Description
Another unique mountain in County Sligo is Knocknarea, a large prominent limestone mountain located on the Coolera peninsula.
With its steep limestone flanks, it is a popular hike location where a 6km looped walk provides you with spectacular views as far as County Donegal.
On top of Knocknarea is one of Ireland's largest cairns known as Queen Maeve's cairn which is believed to contain a Neolithic passage tomb. The large cairn which measures 55 meters across and 10 meters in height was probably built around 3400BC. Some of the smaller tombs which can be found dotted around the summit are potentially even older.
The ancient cairns are protected National Monuments, so climbing onto these monuments is strictly forbidden.
Queen Maeve and Knocknarea Mountain are mentioned in several of Yeats' poems and are of keen interest in Irish myth.
Every year, Knocknarea is the battlefield where many runners battle it out to be crowned winner of the Warriors run. In this race, approximately 1000 runners start in Strandhill village nearby the canon and run up Knocknarea to Queen Maeve's cairn from where they decent back towards the village. The best runners finish this 16km course in about 50 minutes.
Facilities:
Car park
Picnic benches
Walk/climb:
You have a choice on how to climb the mountain. You can leave from either the Strandhill side or from the Glen Road (Knocknarea Car Park). The entire loop is about 6km.
With its steep limestone flanks, it is a popular hike location where a 6km looped walk provides you with spectacular views as far as County Donegal.
On top of Knocknarea is one of Ireland's largest cairns known as Queen Maeve's cairn which is believed to contain a Neolithic passage tomb. The large cairn which measures 55 meters across and 10 meters in height was probably built around 3400BC. Some of the smaller tombs which can be found dotted around the summit are potentially even older.
The ancient cairns are protected National Monuments, so climbing onto these monuments is strictly forbidden.
Queen Maeve and Knocknarea Mountain are mentioned in several of Yeats' poems and are of keen interest in Irish myth.
Every year, Knocknarea is the battlefield where many runners battle it out to be crowned winner of the Warriors run. In this race, approximately 1000 runners start in Strandhill village nearby the canon and run up Knocknarea to Queen Maeve's cairn from where they decent back towards the village. The best runners finish this 16km course in about 50 minutes.
Facilities:
Car park
Picnic benches
Walk/climb:
You have a choice on how to climb the mountain. You can leave from either the Strandhill side or from the Glen Road (Knocknarea Car Park). The entire loop is about 6km.