Overview
Knocknashee (Irish: Cnoc na Sí, ‘Hill of the Fairies’) is a table-top hill that rises abruptly out of the drumlin plain of south-west Sligo, a shape you’ll recognise from the N17 between Tubbercurry and Collooney. Its flat limestone cap, ringed by two big earth-and-stone ramparts, encloses a plateau of about 53 acres – one of the largest Bronze Age hillforts in Ireland, and the main reason to make the climb. From the summit the view runs to Keash Hill in the east, the Ox Mountains just to the west, Knocknarea away to the north, and – on a clear day – Croagh Patrick some 80 km off to the south-west.
History & Archaeology
Knocknashee was first identified as a hill-top fort in 1988 during an aerial survey by the Office of Public Works. Archaeologists now classify it as one of Ireland’s largest Bronze Age hill-forts, a fortified settlement that likely functioned as a regional centre around 1000 BC. The fort’s double ramparts are built from limestone and earth, and within the enclosure lie two large Neolithic cairns – thought to be passage tombs – a cluster of around thirty circular hut foundations, and subsidiary ditches that trace the hill at three distinct levels.
The northern cairn measures roughly 28 m in diameter and stands 2.5 m high. It has never been excavated. The southern cairn, also about 28 m across but lower at 1 m, contains a chamber built from large limestone slabs. Its entrance faces north-west, and the chamber floor rests on a single massive slab. Scattered around the cairns are the hut foundations, each 7–11 m in diameter and bounded by low stone walls, some surrounded by shallow fosses. These remains point to a semi-permanent community that lived under the protection of the fort’s defences.
The name is the folklore: Cnoc na Sí, the Hill of the Fairies. W.B. Yeats worked the place into his poem ‘The Ballad of Father O’Hart’, and local tradition points to a ‘wishing chair’ on the southern face – sit in it, catch sight of Croagh Patrick away to the south-west, and your wish is supposed to be granted.
The Walk & What to See
The ascent to Knocknashee is straightforward but physically demanding. Walkers follow red-arrow waymarks from a roadside parking area near the Sacred Heart Church. The route begins at a kissing gate and climbs a steep gravel path, gaining about 120 m over half a kilometre. Along the way, a pair of carved-wood seats offer a brief rest and a clear view back across the Sligo plain.
Once on the plateau, you can take a direct path to the cairns or follow the circular wall-walk that loops the summit. The wall-walk provides constantly shifting perspectives of the surrounding landscape and gives you time to spot the low stone walls and shallow depressions of the ancient hut sites. For the deeper context, Seatrails runs guided walks of the hill led by archaeologist Auriel Robinson, who reads the cairns, the settlement and the wider mythic landscape linking Knocknashee to Muckelty Hill, Carrowkeel and Knocknarea. Check current prices when you book.
Practical Information
- Trail length & time: The waymarked SligoWalks route is 5.5 km with about 120 m of climb – allow around 1.5 hours. The direct pull from the kissing gate up to the plateau is only about half a kilometre, so a there-and-back to the cairns takes most people under an hour.
- Difficulty: Strenuous. The initial climb is steep, and the path includes uneven limestone steps and short stair sections.
- Waymarking: Red arrows guide the route; a stile marks the transition onto the open plateau.
- Parking: Limited roadside space for 2–3 cars just off the N17 near the Sacred Heart Church. Arrive early in summer to secure a spot.
- Access & permissions: The hill sits on private farmland. The landowner permits public access, so visitors are asked to respect the property and archaeological features.
- Dogs: Not permitted on the hill-fort area.
- Facilities: No visitor centre or toilets. A modest car park and a few wooden benches are the only amenities.
- Public transport: Regular bus services run along the N17, with the trailhead approximately 3.5 km from the nearest stop.
- Safety: The path can become wet and slippery, especially after rain. Sturdy walking boots are essential. The summit is open grassland with exposed archaeological remains, so stay on marked routes to protect the site.
Visiting Tips
- Best conditions: Late spring through early autumn offers the clearest visibility and drier ground. Winter visits require caution due to potential ice on the limestone steps.
- What to pack: Water, a windproof layer, and comfortable walking shoes. A camera is highly recommended for the panoramic views.
- Etiquette: Keep to the marked paths, particularly around the cairns and hut foundations. The site is free to visit and open year-round, but its preservation relies on visitor care.
Nearby Attractions
- Benbulben Forest Walk – A 7 km loop that skirts the base of Benbulben, offering forest scenery and additional hill-fort viewpoints. Benbulben Forest Walk
- Carrowkeel Megalithic Complex – A short drive north-east brings you to one of Ireland’s most important Neolithic passage-grave sites. Carrowkeel
- Court Abbey – Ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan friary, often included in extended local walking tours.
- Knocknarea – The hill crowned by the legendary Queen Maeve’s cairn, clearly visible from Knocknashee’s summit. Knocknarea
Go on a dry day for the firmest ground and the clearest view, and give the plateau longer than you think – the cairns and hut circles take time to pick out. Down in Lavagh at the foot of the hill, the Knocknashee Community Hub & Café is the place to warm up afterwards.