Directions to the trailhead
Take the R286 road from Sligo towards Dromohair, after approx. 4km, take the right hand turn for ATU St. Angela’s College. Passing the college entrance, shortly afterwards at the fork in the road turn right along a minor road. The roadside car park is located on the right. Pass through a kissing gate to access the trail.
For public transport contact Local Link Bus (074) 9741644 & Bus Eireann on (071) 9160066
The Route
The Clogher Beg Trail is a gentle countryside ramble along gravel and forest paths that lead the walker to the shores of Lough Gill, one of Sligo’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty. Famed for the nearby walk at Hazelwood, this shorter walk is a hidden gem found a little further east along the lakeshore. The right hand spur connects with the Clogherevagh Walk which brings the walker along the shoreline to the rear of St. Angela’s College, where you’ll find the ruins of an old boathouse, indicative of the lake’s long standing tradition of sailing.
After passing through the kissing gate at the trailhead, the trail descends gradually along a gravel path before entering a section of woodland. At a signposted junction, you can turn either left or right. By turning right you almost immediately come to the shore of Lough Gill, and you can continue through another kissing gate to access the Clogherevagh Walk, which runs along the back of St. Angela’s. By turning left at the signposted junction, the walk continues through a section of woodland before a viewing area over the lake is revealed to your right. The path stops shortly thereafter at a metal gate, and you can retrace your steps from here to the start.
Did You Know?
In former times, where this walk meets Lough Gill, thousands of people would congregate on the slopes overlooking the lake as the Ladies Cup sailing race took place. According to the historian and antiquarian William Wood-Martin’s, this was one of the most important events of the year, until tragedy struck when a sudden storm led to several boats being overturned and three people drowned. Nowadays the cup is raced for at Rosses Point, making it the longest continuously run sailing race in the world, having first taken place as far back as 1821. Today the cup itself can be viewed at Sligo Museum.
Nearby walks you might like
Hazelwood
A variety of short walks around Half Moon Bay
along the shores of Lough Gill.
Deerpark
A forest trail which provides access to an
internationally renowned court tomb.
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