Walking trail

Corn Hill Walking Trail

Trail Class 3

Trail Grade Moderate

Also known as Cairn Hill or Carn Clonhugh, Corn Hill is located between Drumlish and Ballinalee, in the parish of Killoe and is a lovely hill walk to County Longford’s highest peak at 278m. 

  • Distance: 3.2km
  • Parking available
  • Picnic spots on route
  • Mixed terrain – stone path & dirt track
  • Short but steep in places.
Map of the Corn Hill Walking Trail, highlighting a 3.2 km mixed terrain route with nature illustrations—buzzard, badger, pine marten—and key features, including the highest point at 278m and trail information for visitors.
Three children in colourful winter coats and hats stand on a grassy hill, facing away from the camera and looking out over a wide, green landscape under a bright blue sky.
A panoramic view of a rural landscape with fields, scattered houses, and patches of woodland under a blue sky with scattered clouds; distant hills stretch across the horizon.
Walking Trail

Overview

There are two cairns (ancient passage tombs) on the summit of Corn Hill. The larger of the two has been damaged. The smaller, second cairn is situated 50m to the west.

One legend suggests that one of the cairns was the burial place of Furbuidhe, slain by the followers of Queen Meabh of Connacht, after he slew her following the epic Táin Bó Cualaigne (Cattle Raid of Cooley). Local lore also states that the larger cairn was called ‘Carn Caille’, after an ancient witch ‘Cailleach a Bheara’, who dropped stones from her apron as she flew over the hill.

Cairns are stone passage tombs consisting of a narrow passage leading to a roofed chamber. The roof was usually corbelled, and the structure was covered in a circular-shaped mound of stone, often edged with kerbstones.

Many cairns occur in a cluster of two or more monuments.

The most famous example of an Irish passage tomb is Newgrange, which dates to c. 3000BC. However, it is likely that the Corn Hill’s cairns are earlier in date.

A panoramic view of a rural landscape with fields, scattered houses, and patches of woodland under a blue sky with scattered clouds; distant hills stretch across the horizon.
A memorial stone set in grass honours Michael (Mike) Prunty with an inscription celebrating his dedication to the Irish community in New York and his generous spirit.
Three children in colourful winter coats and hats stand on a grassy hill, facing away from the camera and looking out over a wide, green landscape under a bright blue sky.
A metal gate with a sign reading “Welcome to Corn Hill Walking Trail Entrance” under a small image of a hill with a tower, set outdoors on a sunny day.
A scenic view from a hilltop shows a dirt track and fence running along grassy terrain, overlooking wide green fields under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
A sign for the Corn Hill Walking Trail displays a map and route information. Below it are a "No Dogs Allowed" sign in English and Irish, and a green dispenser labelled "Mutt Mitt" for dog waste bags. Bushes and blue sky are in the background.
A signpost for the Drumlish Heritage Trail stands on grass by a barbed wire fence. It provides information about Corn Hill (altitude 942 feet) and its local history, with the number 20 in an orange circle at the top right-hand corner.
Walking Trail

Nearby Attractions

Carriglas Manor in Killoe

While in the area, you can visit Carriglas Manor in Killoe. This Tudor-Gothic style house was built in 1837 and was the home of the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Thomas Langlois Lefroy. The Lefroy family had literary connections with novelist Jane Austen. It is even believed that she based the character of Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice on Thomas Lefroy.

Drumlish Mill

Leaving Drumlish in the direction of Arva, you see Drumlish Mill. This mill has stood for at least 200 years, dating from 1854. (although there may have been on the site for many more years at a nearby dwelling house)

Titanic Memorial and Garden

The Titanic Memorial and Garden in nearby Ennybegs is a poignant monument to Killoe’s connection with the Titanic disaster. Unveiled in 2012, precisely 100 years after the ship sank, the centrepiece is an anchor donated by Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The memorial is dedicated to James Farrell of Clonee, one of three young people from Killoe parish who sailed on the Titanic. Sadly, he was lost, but he helped to save his friends Kate Gilnagh and Kate Mullen, who were neighbours from the townland of Rhyne.