Overview
Keshcorran Hill – known locally as Keash Hill – rises to 360 m in the Bricklieve Mountains of north-west County Sligo. Its sheer white cherty cliffs are punctuated by sixteen dark-mouthed chambers – the Caves of Keash – labelled A to P, that contrast sharply with the pale rock. A well-marked 3.4 km out-and-back trail leads walkers from the Keash Hall car-park to the first cave and onward to panoramic viewpoints over Sligo’s fields, the Atlantic coast, and the Dartry Mountains. The hill’s summit is crowned by the massive, unopened Neolithic cairn known locally as the Pinnacle. Beyond the caves themselves, the hilltop holds a dense archaeological landscape: scattered hut sites, court tombs, and a large walled enclosure that mark a ritual and settlement complex used for millennia.
The Walk & The Caves
The trail begins at the Keash Hall car-park, passing through a kissing gate onto a foot-worn path that climbs steadily through grassland and scrub. Red arrows on black discs guide the way to the first and largest opening, Cave A. From here, the route branches toward several named chambers, each with its own character:
- Coffey Cave (Cave J) – the most accessible entrance and a natural starting point for most walkers, named after an early excavator.
- Hermit’s Bedroom (Cave E) – a narrow recess used by a 19th-century hermit.
- Cave K – noted for its dramatically wide mouth, which frames an open view of the surrounding countryside.
- Cormac’s Cave – the largest chamber, linked by legend to High King Cormac Mac Airt. On clear days, Croagh Patrick and Nephin are visible on the western horizon from its entrance.
- Water Gallery – a twisting passage that retains a damp, river-like atmosphere even in summer.
- Pollagcaddy (“The Thieves’ Hole”) – filled with distinctive limestone “cauliflower” formations, likely shaped when the chamber was part of a former quarry.
- Teacher’s Cave – historically used as a hedge school during the Penal era.
- Plunkett Cave (Cave P) – named after Thomas Plunkett, one of the site’s early excavators.
- Deeper chambers – several caves remain sealed with metal grilles for safety, but their imposing entrances are clearly visible from the trail.
Because all sixteen caves face west, they catch the full afternoon light. During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun aligns directly with the openings, flooding the chambers with golden illumination that lasts for several hours – the equinoxes (around 20 March and 22 September) are among the best times to visit.
Beyond the caves, the path climbs to the steep brow of Keash Hill. The viewpoint here stretches across the rolling farmland of the Bricklieve range, with the Atlantic coastline visible to the west and the Dartry peaks to the east. Although the Pinnacle cairn is closed to the public, its distinctive silhouette dominates the skyline and can be admired from several outlooks along the route. Information panels near the trailhead summarise the prehistoric discoveries, helping visitors contextualise the landscape’s long-standing human presence.
History & Mythology
The Caves of Keash are far more than a scenic walking route; they are a layered archaeological site with over twelve millennia of recorded use. The caves formed in Carboniferous limestone through atmospheric weathering, which carved vertical shafts perpendicular to the cliff face. Glacial boulder beds at several entrances mark the reach of the last ice age, approximately 13,000 years ago. Inside, quartz crystals are common, and some chambers feature low stalagmite floors now often marked by fox and badger burrows.
Excavations beginning in 1901 by Robert Francis Scharff, R. J. Ussher, and Robert Lloyd Praeger – and continued in later decades by Tatjana Kytmannow – uncovered a rich sequence of deposits showing continuous human activity spanning more than 12,000 years. Ice-Age fauna – including brown bear, Arctic lemming, Irish elk, grey wolf and red deer – have been dated to around 10,000 BC. Later layers show continued use into the Bronze Age: a bear bone from c. 6,000 BC, a Bronze Age spearhead, and a horse bone from c. 400 BC. Human remains span from the Neolithic to the early medieval period, alongside artefacts such as bone needles, a polished stone axe, bronze pins, and Viking-style bone combs. Human teeth dating from the Iron Age to the early medieval period point to ritual deposition, likely tied to seasonal gatherings.
Archaeologists believe the site’s function shifted over time. During the Neolithic, the caves may have served excarnation rituals connected to the passage-tomb cairn on the summit. Iron-Age layers contain clusters of animal and human teeth, suggesting votive offerings tied to Lughnasa celebrations honouring the god Lugh. Early medieval strata hold a hearth, Scandinavian-style comb fragments, and a crossbow bolt beside a tibia, hinting at temporary habitation and possibly a violent encounter.
The caves are equally steeped in Irish myth. The Dindshenchas (lore of places) tells of Deirdre-the-sow and the harper Corann, whose music calmed a monstrous sow that transformed into the hill. The Cath Maige Mucrama records that future High King Cormac mac Airt was born at a well at the foot of Keshcorran and raised by a she-wolf in the cave that now bears his name. Medieval tradition also links the caves to the forge of Lon Mac Líomhtha, blacksmith to the Tuatha Dé Danann – Fionn mac Cumhaill supposedly ventured into the darkness searching for it, only to be trapped by three winter hags until Goll mac Morna freed the Fianna. An 18th-century diary even likens the cavern to the “Hellmouth” of Rathcroghan, where a runaway calf allegedly dragged a woman into the darkness. These stories cement the caves’ reputation as traditional portals to the Otherworld.
Practical Information
- Distance & difficulty: 3.4 km (out-and-back), classified as Strenuous, with a total ascent of 88 m. The path includes a short, steep section with a few steps.
- Waymarking: Red arrows on black discs guide the route; a kissing gate marks the entrance to the off-road section.
- Access & parking: The trailhead is at Keash, signposted from the R295 (Ballymote → Boyle) – turn left before the Eastern Harps GAA pitch. A newer car park adjacent to St Kevin’s RC Church accommodates 20+ vehicles; the original two-space layby at the trailhead fills quickly at weekends, but the larger car park is a short walk away. Additional overflow parking is available on the roadside near the parish hall.
- Restrictions: Dogs are not permitted on the off-road sections as the trail crosses working farmland.
- Safety: Recent monitoring has identified a risk of falling rocks on the sheer face surrounding the caves. Walkers should heed warning signs and avoid standing directly beneath overhangs.
- Facilities: No permanent facilities exist on the hill. Visitors should bring water, sturdy footwear, and a torch for interior cave viewing.
Getting There
Keash lies about 12 km north-west of Ballymote and 20 km south-west of Sligo town. The most convenient route is via the R295, turning left onto the local road signposted for Keash Hall. Public transport is limited; the nearest Bus Éireann stop is in Ballymote, from where a local taxi can complete the short drive. For those driving, the car-park at Keash Hall provides free roadside parking. Arriving early in the day helps avoid the midday sun on the exposed limestone slopes, and checking the weather forecast is essential given the coastal winds that sweep across the hilltop.
Nearby Attractions
After exploring the caves, consider extending your day with other Sligo highlights:
- Benbulben – the flat-topped mountain above Sligo, with several walking routes along its dramatic escarpments.
- Bricklieve Mountains – the broader limestone range that includes Keash Hill.
- Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery – one of Ireland’s largest prehistoric burial sites, just a short drive north.
- Caves of Kesh – another impressive limestone cave system on the neighbouring Keshcorran ridge.
- Ballysadare River – for a scenic riverside walk and salmon fishing.
These sites can be linked together for a full-day itinerary exploring Sligo’s rich archaeological landscape and dramatic scenery. Bring a fully charged phone for navigation, as mobile signal can drop in the limestone hollows near the trailhead.