Known also as Cairn Hill or Carn Clonhugh, the hill rises between Drumlish and Ballinalee. On a clear day the open summit gives a sense of the surrounding fields and lowlands.
The two cairns are archaeological monuments from a much earlier period than the farms and villages below. Folklore links one with figures from Irish legend; those stories are worth hearing, but do not settle the question of the monuments’ original use.
Visit Longford describes a 3.2 km walk, graded moderate, with mixed stone and earth surfaces. There are steep sections despite the relatively short distance.
The walk is a different experience from a village heritage trail. Go to the designated starting place and follow the mapped route, rather than assuming paths run directly from Drumlish or Ballinalee.
Keep off the cairns themselves. They are surviving prehistoric structures, not piles of loose stones for climbing or moving.
The signed walk is 3.2 km and graded moderate, with some steep mixed stone-and-dirt sections. The two summit cairns are protected monuments: admire them without climbing or disturbing the stones.
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