Raghly Loop Trail – Or Half a Loop in My Case

We have more walks than you can shake a stick at here in Sligo. There’s a walk to suit everyone, from forest to coastal, and urban to rural, and I went on a very special one over the weekend.

I headed off to do the Raghly Looped Walk, to be honest it took me long enough to get there, because this walk has been open for quite a while now.

Sligo Walks suggests the route takes around 35 minutes, but I’d say longer. You won’t want to rush this one. Between stopping to take photos and sitting for a few minutes to look at the breathtaking views, you could easily spend much longer there.

The weather was stunning. Blue skies, blue ocean, but that cold biting wind, that made my eyes water, an my hair blow all over the place. The sea air is something else, and this location is unspoilt and beautiful. The sea sparkled, and the only sounds apart from the wind, were the waves below and seagulls in the distance that sounded like babies crying.

The walk is amazing, it was like being on the edge of the world. The cliffs along the route are dramatic, but there’s a proper walkway the whole way along, so there’s no fear of falling off the edge while trying to enjoy the view. There are benches dotted along the route too, and it would make the perfect picnic spot.

I loved most was how quiet it was – the joy of getting up early. I only met one other walker while I was there, and having the place almost to myself made it feel even more special. No crowds, no noise, just the sea, the birds, and the flowers blowing in the wind.

The views change depending on which direction you look. At the start of the walk you see Benbulben and Benwiskin.

Further along you’ll see Knocknarea and the Ox Mountains, and on the other side you can see towards Knocklane and Yellow Strand.

Everywhere you turn there’s another view worth stopping for. And I stopped a lot – hence all the photos!

You can also see the Coastguard Station, this was constructed between 1866 and 1871, and there’s an information board to tell you more about it.

I didn’t do the full loop this time because I didn’t have a high-vis jacket with me, and part of the route continues along a minor road. I turned back at the Signal Post instead.

The Signal Posts were used by the coastguard to communicate with passing ships. Different coloured flags would be raised and positioned at different heights along the flagpole to send messages across the water. Standing there looking out to sea, it’s easy to imagine how important these points once were.

If you’re looking for a walk with incredible coastal views that doesn’t feel overly difficult, I’d definitely recommend the Raghly Looped Walk. Bring comfortable shoes, your camera, and maybe a picnic if the weather behaves itself. You’ll want to stay a while.