Walking
in Carlow

Blackstairs Eco Trails is a gold accredited eco-tourism centre based 5kms from Borris at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountains. Robert and Mary White offer bespoke foraging events, wild-mushroom workshops and – Meetings with Remarkable Trees – an event dedicated to Ireland’s native trees with an accompanying short film introducing guests to the native Irish trees. School visits and company days’ out are catered for and the eco centre is available for private and family events. Their award-winning shepherds’ huts offer warm, cosy accommodation with state-of-the-art facilities in their restored heritage barn with surrounding wild flower meadows, small lake and six acres of young oak wood with a maze running through. Good Wi-Fi, ample parking for 30 cars, electric car charger for guest use, all set in a completely private environment. Blackstairs Eco Centre provides a wild food experience for guests to enjoy. Their motto is, Keep It Wild.

The Kilbrannish Trail links both the Kilbrannish North set of trails and the Kilbrannish South set of trails to make one complete circuit. You will encounter different colour waymark arrows on both sides for the various shorter loop walks but note that you will be following the Orange markers throughout.

Start at the car park at Kilbrannish North Forest Recreation Area. Parking here for c. 12 cars & picnic bench. If this is full you can park at the top of the hill at Corrabut Gap and walk back down. The John’s Hill Loop follows forest roads for c.4 kilometres to reach the loop proper which is c.3 kilometres. The loop walk around John’s Hill is not suitable for buggies.

A-B: Follow the path straight up from the car park to reach the forest road above. Turn right and follow a well surfaced forest road as it climbs gently uphill towards a small windfarm

Three looped walks in Kilbrannish South Forest offer routes to suit all abilities, rewarding walkers with fantastic views over the Carlow countryside.

Two way-marked forest trails of approximately 2 km and 4.2 km give walkers the choice of a short or medium route. Both routes climb through mixed woodland to elevated sections with lovely views over the South Blackstairs and the Barrow Valley. Walkers can opt to start at the forest entrance to enjoy the full 4.2km walk or drive to the alternative start up the forest road at the forest road junction.

Bahana Forest takes its name from the Irish word for ‘Beitheanna’, meaning a place of birch trees. This route covers a distance of 4.5km along forest tracks and the River Barrow towpath, one of the great ancient highways of Ireland’s Ancient East. From its starting point on the quayside in St. Mullins, take the towpath for approximately 15 minutes, before following a canal away from the river to reach St. Mullins Sea Lock – the river is tidal up to this point.

Oak Park forest Park is a mature, mixed species woodland of over 120 acres with a predominance of beech, oak, scots pine, silver fir, larch and sycamore. Boasting a rich diversity of wildlife, the lakes and their surrounds provide a habitat for swans and ducks, while the islands shelter many wild and game birds. Extending over four kilometres the walks include Butlers Wood Loop (700 metres), the Lake Path (800 metres), Fox Covert Track (1,100 metres) and Sally Island Trail (1,100 metres).

Starting in Kildavin in east Carlow and extending to Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary, this trail showcases the Majestic Mount Leinster, the highest peak in the Blackstairs Mountains at 795m. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of Brandon Hill and the Barrow Valley, with rich flora and fauna from Kildavin to Borris and onwards to Graiguenamanagh.

Tracing its way from Mount Leinster in Carlow to Bangor in County Down, across Ireland and eight countries of Europe to Bobbio in Northern Italy, the Colomban Way is inspired by St. Colombanus, a 6th century monk and pilgrim who was born in the shadow of Mount Leinster, near the village of Myshall.

Mountain Adventures 74 is a multilingual outdoor company located just outside Tullow offering guided day hikes and climbing sessions in the Wicklow Mountains, Mount Leinster, the Blackstairs, Comeragh, Galtymore and weekend guided hikes to Kerry, Connemara, Donegal, the Mourne Mountains and all over Ireland.

TinnahTinnahinch, on the Carlow side of the River Barrow, and Graiguenamanagh on the Kilkenny side, are popular boating centres whose character reflects a bygone time when the area was an important focal point for commercial traffic on the river. Both towns are connected by a beautiful bridge, constructed in 1767 when the canal system was being built.

Tinnahinch Castle was built around 1615 by James Butler who later lost his lands because of his involvement in the Confederate War of 1641. It was built to control a crossing where a wooden bridge once spanned the River Barrow. The castle was burnt around the year 1700 and has lain that way ever since.

Upper Borris was largely built by the McMorrough Kavanagh family who trace their ancestry directly to Dermot McMorrough, King of Leinster. It is characterised by the numerous 19th century granite buildings which give the town its epithet ‘Granite Town’.

Borris is a Georgian, granite town, full of charm and heritage nestling in the fertile valley of the River Barrow.

Eight counties can be viewed from this spot – Carlow, Laois, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and the mountains of Tipperary, and on a clear day the coast of Wales, to the east.

The Nine Stones Viewing Point provides an unrivalled vista of the rich and colourful Carlow countryside spread out like a tapestry before you.

Stretching 113km from County Kildare to the monastic village of St. Mullins in South Carlow, this route follows the towpath alongside Ireland’s second-longest river. It provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, scenic mountains and extensive woodlands.

Clashganny Forest Trails offer the user gentle walks on forest roads and along the Barrow Way eith magnificient views of Clashganny Lock and the River Barrow. Much of the walk is through an old wood which has had forest cover present since the 1800’s.

Walk with Tullow Mountaineering Club and The Blackstairs Ramblers.

Ending in the Carlow village of Clonegal, 127km from its starting point in Marley Park, Dublin, this path passes through mountain lakes, rolling countryside and the beautiful Glendalough valley. A certificate of completion can be obtained from the Weavers Cottages in Clonegal Village, opposite the Wicklow Way Park. From Clonegal, the South Leinster Way is just a short 3km distance from its starting point in nearby Kildavin.

Killbrannish Forest Recreation Area (North) on the Blackstairs Mountains features two signposted trails – the Windfarm Loop is 3km in length and is suitable for families with young children. The Kilbrannish Forest Loop is 5 kilometres in length taking approx. 2 hours to complete. A circular route to John’s Hill covers a distance of 11km.

Clogrennane Wood near Carlow Town offers the user a gentle sloping 4km walk on forest roads with magnificent views of Carlow Town and the River Barrow on a clear day. The area is an old wood and has had forestry cover present since the 1800’s.