to reach, yet somehow still overlooked compared to Ireland’s more famous islands. That’s part of its charm. The only thing you absolutely must keep in mind is the tide. If you misjudge it, you may find yourself staying a few hours longer than planned — though that’s hardly a disaster when Michael J. Ward’s pub is there to welcome you with a pint and a story.

For those who want to linger even longer, we can strongly recommend spending a summer weekend on the island. Bring a tent, enjoy the loop walk, watch the sunset over the Atlantic, or simply relax and let the quiet settle in. With its open skies, gentle waves and sense of remoteness, Coney Island is the kind of place that invites you to slow down and stay a while.​