Overview
Truskmore (Irish: Trosc Mór, ‘big cod’) is the highest ground in two counties at once. At 647 m it is the county top of both County Sligo and County Leitrim, sitting right on the border and marking the highest point of the Dartry Mountains. Be honest about what it is, though: this is not a wild peak you scramble to. A television mast stands on the summit, and you get there up a steep but fully paved service road. What the climb really buys you is the view, the odd wind-scoured plateau, and two county tops bagged in a single walk.
The two summits
The Sligo high point, at 647 m, sits right beside the transmitter compound – a handy rest, often in the lee of the mast’s heavy guy-wires. About 200 metres away is the Leitrim cairn (Truskmore SE Cairn) at 631 m, on the edge of a steep drop, and it’s the better of the two: the views from that cliff edge are the most dramatic on the mountain, so walk the extra few minutes to it. Between the cairns lies a patch of peat bog that turns soft and slippery after rain. With your back to the compound, Sligo is on your left and Leitrim on your right, past the bog. On a clear day the Leitrim side opens onto the Dartry ridges, Lough Allen and the distant silhouette of Knocknarea above Sligo town.
The mast and broadcasting history
The 175 m lattice mast is the landmark for miles. The site opened on 1 February 1962 as the second of Telefís Éireann’s five original transmitters, and it has carried the national signal ever since. The original 135 m mast did over four decades of service before it was replaced in 2009 for the digital switchover. Today the site is run by 2RN, RTÉ’s transmission arm, broadcasting the Saorview digital television service alongside national FM stations. The compound is fenced, but the ground around it is open to walk.
Getting there and the climb
The access road branches off the Gleniff Horseshoe loop near Ballaghnatrillick and climbs roughly 9 km to the top, gaining close to 600 m. It’s fully paved – gentler on the lower approach, steeper up high, with tight zig-zags near the summit. The final stretch is private and gated, but walkers can step over the gate. Parking is very limited: a small lay-by at the gate takes only a few cars, so arrive early on a summer weekend. There’s no fee, and the site is accessible year-round.
Walking and cycling
Because the whole route is paved, it’s easy enough underfoot, but make no mistake, it’s a haul – allow two hours or more each way on foot, four to five hours for the round trip. Sheep graze the rough pasture the road cuts through, and the surface can turn muddy near the top. For cyclists it’s a serious climb rewarded with a fast, technical descent that wants careful braking.
Practical tips and safety
The summit is exposed and the weather turns fast – strong winds are the norm, and fog can drop visibility to near zero. Carry a map or reliable GPS, because the boggy ground between the cairns easily hides the line across to the Leitrim marker. Sturdy waterproof boots are essential, especially in autumn and winter when the peat is saturated. Dogs are welcome on the road and at the cairns, but keep them on a short lead near the cliff edges. There are no facilities of any kind on the mountain, so bring your own water and food.
Nearby
Truskmore is best taken as one part of the Gleniff Horseshoe, a roughly 10 km driving loop (about 9 km on foot) that rings the mountain’s access road. It passes the ruins of an old Barytes Mill, a quiet spot for a picnic before the final climb, and Diarmuid and Gráinne’s Cave, set high in the cliff face. Further into Leitrim, Lough Allen offers watersports and angling, with an adventure centre at Drumshanbo.
The mast is the summit, but the valley is the beauty. Drive the horseshoe first, then decide whether the legs want the long road to the top.