Knocknarea
Knocknarea is a limestone hill topped by the largest unexcavated cairn in Ireland. Queen Maeve's Cairn sits on the summit - a massive pile of stones 55 metres wide and 10 metres high, visible from across County Sligo. It has never been opened. Nobody knows for certain what is inside, though archaeologists believe it covers a Neolithic passage tomb built around 3000 BC.
The walk to the summit takes about 45 minutes from the car park. It is steep in places and the path is rough. The reward is a 360 degree panorama that takes in Benbulben, the Atlantic, Strandhill below, and the Carrowmore tombs spread across the fields at your feet.
Tradition says you should carry a stone from the base and add it to the cairn. Do not climb on the cairn itself. It is an archaeological monument, not a viewing platform.
What to Expect
The Queen Maeve Trail starts from a free car park near Sligo Rugby Club, signposted from the R292 Strandhill road. The first section follows a gravel path through farmland. Then wooden steps - about 500 of them - take you up through forest and onto open hillside.
The path gets rougher as you climb. Loose stones, mud, and exposed rock make the final section slow going. Sturdy footwear is essential. The hill is 327 metres high, which sounds modest, but the gradient is sustained and the surface uneven. Allow 45 to 50 minutes up at a steady pace.
The summit is worth every step. The cairn dominates - it is much larger than photographs suggest. The stone mass has been sitting here for over 5,000 years. Nobody has looked inside. That sense of mystery is part of the appeal.
The views are panoramic. Strandhill and the Atlantic to the west. Benbulben and the Dartry mountains to the north. Carrowmore below to the south. On a clear day you can see from Donegal to Galway. On a cloudy day you might see nothing but the inside of a cloud.
The descent is harder on the knees than the climb. The steps are uneven and can be slippery in wet weather. Take your time coming down. The whole loop - up, time at the summit, and down - takes about 90 minutes to two hours.
How to Get There
Knocknarea is about 10 minutes west of Sligo town. Follow the R292 towards Strandhill and watch for brown signs to Queen Maeve's Cairn. The car park is near Sligo Rugby Club. Parking is free.
There is no public transport to the trailhead. From Sligo town, a taxi costs around EUR 12. You could combine the walk with a visit to Strandhill or Carrowmore, both within five minutes by car.
Where to Stay Nearby
Sligo town is the nearest base with full accommodation. See the County Sligo guide for where to stay.
Sligo town riverside hotel. Good base for all the Sligo sites. 10 minutes from the Knocknarea trailhead.
Check availability →What Else is Nearby
A Note on the History
Queen Maeve's Cairn is named after the legendary warrior queen of Connacht from the Tain Bo Cuailnge. In folklore, she is said to be buried upright inside the cairn, facing her enemies in Ulster. The cairn itself predates the legends by thousands of years.
Archaeologists from NUI Galway have studied the wider Knocknarea landscape extensively. The summit plateau shows evidence of Neolithic settlement - hut sites, chert tool debris, and smaller tombs aligned towards Carrowmore below. The mountain was a ritual centre long before anyone wrote down stories about Queen Maeve.
Frequently Asked Questions
