Overview
The Yeats Trail is a sign‑posted touring route that weaves together fourteen locations across County Sligo that are directly linked to the life and work of Ireland’s Nobel‑prize poet, William Butler Yeats. Launched in March 2023, the trail was created to let visitors “see the Sligo landscape through the eyes of Ireland’s national poet”. Each stop is marked by a purpose‑built artistic installation – a “suite of elements” – that displays verses associated with the site and provides a place to sit, reflect and listen to the surrounding soundscape.
The route forms a natural loop that can be completed in a single day, though many travellers choose to spread the experience over two days to fully enjoy the forest walks, mountain vistas and coastal panoramas. The trail complements the Wild Atlantic Way and is promoted as a cultural‑heritage attraction that showcases Sligo’s folklore, archaeology and natural beauty.
History & Development
Although Yeats was born in Dublin, he spent much of his youth and adult life in Sligo, referring to the county as the “Land of Heart’s Desire”. His mother’s Sligo roots and the poet’s frequent wanderings across the county’s hills, lakes and beaches left an indelible mark on his poetry – from The Lake Isle of Innisfree to Under Ben Bulben.
The idea of a dedicated trail emerged from a partnership between the Department of Rural & Community Development, Sligo County Council and Coillte, the state‑owned forestry board. Funding was secured through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (€500,000) and an additional €170,000 from the council, bringing total investment to almost €1.2 million. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme also contributed to parking upgrades and trailhead information.
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rural Regeneration & Development Fund | €500,000 |
| Sligo County Council | €170,000 |
| Total investment (incl. ORIS) | ~€1.2 million |
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys officially opened the trail on 31 March 2023, accompanied by Yeats’s granddaughter Caitríona Yeats. The ceremony highlighted the trail’s role in “culture meets tourism” and its potential to draw thousands of visitors each year.
Design & Sustainability
Landscape architects at LUC were commissioned to design the way‑marked stops. Their brief was to blend contemporary art with the existing character of each site, using natural materials and a “light‑touch” approach so that the poetry and scenery remain the focus. The installations are durable, low‑maintenance and intended to last for generations while encouraging responsible enjoyment of the environment.
All fourteen pieces were created in collaboration with artist Annie West, whose work interprets Yeats’s verses through sculptural seating, engraved stone and subtle sound‑scapes. QR codes at each stop link to the official website for deeper background, audio recordings of the poems and interactive maps.
What to See & Do
The fourteen stops are a blend of natural wonders, historic monuments and cultural sites. Highlights include:
- Knocknarea – The loop begins at this iconic mountain, home to the ancient cairn traditionally identified as the burial place of Queen Maeve. Yeats referenced the peak in Red Hanrahan’s Song.
- Rosses Point – A seaside village where an installation celebrates the whole Yeats family. The beach offers views of Oyster and Coney Islands.
- Drumcliffe Graveyard – The poet’s final resting place, marked by the inscription from Under Ben Bulben: “Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by.”
- Lissadell House – A 19th‑century country house once visited by Yeats; its gardens and beach are open in summer.
- Ben Bulben – The table‑mountain that dominates the skyline and inspired the poem Under Ben Bulben.
- Glencar Waterfall – Though just over the Sligo border in Leitrim, the falls feature in The Stolen Child.
- Hazelwood – A national forest on the shores of Lough Gill, mentioned in The Wind Among the Reeds. A new art piece invites contemplation of Half Moon Bay.
- Deerpark (Giant’s Grave) – A 6,000‑year‑old court tomb, one of Sligo’s most impressive Neolithic sites.
- Innisfree – One of the 22 islands on Lough Gill, the imagined setting of The Lake Isle of Innisfree.
- Slish Wood – Former oak forest with a lakeshore trail that forms part of the Sligo Way; Yeats alluded to it in In Reveries Over Childhood and Youth.
- Dooney Rock – Overlooks Lough Gill and is celebrated in the fiddle‑inspired poem The Fiddler of Dooney.
- Union Wood – Home to mythic figures such as the Cailleach Berra; the installation includes a limestone inkwell with swans.
- Ballisodare – Site of the Salley Gardens waterfall that inspired the lyric “Down by the Salley Gardens”.
- Glen Wood – Under the Ox Mountains, offering views of Doomore Mountain and the sea; it inspired the play At the Hawk’s Well.
At each location, QR codes link to the official website for deeper background, and the installations provide seating, poetry excerpts and audio loops that bring the verses to life.
Trail Length & Route Options
The Yeats Trail forms a roughly 100 km circular route that can be tackled in a single long walk or broken into shorter sections. Popular options include:
- Full‑day loop – ambitious walkers can complete the entire circuit in 8‑10 hours, combining the forest walks around Ben Bulben with the coastal stretch at Rosses Point.
- Two‑day itinerary – split the loop at the Gortarowey Forest car park, staying overnight in Sligo town or a local B&B.
- Cycling or scenic drive – the signed forest roads between Knocknarea, Gortarowey and the Lady Anne Walk are suitable for cyclists; the same roads make an enjoyable self‑drive tour.
The trail is sign‑posted throughout, and each stop is marked with a distinctive metal plaque and QR code.
Interpretive Art & Audio Experience
Annie West’s installations are deliberately low‑tech yet immersive. Each piece incorporates:
- Sculptural seating – stone or timber benches shaped to echo the poem’s theme.
- Engraved verses – key lines are carved into the stone, often positioned to catch the wind.
- Sound‑scapes – subtle speakers play ambient recordings (waves, wind, birdsong) alongside a short reading of the relevant poem, triggered by the QR code.
Visitors can use the QR code to stream a professional audio reading of the poem, view background information, and download a downloadable map for offline use.
Practical Information
The Yeats Trail is free to access and open year‑round; there are no entry fees at any of the sites and no seasonal closures. Because the route follows public roads and existing forest trails, it is self‑guided – visitors can download the interactive map (PDF) from the official site or use the QR codes on‑site.
Parking – Recent upgrades provide free car parking at the main trailheads:
- Knocknarea car park (basic spaces, limited disabled bays)
- Gortarowey Forest Car Park – a new facility serving the Ben Bulben Forest Walk and the Yeats stop there
- Lady Anne Walk car park at Lough Gill (small number of spaces, disabled bays marked)
Accessibility – Most of the trail is suitable for families and casual walkers. The installations are wheelchair‑friendly where the ground is level, but the ascent to Ben Bulben and some steep sections of Knocknarea require a reasonable level of fitness and are not wheelchair accessible.
Dogs – Dogs are welcome on the trail provided they are kept on a lead, in line with Coillte’s policy.
Cycling & Driving – While the full 100 km loop is primarily a walking experience, the route can be broken into shorter sections for cycling or a scenic drive. Quiet forest roads between stops such as Gortarowey and the Lady Anne Walk are popular with cyclists.
What to bring – Weather in Sligo can change quickly; bring waterproof clothing, sturdy walking shoes and a map (or a fully charged phone). The QR codes require an internet connection, but a printed map is also available from the visitor centre in Sligo town.
For further details, maps and contact information, visit the official site: Yeats Trail – Home. The site also offers a downloadable route guide, contact details for the project team, and links to partner organisations such as Coillte and the Yeats Society.
Nearby Attractions
If you have extra time, combine the Yeast Trail with other Sligo highlights:
- Benbulben Forest Walk – A 6 km family‑friendly loop with additional views of Ben Bulben (see the dedicated car parks at Gortarowey). More information at the Coillte website.
- Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery – One of the largest collections of megalithic tombs in Ireland, just a short drive from the trail’s Knocknarea start.
- Carrowkeel Megalithic Complex – Another impressive Neolithic site, offering guided tours during the summer months.
- Ballymote – A historic town with a well‑preserved castle and market square, perfect for a lunch stop.
- Bunduff Strand – A Blue Flag beach ideal for a post‑walk dip or sunset walk.
Walk the Yeats Trail and let the poetry of the landscape guide you through Sligo’s most treasured vistas.