Knocknarea & Queen Maeve’s Trail

Knocknarea rises like a whale's back above the Sligo coast, crowned by Miosgán Médhbh — the great unopened cairn where Queen Maeve of Connacht is said to stand buried upright, spear in hand, facing her enemies in Ulster. The Queen Maeve Trail climbs from Strandhill through forest and along boardwalk steps to the summit plateau.

The panorama is among the finest in the northwest: Ben Bulben, Sligo Bay, the Ox Mountains and the Atlantic surf at Strandhill below. Respect the cairn — walking on it is discouraged. The climb is steady but short, on a well-built path.