Western Circuit

From Sligo: Take a short diversion west of Sligo to Strandhill on R282, fantastic sandy beaches, even a Surf Shop in season, and around Knocknarea Hill with a passage tomb dated from c3,000BC on top (supposedly the cairn of Queen Maeve of Connaught). Rejoin the N4 and head south to Ballysadare and then west on the N59 towards Ballina. After 17 miles with views on the right across Sligo Bay towards the sea-cliffs of Donegal and on your left across the wet peat bogs to the OX Mountains. Take the right turn onto the R297 road through Easky and Enniscrone (fading sea-side resorts) to the Ballina. Take the R294 across the Ox Mountains (peak height 416/512m). After Lough Talt, the best view on the road, take a left turn at Mullrany's Cross for a country road back to Colloney & Sligo. If low on fuel continue to Tobercurry and take the N17/N4 to Sligo.

The Gyreum, Ireland’s first ecolodge to be awarded the EU Eco-Label for tourist accommodation. Located near Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo, overlooking Lough Arrow and nestling in the heart of Sligo’s rich archaeological countryside, A relaxed fun atmosphere makes the Gyreum a popular destination at any time of the year. With open fire, you can spend time relaxing in the circular entrance hall or reading in the cosy, glass domed library. An 100ft wide wooden Christmas-pudding shaped ring fort, a green and discreet hobbit-like edifice overlooking Lough Arrow in rural south Sligo. It's aligned to 3 solar events pointing toward the megalithic cairns of Moytura, Carrowkeel and Queen Maeve's on top of Knocknarae. Alternatively you can explore ancient archaeology sites or surf or walk in the Bricklieve mountains with a qualified guide. Address: Gyreum, Corlisheen, Riverstown, County Sligo. Tel: (353) 71 9165994. E: info(at)gyreum.com. Map.

Eastern Circuits

Many people are drawn to Sligo by the poetry of W B Yeats. On many of the better motorcycle tours in Sligo, one may meet tour buses and walkers, so expect the unwelcome.

• North of Sligo lies Yeat's grave at Drumcliffe at the local Church of Ireland parish church. West of Drumcliffe and off the busy N15 lies Lissadell House, historic home of the Gore-Booths. Daughter Eva was a poet and Constance was a leader in the Rebellion of 1916 and an icon of revolutionary Ireland.
• From Lissadell continue along the back roads north towards Grange. Near Grange on Streedagh Strand a memorial records that three ships of the 1588 Spanish Armada were wrecked with the loss of over 1100 lives. Precipitous limestone slopes on the land-side plunge to valleys and farming countryside. North is Mullaghmore a fishing and holiday village. Nearby is Cassiebawn, where Lord Mount batten's boat was blown up by the IRA in 1979 killing him and 3 others on board.
• East of Mullaghmore beside the N15 lies Creevykeel Court Tomb dating from the late Stone Age. Continue into the Gleniff Horseshoe, a geological marvel and once an mining and industrial centre. Barites, used in the manufacture of paint, glass, china, wallpaper and barium meals was mined here up to 1950. Now the closed valley lies silent. Leaving the horseshoe follow the mountain road left and takes you back to the N15. Before Drumcliffe take a side road left up to Glencar Lake before returning to Sligo town on the N16.
• R288 Sligo town to Dromahair (Leitrim) along the north shore of Lough Gill - Leaving Sligo on the northern edge of the town follow the Enniskillen road N16 for a few yards. As the N16 veers left, continue straight, past Hazelwood, and the road starts to twist and rise before falling steeply to the lakeshore. This is a road you either stop and sight-see or a road on which you concentrate and ride hard. Parke's Castle, a fortified manor built in 1609, near the end of the ride is a good stop for a breather, a coffee and a visit. After Parke's Castle the road turns inland through deciduous forest following the river Bonet to Dromahair, a historic village worthy of a further stop, Site of Crevalea Abbey, a ruined Franciscan friary built in 1550 or even overnight. Several good restaurants, B&B at Stanford's Pub or Dinner, B & B accommodation in the Abbey Manor Hotel, Dromahair (Tel: 071 9164202) for Euro 65 B+B pps (2007 rate).


• Travelling south of Sligo town on the N4, four miles south of Collooney turn east to Drumfin and Riverstown and south towards the beautiful lakes of Loughs Key & Arrow. Further east the land is heavily forested with shallow valleys across to southern Leitrim, Fermanagh & Cavan. Interesting roads, some gravel & mud depending on weather and forestery operations. Around three miles south of Riverstown, Heapstown Cairn stands beside the road, a Neolithic passage tomb. Many of the cairn stones have been plundered for building material, but even its diminished state remains impressive. Go down the eastern shore of Lough Arrow, whose blue waters are set with ringlets of isles and whose banks are dotted with ancient landmarks. When the sun is shining there are few spots to beat it. The road round the southern edge of the lake rejoins the N4. The N4 road into Ballinafad from Boyle over the Curlew Mountains gives the most stupendous view in the whole of Sligo, right up to Benbulben. Ballinafad Castle is sixteenth-century remarkable only because its huge circular towers and squat walls are of thirteenth-century design. The charms of the area may well tempt you to stay to watch the luminous twilight descend on the lake. You have a choice between the Rock View Hotel (tel 071/966 6073; 50–70/£30–40), a down-to-earth angler's hotel halfway down the lough (much further than the signs indicate) – and the more upmarket Cromleach Lodge Country Hotel (tel 071/916 5155) in Castlebaldwin, close to the northern end of the water, which has splendid views from all its rooms and a very classy restaurant. A campsite is adjacent to the Rock View Hotel.