- Benbulben and Glencar Loop: A classic road circuit starting from Sligo town, climbing beneath the iconic tabletop profile of Benbulben, passing Glencar Waterfall and Lough Gill, offering moderate hills and breathtaking views of Yeats country.
- Wild Atlantic Way (Sligo Sections): Part of the epic coastal EuroVelo 1 route, traversing north Sligo from Rosses Point through Strandhill and Enniscrone, featuring sweeping beaches, surf spots, and dramatic sea cliffs with gentle to moderate undulations.
- Strandhill to Knocknarea Coastal Path: A short, scenic seaside route combining dedicated paths and quiet lanes from vibrant Strandhill village to the base of Queen Maeve’s cairn on Knocknarea, with Atlantic views and opportunities for beach detours.
- Lough Gill Scenic Circuit: A peaceful loop around the serene Lough Gill on minor roads, passing Parke’s Castle, the Lake Isle of Innisfree, and Hazelwood forest, ideal for relaxed immersion in wooded lakeland scenery and literary heritage.
- Ox Mountains Inland Loop (via Ladies Brae): A challenging hilly route from Collooney or Sligo town into the remote Ox Mountains, featuring steep climbs like Ladies Brae, rewarding descents, and panoramic vistas over blanket bog and distant Benbulben.
- Mullaghmore to Streedagh Beach Coastal Ride: A stunning north Sligo stretch along the Wild Atlantic Way, hugging Classiebawn Castle views, passing long sandy Streedagh strand, and offering exposed Atlantic scenery with moderate gradients.
- Union Wood and Coolaney Trails: A network of forested gravel paths and singletrack in Union Wood near Collooney, combined with quiet lanes to Coolaney village, providing shaded off-road options and moderate climbs for hybrid or mountain bikes.
- Rosses Point to Ballincar Loop: A gentle coastal and inland circuit from the yachting village of Rosses Point, passing Drumcliff (Yeats’ grave) and returning via Lissadell House, with sea breezes, historic sites, and easy terrain suitable for family outings.
Sligo is renowned for its poetic heritage and coastal scenery, with the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery offering one of Europe’s oldest prehistoric sites. The Benbulben mountain provides striking hiking trails, while Strandhill’s beaches are ideal for surfing. The historic Lissadell House and its gardens add cultural depth, making Sligo a rewarding destination for archaeology and natural beauty. Sligo is Ireland’s 22nd largest county by size (1,796 square km) and seventh smallest by population (70,198).
Sligo:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
Cycling
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