A dramatic horizontal line of 16 limestone caves carved into the cliff face of Keshcorran Hill — rich in Irish mythology, Ice Age archaeology, and panoramic views over three counties.
A short but steep 650m trail climbs ~90m from the car park through open farmland to the cave line. Allow 20–25 minutes up and 40–60 minutes round trip. The path is waymarked with red arrows but gets very slippery after rain — sturdy boots are essential. A rest bench sits halfway up the steepest section.
Sixteen caverns (labelled A–P) sit in a striking horizontal row along the cliff. Some interconnect; most are shallow but a few reach ~30m deep. Cave E is nicknamed the 'Hermit's Bedroom', and Cave P (Plunkett Cave) is one of the largest. Bring a torch to peer deeper into the darker recesses — sheep often shelter in the entrance caves, so expect farmyard smells.
From the cave mouths you get sweeping views across south Sligo, east Mayo, and Roscommon. On a clear day you can spot Croagh Patrick, Lough Mask, and Lough Corrib gleaming in the distance. Sunrise and sunset here are spectacular for photography.
These caves permeate Irish legend: Cormac Mac Airt, the legendary High King, was said to have been raised here by a she-wolf. Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his Fianna were imprisoned in the caves by three Otherworldly hags. The site was also the setting for one of Sligo's largest Lughnasa assemblies on Garland Sunday (last Sunday of July).
Above the caves, the hilltop is crowned by an unexcavated Neolithic passage tomb cairn — part of the broader Carrowkeel megalithic complex and likely older than the Pyramids. The climb from the caves to the summit (359m) is rough and pathless, but the 360° panorama rewards those who make the effort.
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