The first time I came to Silver Strand in County Mayo I had no idea that it was called Silver Strand.
I called it AedÃn’s Beach after my friend who brought me to this stunning part of Ireland.
She took a detour that lead us down narrow, winding roads that were only the width of one car.
We drove by green fields dotted with sheep and rocky hills and mountains.
Eventually I could spot the sea shimmering in the distance.
We saw one beach but AedÃn said that it wasn’t the one.
So we drove a bit further and arrived at Sliver Strand.
Silver Strand as the sun begins to get lower in the sky. Stunning!
Views along the road that leads to Silver Strand.
What do I remember?
I remember thinking that I didn’t know sandy beaches like this existed in Ireland.
But there it was before me.
It was the most magical moment of that first trip to Ireland.
In some ways it’s been my most magical moment in Ireland.
Period.
And I’ve longed to return to this enchanting place.
I recall telling AedÃn that I would love to “rent a cottage for a month or so and write and photograph and take walks and run through the countryside and on the beach.”
AedÃn walking on Sliver Strand, aka “AedÃn’s Beach” on that first visit.
So here I am 11 years later gazing out at Silver Strand
Finally making a return trip.
This time to stay.
No. Not for a month but for 4 days.
But I am in a cottage — a private Airbnb room to be exact.
I have written and photographed.
I’ve walked and run along the wee road.
And on the stunning beach called Silver Strand.
Silver Strand — a magical place!
This is looking back up the road you’ll come down to get to Silver Strand.
Lovely Silver Strand
Is it as magical?
YES!
Maybe more so.
On that first fateful trip I was at Silver Strand for about an hour plus the driving time getting to it then onto Louisburgh — the closest main town.
It was a quick detour.
This time I’ve had 4 incredible days that have brought me all kinds of weather.
And given me the time to truly connect to this land.
I’ve had time to walk the beach a few times, play on the dunes and run and walk along the wee rural road.
Sliver Strand and this area around Killadoon is just as wonderful and mesmerizing as the first time.
Only this time I truly see it for all that it is.
A gorgeous view on a sunny day!
A walk to Silver Strand often includes walking with the sheep.
There are some fun dunes at Silver Strand.
Silver Strand, mountains and clouds.
It’s a harsh land
The soil is rocky so sheep farming is best.
The weather is tumultuous.
It’s windy and wet.
Yet the sunrises and sunsets are stunning.
It’s not for the faint of heart — even for a few days stay.
I’ve had gusty winds, lashing rain, sideways rain and sunshine — sometimes in one day!
But as bleak and severe as this land and the weather can be, it’s also beautiful.
It’s a place where the mountains meet the sea.
And for me this is the best of both worlds — soaring rugged peaks to stand in awe of and the sound of the waves hitting the sand.
Add to that rolling hills dotted with sheep and it’s a perfect place for someone like me.
The fields and hills in the Killadoon area.
Sheep grazing in the hills of Killadoon.
A gorgeous sunset over the water from Silver Strand Cottage.
Arriving at Silver Strand on a beautiful afternoon.
The sun setting over the mountains and fields near Silver Strand Cottage (where I stayed).
Mountains and hills dotted with sheep in Killadoon.
A remote place
Silver Strand and the settlement of Killadoon and Killeen are remote.
There’s no town or village — so there’s no pub.
You won’t find any shops around.
Louisburgh is the closest town at about 12 miles away so there is a town nearby for picking up supplies.
Westport — a popular County Mayo town — is about 25 miles away.
But out here it’s tranquil.
The sounds you hear are of nature — bleating sheep, Atlantic wind, singing birds, ocean waves.
Silver Strand is a destination you come to when you need to relax and decompress — reconnect with nature.
It’s a place for those seeking some quiet and maybe even a bit of solitude.
And for me — on this 2018 journey — it came at the right time.
The sun sets over the mountains as the sheep graze in the fields.
Looking out to the sea from Silver Strand, clouds reflecting in the water.
I noticed this stone with the cross on it on the way back up from the beach. Just there with the sheep all around.
Will I come back again?
YES!
It’s definitely one of the best places in all of Ireland.
And it’s one that calls to me with it’s serene landscape and it’s magical aura.
Something tells me next time I may very well stay a month…
