Lough Gill & Ox Mountains

Lough Gill is Yeats's lake - home to the Isle of Innisfree that inspired his most famous poem. This circuit combines the wooded lakeshore with the wild Ox Mountains, revealing a gentler Sligo away from the dramatic coast.

Why This Route?

Lough Gill and the Ox Mountains offer:

• Isle of Innisfree - Yeats's legendary island
• Wooded shores - Oak forests and walking trails
• Parke's Castle - Plantation fortress on the water
• Ox Mountains - Quiet upland wilderness
• Dromahair - Charming Leitrim village

The Route

Starting from Sligo Town

Head southeast along the lakeshore.

Hazelwood

Forest park on Lough Gill:

• Sculpture trail
• Lakeside walks
• Ancient oak woods
• Picnic facilities

Dooney Rock

Where Yeats imagined his fiddler:

• Forest walk
• Lake views
• Poetry connection

Innisfree Viewpoint

The best view of Yeats's island:

• Small island visible from shore
• Interpretation panel
• Boat trips available (seasonal)
• The real Innisfree - smaller than imagined

Dromahair

A quiet Leitrim village with:

• Old Abbey (Creevelea)
• River Bonet
• Traditional pubs
• Good stop for lunch

Parke's Castle

Plantation-era fortified house:

• Beautifully restored by OPW
• On the lakeshore
• Audio-visual show
• Boat trips to Innisfree depart here

Lough Gill Circuit (North Shore)

The quieter northern shore through County Leitrim:

• Narrow roads
• Forest glimpses
• Less visited

Return to Sligo

Complete the lake circuit.

Ox Mountains Extension

From Sligo, head south into the Ox Mountains:

Ladies Brae

Mountain pass with:

• Panoramic views
• Bog landscape
• Quiet roads

Lough Talt

Mountain lake with:

• Picnic area
• Fishing
• Tranquil setting

Coolaney

Village at the mountains' foot:

• Services
• Traditional character
• Walking trails

Return via N17

Through Collooney to Sligo.

The Isle of Innisfree

The Poem

Yeats's "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" (1888) is Ireland's most famous poem: "I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree..."

The Reality

The island is small, tree-covered, and uninhabited. Yeats knew it from childhood boat trips.

Visiting

• Boat trips from Parke's Castle (summer)
• You don't land on the island
• Views from shore equally evocative

Parke's Castle

History

Built around 1610 by Robert Parke on the site of an earlier O'Rourke tower house.

The Building

• Defensive bawn (walled enclosure)
• Three-storey tower
• Restored in 1980s

Visiting

• OPW site
• Admission charge
• Guided tours
• Boat trips depart here

Walking

Hazelwood Forest

Multiple trails through ancient woodland:

• Sculpture trail (1.5km)
• Lakeshore walk
• All abilities options

Slieve Daeane (Ox Mountains)

Moderate mountain walk:

• 490m summit
• Bog terrain
• Panoramic views

Union Wood

Near Collooney:

• Waymarked trails
• Historic woodland
• Wildlife

Practical Tips

1. Innisfree - Best seen by boat; book at Parke's Castle
2. Parke's Castle - Check OPW opening times
3. Ox Mountains - Roads narrow and winding
4. Lough Talt - No facilities; bring provisions
5. Dromahair - Good lunch stop with pub food