20 Attractions to Explore Near Gortarowey Forest Recreation Area

Benbulben is Ireland’s most distinctive mountain and known in some parts as Ireland’s version of Table Mountain. It is the western point of the Dartry Mountains, a large and bulky collection of heads and glaciated valleys. The mountain is formed from Dartry limestone. It was shaped during the ice age, when Ireland was under glaciers. Originally it was a large plateau. Glaciers moving from the northeast to southwest shaped it into its present distinct formation.

Ballygilgan is a national nature reserve of approximately 73 acres the Maugherow Peninsula in County Sligo, Ireland. It is home to Ireland’s biggest mainland flock of barnacle geese. The Reserve is west of the village of Carney on the shore of Drumcliff Bay, Special Area of Conservation, between the road and Lissadell Strand.

This beautiful south-facing beach is very popular with locals and tourists alike. The area is well known for walking, swimming, surfing and other watersports and in winter Bird Watching. There is also a little river which runs along the beach and makes a fantastic playground for kids.

Lissadell is famous as the childhood home of Constance Markievicz, her sister Eva Gore-Booth and her brother Josslyn Gore-Booth. The house was built between 1830 and 1835, and inhabited from 1833 onwards, for Sir Robert Gore-Booth, 4th Baronet by London architect Francis Goodwin. In 1876, Sir Robert left the house and surrounding estate to his son, Sir Henry Gore-Booth, 5th Baronet.

The Gleniff horseshoe is a nice 10km loop along quiet roads with spectacular views and dramatic and wild Dartry Mountains. The walk also provides dramatic views of the Donegal Bay and the Ulster County beyond. The drive takes around 30 minutes and it’s a fine way to spend a rainy afternoon, while the walk stretches for around 2.5 hours and treats you to some glorious Sligo scenery.

This is a vast sandy beach with dunes and a lagoon behind with fantastic views over the sea to the mountains of Donegal.This is an exposed beach with reef breaks which create ideal surfing conditions all year round. Located close to the village of Grange with restaurants and pubs and an outdoor play area.

The beautiful island of Dernish is located at Carns, off the coast of Moneygold, close to the old church at Ahamlish, in Carbury, the ancient kingdom of North Sligo. It is a tidal island, cut off from the mainland except at times of spring tides, when it is possible to walk out across the beach from O'Connor's Island.

A beautiful freshweater lake located in the northwest of Ireland. It covers an area of 1.15 square kilometres and lies mostly in County Leitrim with a smaller part in County Sligo. Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake's north shore on the Leitrim side.

Truskmore Mountain is the highest point in County Sligo and County Leitrim, which is part of the Dartry Mountains. The edges of this plateau are marked by high cliffs, including Ben Bulbin , Benwiskin , Slievemore and Kings Mountain. A good trekking destination and also it offers beautiful views from here.

The 15m-high Glencar Waterfall is situated near Glencar Lake, 11km west of Manorhamilton, County Leitrim. It creates a truly magical atmosphere. A short, picturesque wooded walk offers varied viewing platforms to enjoy the waterfall. The facilities on site include a car park, picnic area, public toilets, playground, tea room and Tourist Information Point.

Glencar Lough locally known as Glencar Lake, is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It covers an area of 1.15 square kilometres and lies mostly in County Leitrim with a smaller part in County Sligo. Glencar Waterfall is located near the lake's north shore on the Leitrim side. Glencar Lough is primarily fed by Glencar Waterfall, on the lake's northern shore, and by the Diffreen River, entering at the lake's eastern end.

Coney Island is the largest and the most famous of the three islands off the northern coast of the Coolera peninsula. It is an island of approximately 400 acres and is named after the vast quantity of rabbits which can be spotted on the island at any time. The island which is 1½ miles long by ¾ mile across is accessible by boat from the pier at Rosses Point, but the most popular route is by way of Cummeen Strand when the tide is out.

This well preserved site is said to be one of the largest court cairns in Ireland. The monument is located in the N15 Donegal to Sligo road, 200 meters north of Creevykeel cross-roads close to Cliffoney village in County Sligo. The original name for the Creevykeel monument is Caiseal an Bhaoisgin, the Fort of Bhaoisgin, Tober an Bhaoisgin being the name of the well near the cairn. A second megalithic monument existed 300 meters to the north, but it was demolished around 1890.

The Famine Monument, which is located opposite The Harp Tavern in Quay Street, and was erected here in July 1997 in memory of all those who died and suffered during the famine. The monument depicts a family in the depths of despair, starving and with no hope for the future, yet the child, a young girl can be seen pointing towards the ships, one of which would carry them to a new life in America or Canada.

Mullaghmore Head in County Sligo is a very special place and a deserving Signature Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Point. The village of Mullaghmore is a charming fishing village with a working harbour and a beautiful sandy beach with great views of Benbulben. It is a holiday destination with a skyline dominated by Ben Bulben mountain. It is in the barony of Carbury and parish of Ahamlish.

This is a museum dedicated to the history of County Sligo. It was housed in a former manse on Stephen Street, Sligo town. The Yeats Room here is full of manuscripts, photographs, letters and newspaper cuttings associated with the local poet William Butler Yeats including a copy of his 1923 Nobel Prize winning medal and a complete collection of his poems from 1889 to 1936.

Yellow strand is at the Raghly peninsula. It is a long sandy beach which is always, even on a hot summer's day, very quiet. This beach doesn't have any lifeguards and it is dangerous for swimming. A popular location for a small picnic and also there are so many things to see and do here.

This is one of Ireland's most important contemporary arts centres with an extensive and vibrant programme of visual and performing arts. The gallery houses several exhibition spaces focusing on contemporary art and education activities, a cinema/venue for concerts, an artist-in-residence programme, and a collection of 20th-century Irish art called the Niland Collection. This collection is named for the former Sligo County librarian, Nora Niland.

This is a building of outstanding historical and architectural interest in Sligo town. Designed in the Arts & Crafts style, and built in 1899, as a branch of the Belfast Banking Company. This building is now the Headquarters of the international Yeats Society, from which the Society keeps in contact with members all over the world, and from where the Yeats International Summer School and Winter School are administered, as well as the day-to-day running of the Society.

Tievebaun Mountain is a mountain in County Leitrim, Republic of Ireland. The height of the mountain is 611 metres. The mountain is known for its cliffs. The main summit of the mountain is named "Eagles Rock". The mountain is most notable for its cliffs as well as the pinnacles which are located on the eastern and northern sides. The pinnacle known as Eagles Rock is actually the mountain's main summit.