WalkingModerate2.5-3 hours
Knocknarea & Queen Maeve's Cairn
6-8 km · 327m elevation
← All things to do
About
The hillwalk that dominates Strandhill's skyline: a loop of around 6-8km from the Glen Road car park to the flat 327-metre summit of Knocknarea and back, taking in Miosgan Meadhbha, Queen Maeve's Cairn, an unexcavated Neolithic passage tomb and the largest cairn in Ireland outside Brú na Bóinne. The middle section is a genuine climb, around 700 feet on loose gravel and heather, but the summit views over Sligo Bay, the Ox Mountains and Benbulben make it the single best short walk in the area. Walk around the cairn, never on it; archaeologists have flagged erosion damage from hikers climbing on the stones.
Highlights
- ✓queen-maeves-cairn
- ✓327m-summit
- ✓sligo-bay-views
- ✓neolithic-monument
Tips
- →Wear proper walking boots; the middle section is steep, loose gravel and heather.
- →Do not climb on the cairn itself, walk around it; the stones are actively eroding.
- →Weather changes fast on the summit; bring a waterproof even on a clear day.
Best Season
SpringSummerAutumn