Templeboy: Coastal Walks and Cultural Heritage

Templeboy combines the coastal landscape around Aughris with walking routes and traces of religious and military history. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the different highlights: the Aughris Coastal Walk is described in terms of its length, gradient and surface, while a section of the Sligo Way crosses the Templeboy uplands to two named destinations. The church, well and coastal fortification each tell a different part of the area’s history.

Coast, Walking Routes and Landscape

From Aughris Head, you can enjoy views of Aughris and Dunmoran beaches, Sligo Bay and Knocknarea Mountain. You can walk along the sandy beaches at Aughris and Dunmoran; there is also a coastal cliff path at Aughris Head. These experiences bring together the beach and coastal scenery, though the two walking options do not have to be the same route.

The Aughris Coastal Walk starts at the car park of The Beach Bar at Dunmoran Strand, Aughris. It is approximately 4 km long, has a moderate gradient and runs over gravel and grass paths. Along the way, it passes Aughris Promontory Fort. The walk is designated as suitable for families. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

A section of the Sligo Way follows minor roads and paths across the Templeboy uplands to Ladies Brae and Lough Achree. The two routes offer different points of reference for your planning: for the Aughris Coastal Walk, the length, gradient and surface are specified; for the Sligo Way section, the focus is on the uplands and the two destinations.

Church, Pilgrimage Tradition and Coastal History

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Templeboy is a detached stone Roman Catholic church, built around 1870. Its floor plan is cruciform: the five-bay nave is complemented by transepts, with a projecting chancel. The five bays divide the nave, while the transepts form the cross-arms of the plan. The church’s form can therefore be described through its architectural elements without assuming any additional features.

A different religious tradition is associated with St. Patrick’s Well. Pilgrims have been coming there since Christian times to make the rounds and say prayers. The church building and pilgrimage site thus represent two different aspects of Templeboy’s religious heritage.

Aughris Promontory Fort is locally known as O’Toole’s Castle. Today, only a mound remains of this Iron Age coastal fortification. Aughris Lookout Post No. 67 offers another historical perspective: seven men, mostly local volunteers, manned the post and watched the sea to warn of attacks or report military sightings.

Aughris and Views of County Sligo

The Beach Bar is a thatched 17th-century pub on the waterfront at Aughris. Local fishermen and watersports enthusiasts are active at Aughris Pier, where water safety courses are also held. If you are interested in the courses, check in advance for details. These details add further aspects of the coastal area to its walking and history themes.

The wider destination of County Sligo is home to other distinct cultural attractions. Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest and oldest collection of Neolithic tombs; more than 30 surviving monuments are almost 6,000 years old. Sligo Abbey is a Dominican priory with extensive surviving medieval remains of the church, sacristy and chapter house. These attractions belong to the wider context of County Sligo, not to the features of Templeboy described here.

When considering Templeboy as a destination, you can weigh up different interests: coastal walks and beaches, the views from Aughris Head, or the area’s local religious and military heritage. The route details help you distinguish the Aughris Coastal Walk from the described section of the Sligo Way.

Discover more destinations: Cloonacool, Ballisodare, Lavagh, Aclare, Tiratick, Derrybeg, Drumcliff, Cloghboley.

For the wider travel overview: County Sligo.