Highlight • Historical Site
Queen Maeve's Grave (Knocknarea Cairn)
Hiking
5.0
(151)
Running
5.0
(1)
An isolated hill on the coast of Ireland’s beautiful County Sligo, Knocknarea is visually-arresting as it rises from the landscape. On the Cúil Irra peninsula, this domed limestone hill reaches 1,073 feet (327 m) and is topped with an extraordinary, enormous summit cairn.
Known as Queen Maeve’s Cairn, it’s said to be the burial place of the mythical queen of Connaught in Irish mythology. It’s thought to have been created around 3000 BCE and contain other graves. A Neolithic embankment and evidence of huts and tools has revealed the hill to be a significant meeting place in prehistory.
Exploring mythology and history with coastal views
Queen or no queen, an adventure on Knocknarea rewards in many ways. Thanks to its peninsula location, the trails to the summit and the top itself are all blessed with excellent views of the surrounding scenery. As you make your way to the hill, its stacked limestone cliffs, covered in grass, are mesmerising.
There are numerous ways to reach the top, allowing you to tailor your adventure to the time you have. The trails are generally easy underfoot, wide and clear to follow, but the higher you go, the steeper it gets. Nonetheless, it’s a perfectly suitable outing for enthusiastic children as well as adults.
You can ascend this beautiful hill at any time of year but it does lie on an exposed, Atlantic coastline. The weather conditions can change quickly no matter what season, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear. Dogs are only allowed on some paths and must always be on a lead, so pay attention to signage.
Known as Queen Maeve’s Cairn, it’s said to be the burial place of the mythical queen of Connaught in Irish mythology. It’s thought to have been created around 3000 BCE and contain other graves. A Neolithic embankment and evidence of huts and tools has revealed the hill to be a significant meeting place in prehistory.
Exploring mythology and history with coastal views
Queen or no queen, an adventure on Knocknarea rewards in many ways. Thanks to its peninsula location, the trails to the summit and the top itself are all blessed with excellent views of the surrounding scenery. As you make your way to the hill, its stacked limestone cliffs, covered in grass, are mesmerising.
There are numerous ways to reach the top, allowing you to tailor your adventure to the time you have. The trails are generally easy underfoot, wide and clear to follow, but the higher you go, the steeper it gets. Nonetheless, it’s a perfectly suitable outing for enthusiastic children as well as adults.
You can ascend this beautiful hill at any time of year but it does lie on an exposed, Atlantic coastline. The weather conditions can change quickly no matter what season, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear. Dogs are only allowed on some paths and must always be on a lead, so pay attention to signage.
Tips
Seebi
May 4, 2017
Hiking
Large burial mound on the Knocknarea near Sligo. The climb is nice and not too long. Allegedly the queen was buried standing here in her armor!
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Turnsackerl 🇦🇹
August 23, 2017
Hiking
Short hike over partly stony and wet ground. Great panorama!
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Bumble-Bee
March 10, 2021
Hiking
Queen Maeve's Grave (irish: Miosgán Meadhbha) is large passage tomb situated on the top of Knocknarea Mountain (327m), dominating the landscape of the Coolera peninsula in County Sligo. Legend says, …
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Queen Maeve's Grave (Knocknarea Cairn)
Details
Informations
Elevation 380 m
Good to know
Family Friendly
yes
Wheelchair access
no
Dog Friendly
yes
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Tuesday 21 July
19°C
11°C
22 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h
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