Ben Bulben loop
Walking Trail · Sligo
Ben Bulben loop is a 5.5 km easy waymarked loop in Sligo, starting near Sligo Town.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 1.25 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Gortarowey Forest entrance car park, near Sligo Town.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 54.36149, -8.50143
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 16
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
This loop takes you on forest road along the northern face of the iconic Benbulbin table top mountain with panoramic views of Sligo and Donegal Bays, Inishmurray Island and the Ox and Knocknarea Mountains and as far as Sliabh League on a clear day.
Before you go
For Further information on the Ben Bulben loop, visit www.SligoWalks.ie
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Coillte West
Coillte Sligo, Unit 4/5 Pearse Plaza, Pearse Road, Sligo. Tel: 1890 367378 Fax: ++ 353 71 9143014
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Elsewhere
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Gortarowey - Multi Access 51 m away · 0.2 km trail
- Carney Walk 3.2 km away · 2.7 km trail
- Rosses Point Coastal Walk 6.9 km away · 2.2 km trail
- Sruth in Aghaidh An Aird - The Devils Chimney 7.4 km away · 2.5 km trail
- Raghly Walk 10 km away · 2.2 km trail
- Deerpark - Court Tomb Trail 12 km away · 2.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Ben Bulben loop?
5.5 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 45 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1.25 hours.
How hard is the Ben Bulben loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Ben Bulben loop start?
Starts at Gortarowey Forest entrance car park, near Sligo Town. The trailhead is at 54.36149, -8.50143.
Can you bring a dog on the Ben Bulben loop?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Who manages the Ben Bulben loop?
Coillte West. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Sligo
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.