Overview
This is the easy way to stand right under Benbulben without climbing the thing. The mountain’s flat, fluted top is a familiar sight across Sligo, and this 5.5 km (3.5 mile) loop through forest gets you beneath its northern face on a forest road. Sport Ireland lists the loop at around 75 minutes, with about 45 metres of ascent.
Be clear about what it is, though: a forest-road loop, not a wild mountain trail. For much of the way you are walking under pine with the mountain hidden, and open stretches give views across Sligo Bay towards Knocknarea and Inishmurray. The loop stays below the summit.
The Walk & What to See
Start at Gortarowey Forest’s signed entrance car park and follow the trail markers. Keep dogs on a lead and follow forestry signs or diversions. Keep to the forest path and respect adjoining land. For a shorter outing, turn back along the route when you have walked far enough.
The Cashelbaun ringfort, an early-medieval stone fortification, is recorded on this ridge. The trail runs through Corsican and Scots pine on a compacted gravel and pine-needle surface. As the woodland thins, you get glimpses of the open hills beyond, and the contrast between the dark pine canopy and the pale, weathered rock of the mountain is striking, especially in the low light of late afternoon.
The slopes above the forest hold Arctic-alpine plants left behind by the last Ice Age, among them the rare Fringed Sandwort; hares, foxes and choughs are all regulars. The quiet hollow of Glencarbury, just to the north, was a working baryte mine from 1894 right up to 1979, which is hard to picture now.
Getting There & Parking
The forest is just off the N15, north of Sligo town and a short drive past Drumcliffe village, where W.B. Yeats is buried. Follow the signposts for the forest recreation area and use Gortarowey Forest’s signed entrance car park. Check current bus connections to Drumcliffe before you travel, as public transport is limited in this rural stretch.
Practical Tips
- Footwear: sections can become soft or muddy during winter months. Sturdy walking shoes or light hiking boots are recommended.
- Weather layers: the Atlantic weather changes quickly, and open stretches can be windy. Bring a waterproof jacket and a fleece.
- Best time to visit: early morning is usually quietest, with the best light for photography. Spring brings fresh green undergrowth, while autumn turns the canopy to gold and russet.
- Dogs: keep dogs on a lead for the whole route, and under close control near ground-nesting birds.
- Before you go: download a trail map before you set out, as phone signal can be patchy under the trees.
Exploring Further
The Benbulben Forest Walk sits in a corner of Sligo packed with history and natural beauty. If you have more time, combine it with a visit to the Gleniff Horseshoe, a dramatic glacial valley loop just a few miles away. For a touch of literary history, drop down to the churchyard at Drumcliffe to see Yeats’s grave under the mountain he asked to be buried beneath. Further afield, the ancient passage tombs at Carrowmore and the coastal elegance of Classiebawn Castle make excellent additions to a day trip.