Knocknashee [Knocknashee Common] [Cnoc na Si]

Rising abruptly from the Sligo plains near Tubbercurry, this distinctive flat-topped limestone plateau offers a short but rewarding ascent. Known as the 'Hill of the Fairies', its summit plateau is enclosed by the remains of a massive prehistoric hillfort, providing expansive views across to the Ox Mountains and the iconic profile of Benbulbin.

• •The name is derived from the Irish Cnoc na Sí, meaning 'Hill of the Fairies', reflecting a long-standing folk belief that such prominent limestone plateaus served as gateways to the Otherworld.
• •The summit plateau hosts one of Ireland's largest Bronze Age hillforts, containing the remains of two massive stone ramparts and over thirty circular house foundations within its thirty-acre interior.
• •Geologically, the hill is a classic example of a limestone syncline, an isolated remnant of a rock layer that has survived while the surrounding landscape eroded away over millions of years.
• •From the highest point, the view stretches across the Moy valley to the Nephin Beg range in Mayo, while the nearby Ox Mountains form a rugged dark wall to the north.
• •Despite the supernatural name, you are significantly more likely to encounter a grazing sheep or a stiff Atlantic breeze than a member of the fairy folk on the summit.