Why Drive the Sligo to Trim Route?
Enjoy the dramatic architecture of Sligo Abbey. Where did those pointed arches and stone tracery come from? Appreciate the tranquil views of Glencar Lough viewpoint and waterfalls. See Quintessential Ireland – white sheep on green hills – at the Gortmaconnell trail head. The best part was how few tourists were here.
Read on to find out how to make the most of your time — decide which places you should visit, see which photos fascinate you, as well as get links to our custom Google maps and itinerary planning information.
Author & Photographer: George Mitchell
Our content and advice are derived from our personal experience and knowledge, gained from living in Europe for seven years and studying its art and architecture. Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate links – we do not have any. Ireland is one of our favourite destinations.
All of our recommendations are top-rated by Google Maps, which is based on the opinions of everyone, not just tourists. Each place recommended in our posts and our Ireland North Map is appended with a Google Maps Rating (G0 to G5).
Sligo
So what do you do when it rains in Ireland? You could visit a castle or other Heritage Ireland (OPW) site, You could visit a museum or go shopping if you are in a city. You can eat or drink at a pub.
On rainy Day 27, we continued to tour scenic sights but focused on things that were not hidden by low-flying clouds.
Sligo Abbey
It was a rainy day, so we started by visiting the ruins of an abbey in downtown Sligo. This Dominican Friary was originally built in 1253, destroyed in 1414, and again in 1595 and 1641. It follows a Norman architectural style based on Romanesque with Saracenic influences. Really?
The Normand dynasty also ruled Sicily from 1070 to 1200, where it was influenced by Byzantine and Saracenic architecture. The term Normans means Norsemen! In 911, the Vikings invaded Normandy and stayed. William the Conqueror of Normandy later invaded Great Britain in 1066 and changed the course of history as well as the English language!
The central nave still remains without a roof. But the majesty of the stone arches and walls still remains.
The best part was the evocative cloister. Parts of the abbey still remain to give rain cover.
Here is what the abbey looked like in the sun the day before.
Glencar Lough Viewpoint
The Glencar Lough Viewpoint (G4.5) provides a broad view of the steep-sided valley. By our luck, the sun came out to brighten up the grassy views.
Glencar Waterfall
The short walk up from the parking lot brought two views. The lower Glencar Falls (G4.7) tumble between flowering rhododendron trees. The upper falls soared down in one powerful spout.
The parking lot had a beautiful setting along Glencar Lough (lake G4.8) between two mountain ranges.
Gortmaconnell Walk
The hike was cancelled due to rain. Instead, we ate lunch at the trailhead. By the end of lunch, the sun had come out.
Trim
Finally, we arrived in Trim as the sun set and the rain stopped. Out came a full arch rainbow. Well, that’s a first. So where are the leprechauns when you need them?
If you want to read about what we did in Trim the see:
Final Comments on this Itinerary
This is a very tranquil day trip, very far away from the crowds of tourists who head to sites that are famous because of name recognition. The main purpose of this route would be to quit the longer North of Ireland itinerary to get to Trim and the Dublin Airport.
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Itinerary Maps & Guides
This itinerary is part of our Best Places for 2 Weeks in the North of Ireland and Ireland North itineraries.
Ireland North Map – our custom Google map
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