Hill running routes Sligo

Magoo78

Anyone recommend a few decent hill routes in Sligo or Leitrim, preferably with tracks?

Need to start incorporating some good hills into my longer runs as training for Warriors run. I'm starting to run knocknarea itself and was wondering does anyone know any other routes up bar last years and the traditional one? Union wood/Slish decent enough aswell but looking for some hard slog to try and get my stamina/fitness up before doing speed work come June

Adi CkonSh

Just wondering if you ever found any decent routes around sligo, looking for some myself now.
Thanks
A

DULLAHAN2

If you are going to do the warriors run then best to train on the hills you will be running IMO

Adi CkonSh

Not doing the warriors run, training for an event in Scotland, can't always get to Wicklow or Connemara, so wondering if there's anything locally that I could do on the way home from work.

T runner

Knocknarea:

Up traditional route take right after gate, follow path along fence, then along wall to summit from North side.

Up traditional route throough gate, keep climbing another 30 metres uop with fence on left. Take left where fence veers off at 90 degrees. After 20 metres take right and climb on a track through a gully to summit from south east.

Up new route. Once through gate and clear of farm filkeds turn left instead of warriors route right. Follow a wall all the way to summit. This will take you along wall that is joined on race route closer to summit.

From Strandhill, pass Dunes tavern, left up right of way, through forest to summit. (300 metres gained). Thius passes through farmers land so make sure you know what youre doing here.

Drive to Benbulben farm. Climb walkers route to summit benbulben. (400 metre climb). Kings mountain via kings gully. Ring Sligo walking group before talking routes up Benbulben due to trespass issues.

Adi CkonSh

I actually commute between carrick on shannon and sligo so anything in Leitrim or out Carrowkeel direction much appreciated too

T Runner, thaks for those will definitly give them a go.

T runner

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

I actually commute between carrick on shannon and sligo so anything in Leitrim or out Carrowkeel direction much appreciated too

T Runner, thaks for those will definitly give them a go.

Give the Sligo walking crew a ring and they will sort you out with routes. There should definately be stuff on teh curlews and Carowkeel. Also the hill in Ballymote has a Cairn and would be a 200m+ climb. Thats not too far off the Sligo road.

The local walkers are your best bet for ideas on routes though.

If you find more, post them here.

n-dawg

Do you mind me asking what race your doing in Scotland? I've been living here for about 6 months and the hill races are bloody tough compaired to races in the rolling hills of wicklow...

Adi CkonSh

T runner wrote: »

Knocknarea:

Up traditional route take right after gate, follow path along fence, then along wall to summit from North side.

Did this one on the way home from work, great 30 minute run (with some puffing and panting walking too), much nicer route than all the gravel on the normal route. Thanks

n-dawg, it's not a pure running race, I'm doing the Nokia coast to coast race in scotland.

Adi CkonSh

Here's another one that cool running posted on a mayo sligo run thread

There is also Truskmore, its 4k up to the top of the RTE mast and its a tarmac road. Seriously tough, never done it myself just walked it a few times.
http://ims0.osiemaps.ie/website/publ...74316,846852,5

T runner

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

Did this one on the way home from work, great 30 minute run (with some puffing and panting walking too), much nicer route than all the gravel on the normal route. Thanks

n-dawg, it's not a pure running race, I'm doing the Nokia coast to coast race in scotland.

There used to be a beautiful route through the forest at Rathcarrick. Wide enough to march a small army through but completely canoppied that led though a gate to the steep part you climbed today. If you climb it again, look to your right before the steep bit and youll see the gate.

The climb you went up is probably better for training purposes than the main tourist climb. Try and jog all the way up. Go as slowly as possible. Anytime the gradient eases slow right down and recover with a very very slow jog. The longer you can jog up the climb the more endurance that your legs get.

Would have been an obvious ascent or descent route for the Warriors run when they couldnt use the same up as down anymore due to congestion (was actually used in 1988 as the climb) but Coillte felled some of it 5 years ago and the rest is now overgrown and impassable.

Another one is to go past the cairn on teh Strandhill path. This will bring you down a grassy path to the forest. Follow it down and it turns into a forest path. Follow this down and youll come to a path leading either left or right.

The right leads to a clearing about 50 metres away and running through this leads to a few sheep paths back up to the upper parts of the mountain. Ive only been there once or twice so youll have to experiment.

Its a great wee mountain for finding routes. If you find a new one let us know!

Also there is a big hollow about 200m to the NW of the Cairn. Ive heard that all the rocks were carried up teh hill for teh Cairn. I think an excavation of that quarry was more likely. If you come across it have a look.

n-dawg

Cool, that race has always kinda appealed to me but I couldn't justify the cost... The run from Glen Nevis to Kinlochlevan is great (Trail run on day two). You get a wonderful sense of how isolated some parts of the highlands are, terrain wise its not too tough, it mostly follows the west highland way.

dna_leri

I would highly recommend parts of the Sligo Way - see here.

Especially the section 6 - from Collooney to Slish Wood, via Union Wood and Slieve Deane. For a good climb, approach from Ballygawley (accessible even though the road is currently marked closed for road works). Park near the first entrance and follow the marked path on your right (along the side of the small house). From there the route is signposted with Yellow walking man which brings you up towards Slieve Deane and on towards the hidden lake (Lough Dageanna?), ending up across the road from the usual Slish Wood entrance.

I usually go up as far as the end of the stoney path and head back down, do a 5 mile loop in Union and maybe another hill to finish.

Another website with good information is mountainviews.ie - one of the routes I plan to try out is Benbo.

DULLAHAN2

dna_leri wrote: »

I would highly recommend parts of the Sligo Way - see here.

Especially the section 6 - from Collooney to Slish Wood, via Union Wood and Slieve Deane. For a good climb, approach from Ballygawley (accessible even though the road is currently marked closed for road works). Park near the first entrance and follow the marked path on your right (along the side of the small house). From there the route is signposted with Yellow walking man which brings you up towards Slieve Deane and on towards the hidden lake (Lough Dageanna?), ending up across the road from the usual Slish Wood entrance.


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Would you have a garmin link for this route? This looks like a good run.

dna_leri

DULLAHAN2 wrote: »

Would you have a garmin link for this route? This looks like a good run.

Sorry no garmin, but its really quite easy to find.

Start here on the ballygawley to sligo road (R284), turn up right beside the house.
At the top of the first hill turn right (signposted with yellow walking man). Follow the path for about 400m then turn right, still signposted. Continue straight up, the real hill starts after about 400m. The path seems to fork after the steepest part, keep right, going on up. From there all you can do is follow the path as far as you want.

I am usually there each Sunday, so PM me if this does not work and I'll show you.

DULLAHAN2

dna_leri wrote: »

Sorry no garmin, but its really quite easy to find.

Start here on the ballygawley to sligo road (R284), turn up right beside the house.
At the top of the first hill turn right (signposted with yellow walking man). Follow the path for about 400m then turn right, still signposted. Continue straight up, the real hill starts after about 400m. The path seems to fork after the steepest part, keep right, going on up. From there all you can do is follow the path as far as you want.

I am usually there each Sunday, so PM me if this does not work and I'll show you.

Good man i know where you are now. It would be a great run to start at the entrance to union wood and run around the lake and go up that way. I might give that a go tomorrow.

Adi CkonSh

That Sligo way route sounds good, will have to give it a go. Any idea what sort of distance the run you described is dna_leri?

Mountain views is a great site, got details to do Cuilcagh up near Enniskillen from there, nice trail and for Lugnaquilla in Wicklow. Haven't done any local hills from it though. These were both mostly walking although the trail to get to the main climb for Cuilcagh is a nice run.

n-dawg really looking forward to the race, it'll definitly be a one off with the costs involved, especially when you add ferries and accommodation on, but a gorgeous part of the world.

neilc

dna_leri wrote: »

I would highly recommend parts of the Sligo Way - see here.

Especially the section 6 - from Collooney to Slish Wood, via Union Wood and Slieve Deane. For a good climb, approach from Ballygawley (accessible even though the road is currently marked closed for road works). Park near the first entrance and follow the marked path on your right (along the side of the small house). From there the route is signposted with Yellow walking man which brings you up towards Slieve Deane and on towards the hidden lake (Lough Dageanna?), ending up across the road from the usual Slish Wood entrance.

I usually go up as far as the end of the stoney path and head back down, do a 5 mile loop in Union and maybe another hill to finish.

Another website with good information is mountainviews.ie - one of the routes I plan to try out is Benbo.

I'm going down home next weekend and am really tempted by this route if I can persuade my brother to do it with me. Any idea of distances of the sections from Union to Ballygawley and from Ballygawley to Slish. I'm nearly sure the Slish loop is around 2.5 miles. Thanks.

Adi CkonSh

neilc wrote: »

I'm going down home next weekend and am really tempted by this route if I can persuade my brother to do it with me. Any idea of distances of the sections from Union to Ballygawley and from Ballygawley to Slish. I'm nearly sure the Slish loop is around 2.5 miles. Thanks.

Just mapped the Ballygawley to Slish section on map my run and for an out and back it's just under 14k. Very approximate was using the Sligo Way map, but haven't run it myself.

dna_leri

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

Just mapped the Ballygawley to Slish section on map my run and for an out and back it's just under 14k. Very approximate was using the Sligo Way map, but haven't run it myself.

Ran the Ballygawley to Slish route Sunday and came back along the road, turned right along R287 after coming down from Sligo Way, then next right along Arnasbrack brings you back to Ballygawley. Don't have a garmin but estimate 18-19K round trip. Route is pretty mucky in places - still some improvements in progress - but its passable if not runnable.

T runner

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/15083349

Hers one on Benbulben.

It starts at the corner near Benbulben farm.

I repeated the climb a few times to get training for a long hill race i think.
I climbed steeply beside and in a gully but there is a nice zig zag to the right which will get you up.

Once up there you can follow paths over to kings mountain, or circuit teh back edge for teh views.

Someone mentioned theer may be an issue with the path now. Im not sure so have mailed Sligo walking club.

dna_leri

Tried out another hill run yesterday on the other side of Dartry (Benbulben), starting at the tourist car park at Glencar Waterfall. According to the map in the car park it's a 3.5 km trail, obviously one way.

You go back along the road towards Sligo about 100m then turn up right along a tarmac road. It's steep uphill for about 2K, with killer switchbacks and turns into a gravel track, and later after crossing a few stiles, a grass path. After the stiles there is a fork in the road and a signpost for The Dooneens (to the right) or Hudson's Road (to the left). At the end of the Dooneens there is a another signpost leading back to "Hudsons Road via fork in the river". I tried but failed to find the loop so ended up retracing my steps.

There are probably other paths you can follow from there to bring you further round the mountain but you are pretty close to the top there.

T runner

dna_leri wrote: »

Tried out another hill run yesterday on the other side of Dartry (Benbulben), starting at the tourist car park at Glencar Waterfall. According to the map in the car park it's a 3.5 km trail, obviously one way.

You go back along the road towards Sligo about 100m then turn up right along a tarmac road. It's steep uphill for about 2K, with killer switchbacks and turns into a gravel track, and later after crossing a few stiles, a grass path. After the stiles there is a fork in the road and a signpost for The Dooneens (to the right) or Hudson's Road (to the left). At the end of the Dooneens there is a another signpost leading back to "Hudsons Road via fork in the river". I tried but failed to find the loop so ended up retracing my steps.

There are probably other paths you can follow from there to bring you further round the mountain but you are pretty close to the top there.

I ran there a few years ago.

If you go left at the top (and youve time on your hands) you can go the whole way to KIngs mountain. There are lovely waterfalls and small hills and valleys and gullies to cross as you stick to the edge.

I got completely lost in mist up there so if anyones considering going to Kings mountain from there, pick a clear day or else turn thr out and back function on on your well charged GPS.

Very rewarding day out it is though. 3hrs +

neilc

dna_leri wrote: »

Ran the Ballygawley to Slish route Sunday and came back along the road, turned right along R287 after coming down from Sligo Way, then next right along Arnasbrack brings you back to Ballygawley. Don't have a garmin but estimate 18-19K round trip. Route is pretty mucky in places - still some improvements in progress - but its passable if not runnable.

Was down home for the weekend but didn't chance the Union to Slish route, was concerned how passable it would be after all the rain last week.
Decided to do some of the Warriors route itself instead. As it happened I had an 18 miler to do for my marathon plan which lent itself well to three 6 mile laps around the mountain from the top of the village. Didn't bother with the off road top of the mountain section. Still was a very challenging hilly run. Forgot what a b1tch of a hill the Glen Road is which was no fun third time around :eek:. Still, managed to stay running the whole time so was delighted with the run and even got my brother to join me for the last lap.
Garmin link

T runner

neilc wrote: »

Was down home for the weekend but didn't chance the Union to Slish route, was concerned how passable it would be after all the rain last week.
Decided to do some of the Warriors route itself instead. As it happened I had an 18 miler to do for my marathon plan which lent itself well to three 6 mile laps around the mountain from the top of the village. Didn't bother with the off road top of the mountain section. Still was a very challenging hilly run. Forgot what a b1tch of a hill the Glen Road is which was no fun third time around :eek:. Still, managed to stay running the whole time so was delighted with the run and even got my brother to join me for the last lap.
Garmin link

Well done very solid run there.

Unfortunately the route i posted for Benbulben seems to have been blocked.

This was the situation last January at least.

http://mountainviews.ie/summit/402/comment/6193/

Has anyone used the new carpark at Barnaribbon and what are the possibilities from there?

Adi CkonSh

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

Here's another one that cool running posted on a mayo sligo run thread

Did this run up Truskmore this evening. Took me 35mins up and 25 down. Tarmack was killer on the shins on the way down. Was really windy and cloud bound up top, so it was great to be able to get to the top by just following the road. Passed one of the RTE engineers up the top, he left a note on my windscreen saying "well done, not an easy run" (thanks mr rte if your a boardsie ) so unlike the rest of this area runners and walkers are obviously welcome on the RTE mast path. Be warned though, parking is seriously limited near the gate.

dna_leri

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

Did this run up Truskmore this evening. Took me 35mins up and 25 down. Tarmack was killer on the shins on the way down. Was really windy and cloud bound up top, so it was great to be able to get to the top by just following the road. Passed one of the RTE engineers up the top, he left a note on my windscreen saying "well done, not an easy run" (thanks mr rte if your a boardsie ) so unlike the rest of this area runners and walkers are obviously welcome on the RTE mast path. Be warned though, parking is seriously limited near the gate.

10K race in this area this evening, starting at ballintrillick school, around the horseshoe and back. Does not go up Truskmore, but tough enough all the same.

Adi CkonSh

dna_leri wrote: »

10K race in this area this evening, starting at ballintrillick school, around the horseshoe and back. Does not go up Truskmore, but tough enough all the same.

Would definitly be a tough one. Saw some signs for it at some stage, but didn't realise the date. There's still a fair bit of height gain even on the horseshoe. Hope it goes well. Are you running in it? Might try the route at some stage, but will be at work tonight.

dna_leri

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

Would definitly be a tough one. Saw some signs for it at some stage, but didn't realise the date. There's still a fair bit of height gain even on the horseshoe. Hope it goes well. Are you running in it? Might try the route at some stage, but will be at work tonight.

Yep, doing it as part of warriors prep. Basically 5K uphill then back down, elevation gain of about 160m with toughest section at 1K mark near the old mill - gradient of about 10%.

woody1

did it last year... nice little race...but man that first hill is steep..and there are some other steep hills after that.. flat - downhill for second half , cant do it this year ...

Adi CkonSh

dna_leri wrote: »

Yep, doing it as part of warriors prep. Basically 5K uphill then back down, elevation gain of about 160m with toughest section at 1K mark near the old mill - gradient of about 10%.

You'll have to give us a race report after

dna_leri

Adi CkonSh wrote: »

You'll have to give us a race report after

Report over on by log

saltrock2007

hi guys,
i know this is a pretty old post, but i was just wondering if there was a mountain running club in sligo. I have just moved to sligo and looking to do some mountain running here. Im pretty fit and have been doing it on the east coast a fair bit.
cheers

Adi CkonSh

Nothing that I've ever found, might be a bit of activity around Galway, but IMRA is very much a Dublin/Wicklow thing. There is a training group called Tralua Trail Running I think, I occasionally see their signs about. Other than that the only race is the Warriors run from Strandhill up Knocknarea, it sells out in about an hour though, so you've got to get in quick.

DULLAHAN2

saltrock2007 wrote: »

hi guys,
i know this is a pretty old post, but i was just wondering if there was a mountain running club in sligo. I have just moved to sligo and looking to do some mountain running here. Im pretty fit and have been doing it on the east coast a fair bit.
cheers

There's no hill running clubs that i know off, you should check out sligo AC http://www.sligoathleticclub.com/ where alot of the guys there would do what ur looking for