Walking Sheemore (The Hill of the Fairies), Leitrim

A few weeks ago, I had a day off work, so I headed to Leitrim. I was booked in for an aroma bath at Drumhierny Wellbeing Sanctuary, but as I was up bright and early (as usual), I had plenty of time to explore beforehand.

I love a good walk, and I’d heard plenty about Sheemore, also known as the Hill of the Fairies, so that became the plan. It was hard to find much information beforehand, in fact Leitrim Tourism doesn’t have it on their website. The Leitrim Tourism Network does though: https://www.leitrimireland.com/listings/sheemore-glenville-co-leitrim-sheemore-hill-of-the-fairies/

Getting there, however, was easier said than done. There are plenty of signs for the Sheemore Trail around the Leitrim Village area, but they seemed to send me round in circles. To be fair, my sense of direction isn’t the greatest, so after a while I gave up and searched for “Sheemore Car Park” instead.

The car park itself is lovely, but once you’re there, there’s nothing to tell you where you’re actually supposed to go. I followed the track and eventually made my way up the hill. Whether it was the official route or not, I honestly couldn’t tell you. Hopefully some signage will be added because I can’t be the only person left wondering if I’m heading the right way.

The walk itself is grand. It’s relatively short, although it’s steep enough in places. The ground is uneven, lumpy and bumpy (a bit like myself), so it’s worth watching your footing as it would be easy enough to twist an ankle. I’d imagine it gets very muddy and slippery after heavy rain too, so I’d recommend going when there’s been a dry spell.

I was delighted to reach the cross at the top, which I believe is illuminated at night. What I wasn’t quite so delighted to see were the telecommunications masts. I understand they’re necessary, but I couldn’t help wondering if they could have been placed somewhere other than on a cairn. I’ll probably get a bit of flack for saying that, but I’d rather be honest. I also noticed that many of the photos I’d seen beforehand were taken from angles that conveniently don’t show the masts.

If you’re interested in the history and folklore of Sheemore, there’s a fascinating website that explains much more about the hill and its archaeological importance:
https://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/misc/sheemor.html

Would I recommend visiting?

Yes… eventually.