Sligo Information

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Sligo County:

• Sligo County
• Events
• Places of Interest
• History
• North Sligo
• East Sligo
• South Sligo
• West Sligo

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• Sligo Town
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General Information:

• Sports
• Walks
• Map
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• Getting There
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Walks around Sligo

Walking routes and possibilities are being developed throughout Ireland as walking becomes an increasingly popular pastime. The Irish Sports Council are involved in developing a marked and graded set of trails.

In Sligo, the expansion and development of trails has come a long way in the last few years. There are many possibilities for short local walks; many nature trails have been laid out and a number of long distance paths are available. New initiatives by the Tourist Board mean that the routes below may change, or new routes be added. The suggestions below are a mixture of short and long distance walks in the area.

The Irish Ordnance Survey maps are on 1:50,000 scale and the ‘Discovery Series’ 16/24/25 cover the county.

Walking route information especially for the longer trails is available from NorthWest Tourism Customer Services department, or talk to the Bord Fáilte in Sligo.
Further information: Bord Fáilte, Sligo. Tel 071 91 56666
www.irelandnorthwest.ie
www.walkireland.ie

Routes

Shorter Walks

Many of these walks could be combined with a day’s drive or sightseeing.

Slish Wood
This is a mainly lakeside walk with route markings. A short, lovely route on the south side of Lough Gill approx 2 miles (31/2 km) long.
Where: off R287 from Sligo approx ½ hour drive.

Knocknarea Mountain and Cairn
This mountain overlooks Sligo and the Bay. From the local area it is fairly well signed and there is a car park at the bottom. The walk is uphill all the way to the 1078ft/452m summit. The walk to the cairn will take 45 minutes to an hour - which legend says was the burial place of Queen Mabh( Maeuve) of Connacht. The views are superb across one side to the Ox Mountains and the surrounding area and on the other across the Bay toward Sligo and Benbulben.

The route up can be slippery and a bit rough in damp weather so good shoes are recommended. The cairn at the top is actually a very ancient prehistoric site so please do not climb on the cairn or remove any stones. It is considered bad luck!
Where:  Strandhill R292 approx 30 min drive from Sligo.

Hazlewood Sculpture Trail
This nature and sculpture trail is part of the old Hazlewood estate. It is a 3km/2mile circular trail, which begins and ends in the car park. There are also possibilities to take shorter routes. There are picnic possibilities en route , but Hazlewood House is not open to the  public.
Where: on the northside of Lough Gill

Lough Talt Area
There are two marked trail possibilities for short walks or it is possible to combine the two sections to a figure of eight walk to more than double the walk time.

The first is a circular walk around the lake. The trail is a mixture of tarmac, stone and grass, and although not level all the way round is possible with buggies or (with a bit of effort) with a wheelchair. The start is at the south side of the lake where there is parking along side the road or actually on the south tip of the lake itself.

There are information tables at the start of the walk (clockwise) about flora and fauna in the are, and, further on, a small picnic spot. Follow the trail around to the small village of Lavagh on the north side of the lake: the church has a beautiful and unusual stained glass window. This is a lovely lakeside walk that is well marked.

The second section of the walk is a circular walk on a mixture of the road and through the semi-forested area above Gorterslin towards Mullany’s Cross. Allow a little bit more time than around the lake. Signs for the Sligo way long distance path, which starts here, are visible.
Where: Lough Talt R294 heading out from Tobercurry on the Ballina rd.

Beach Walks
Beach walks, such as Rosses Point, are a fantastic option in Sligo and often take in sections of a village such as at Rosses Point or Mullaghmore. However caution should be exercised and walkers should be aware of various safety, weather and tidal issues that may be an issue in the area.

Longer Trails

A number of long distance trail cut across the county, some of which join with other long distance ways, such as the Western Way, or take in a part of Sligo en route.

Sligo Way - 80km approx. length
This starts at Lough Talt (at Lavagh) and cuts through the county, eventually ending up at Drumahair, County Leitrim. It is a marked way that meets the Western Way at its starting point. The sections vary from 10-22 km. With two cars it is possible to do sections as day walks or even half days. This is a problem, however, if public transport is to be used.

Sligo Spur Walks
These are a series of circular walks that cut across the county; sections of the walks are linked to the Sligo Way. The walks vary in duration from 1-6 hours, and the trails are generally unmarked.

Benbulben, Glencar and Castlegal
Walkers who see Benbulben with its unique shape may want to get to the top and explore the vicinity. The mountain is some 527m high and the trail is around 11km long. It is also possible to take in Glencar Waterfall. The start is at King’s Gully (near Glencar).

Lough Arrow Walks
There are a series of walks that can be done as circular walks in the area of Lough Arrow. They are mainly located around Ballinafad, Castlebaldwin and Boyle (County Roscommon) The walks vary in length from 4-12km.

The Miners' Way and Historical Trail
This crosses into three counties of Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon with a length of 118km. It takes in the old miners route to the mining area of the Arigna Mountains. From Lough Key Forest Park to Boyle is a historical route.