Historic Walking Tour of Sligo Town

Carns Hill

Walk Category: Urban Walk
Walk Grade: Easy
Walking Terrain: Pavement
Waymarking: Gold Arrows
Trailhead: Multiple

Length: 4.5km
Ascent: Minimal
Time: 1.5hrs
Suggested Gear: Sturdy Shoes
Longitude: 54.272116
Latitude: -8.475565

Directions to Trailhead

To learn more about Sligo’s landmarks, pick up a copy of A Signposted Walking Tour of Sligo City from the Tourist Office located on O’Connell Street.

The Trail Map:- OSI Map Series 25

Sligo is a welcoming place with rich history evident in landmarks such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the Courthouse, which served as a carpenters’ shop during the cholera epidemic, and Sligo Abbey, the towns only surviving medieval building (built circa 1252). A bronze statue of William Butler Yeats stands watch on Hyde Bridge, while City Hall, with its Renaissance-style architecture, dates back to the 1860s.

The Route
The walking tour of Sligo is approximately 4.5km in length, is looped in nature, and provides access to the city’s most significant sites. The route includes main streets, quite alleys, pedestrian walks and riverside amenity areas, giving the visitor a perfect taste of Sligo. To learn more about the route and Sligo’s landmarks, pick up a copy of ‘A Signposted Walking Tour of Sligo City’ from the Tourist Office located on O’Connell Street.

Did you know?
The cholera epidemic in 1832 caused more deaths in Sligo than anywhere else in Ireland. People were left dead in the streets and whole families were wiped out. Bram Stoker (the author of Dracula) had his macabre imagination fired by his mother, a Sligo woman, who told stories of coffin makers knocking on doors in the night looking for corpses and of victims being buried alive.

Nearby walks you might like

Queen Maeve Trail – Knocknarea

Path, Boardwalk and Mountain Terrain on one of
County Sligo’s most conspicuous landmarks.

Queen Maeve Trail

Garavogue River Walk

Riverside, Marshes and Parkland. Outdoor Gym Trail, Playground, Table Tennis and Lawn Bowls.

Latest news items from the SligoWalks blog

  • Forests Close Due To Storm Éowyn

    Forests Close Due To Storm Éowyn

    Due to extensive damage to trees and paths in forests across Sligo, the public is being asked to stay away from walking in our recreational forests at least for the coming days and possibly for longer. Hundreds of trees fell at Slish Wood alone due to high winds and harvesting machines will need to be…

  • Stay Indoors During Storm Éowyn

    As Storm Éowyn approaches overnight from the Atlantic, walkers are reminded to take all precautions ahead of what is looking like a very strong and life threatening storm. We’ve been asked by the National Emergency Coordination Group chief Keith Leonard to remind you that this will be one of the most dangerous storms that we’ve…

  • Irish Stoat Survey – Call Out To Sligo

    Irish Stoat Survey – Call Out To Sligo

    The Irish Stoat Citizen Science Survey is in its final weeks, and researchers need your help! Nearly 800 sightings have been verified across Ireland, with only 19 from County Sligo. If you have seen an Irish stoat, alive or dead, please submit your sightings via the National Biodiversity Data Centre website before the end of January to…

  • Plan ahead and Prepare
  • Dispose of waste properly
  • Leave what you find
  • Respect wildlife and farm stock
  • Be considerate of others
  • Minimise the effects of fire

3 responses to “Historic Walking Tour of Sligo Town”

  1. Sean Browne

    Just to let youse know, Sligo Town is NOT the largest town or largest settlement in the North-West. The City of Derry is the largest settlement in the entire North-West of Ireland, a city with a population of around 100,000 people. Letterkenny is now the second-largest settlement by population in the entire North-West. Just thought I’d point this out.

    1. Paul Reidy

      Thanks for the insight Sean.

    2. Matthew

      It’s the largest in the Republic of Ireland. Derry is in the UK.

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