Directions to the Trailhead

Take the N15 from Sligo for 21km and turn left in Cliffoney Village onto the R279. At the end of that road, where you meet a T-junction, turn left and park in Mullaghmore Village on the seafront.

The Route

Keeping the harbour to your right, take the road out of the village past the Pier Head Hotel. The walk is along a road and therefore is shared with vehicular traffic. There are a couple of steep sections and do take care when walking past unguarded parts of the road where the cliff falls away steeply. The walk is looped, so you will end up back in the village from the opposite side.

This walk consists of a mixture of footpaths, off-road walking trails and public roads providing stunning panoramic views of Donegal Bay and Slieve League beyond as well as of Benbulben and the Dartry Mountains.

History

Mullaghmore village, as we see it today, is largely the product of the vision of Henry John Temple better known as Lord Palmerston, who served two terms in office as British Prime Minister. Lord Palmerston inherited a large estate of 10,000 acres in north Sligo. Palmerston not only instigated the building of Classiebawn Castle, the dominant landmark of the area, but also the magnificent stone harbour and the main buildings that characterise the village today Including the Harbour Hotel and the Convent as well as the adjoining structures.

Geology

Mullaghmore Head is the type locality for the Mullaghmore Sandstone, a formation of Lower Carboniferous age (359 to 327 million years old). This rock type runs from north east to south west through Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Mayo. The west coast of Mullaghmore Head shows a marvellous range of geological features including rocks which were once sediments deposited on ancient river deltas some 300 million years ago.

Did You Know?
Mullaghmore means ‘”the great summit” and is a noted holiday destination, characterised by ocean views and a skyline dominated by the monolithic shape of Benbulben mountain.