As we headed south into Ireland from Northern Ireland, we stopped at the Carrowkeel Passage Tombs as the middle point of our road trip. We had intended to do a quick stretch of our legs before moving on. When we arrived, we realized the 3 mile out and back hike to the hilltop Neolithic cemetery would take longer than 20 minutes.
To get to the Carrowkeel Passage Tombs, visitors have to hike across and around several hills…
…and dodge many surprises left by the sheep. The surprises are impossible to miss.
The first 1.2km / .75 miles of the trail is flat before the elevation gently begins to rise.
In total, there are 14 passages tombs however only several can be accessed inside through a small passageway.
The Carrowkeel Passage Tombs are older than the Pyramids of Giza. They have been dated back to 3400 to 3100 BC.
When the Carrowkeel Passage Tombs were first excavated in 1911, cremated human bone, beads from a necklace and shards of pottery were found within.
A collapsed cairn. The original excavator, R.A.S. Macalister, wrongly used dynamite to open several of the cairns. Visitors are encouraged not to walk over the cairns.
Carrowkeel Tombs Overview
- Coordinates:54.059036, -8.394502 (parking area)
- Fees: FREE
- Difficulty: Easy
- Usage: Light
- Length: 3 Miles Out & Back
- Pets allowed: Yes
