Carns Hill

  • Length: 1.3km
  • Ascent: 20m
  • Time: 45 Mins
  • Longitude: 54.256111
  • Latitude: -8.454174
  • Trailhead: Roadside Parking, Information Board
  • Waymarking: Red/Blue Arrows
  • OSI Map Series: 25
  • Suggested Gear: Trainers
Carns Hill Walk
Carns Hill Walk
Carns Hill Walk
Carns Hill Walk
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Directions - How to get to the Trailhead.

From Pearse Road, turn left onto Cleveragh Road. Continue straight onto the Tonaphubble Road passing the Racecourse. Just after the turn for Tonaphubble Lane, where the road swings left, keep right heading uphill. The trail starts the carpark beside the waterworks. It is also possible to link to the Garavogue River Trail at Cleveragh Park.

Cairns Hill is a hidden gem located just a short walk from Sligo Town with views of Sligo Bay, Benbulben and Lough Gill. The site consists of two short looped walks through a diverse forest plantation which is rich in biodiversity. The hillside features two large unopened and undisturbed Neolithic cairns and associated caves. They are sited on the highest points of the flat summits where the west cairn stands at 123 metres and the east cairn slightly lower at 112 metres. The Cairn (blue) loop will take you to the edge of the ancient east cairn. The cairn is covered with young trees and scrub – ash, sycamore and hazel, so that you might easily miss it and walk by. The cairn is about 45 meters in diameter and some 10 meters high. It is composed of chunks of quarried limestone, and is most likely kerbed and strewn with quartz.