If you’re a serious rambler or just like to stretch your legs and enjoy the view, then Carlow is a brilliant destination to explore on foot with a wide variety of walks to choose from. The Carlow Autumn Walking Festival is a great opportunity for beginner, experienced. or advanced walkers to enjoy the challenge of Carlow’s mountain treks or the peace of its woodland and riverside walks. A beautiful and varied landscape, knowledgeable local guides and excdlenr accommodation all combine to ensure you enjoy an Autumn break, that will leave you feeling revitalised.
To book a walk, please call Alison Fitzharris on 087 355 3698
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A Walk – Walk 11 The Blackstairs Circuit
€20.00Starting from the Nine Stones you ascend Mount Leinster in a southerly direction. From the TV mast you proceed onto Knockroe before descending into Scullogue Gap. From there the walk again ascends onto the Blackstairs Mountains with stunning views over Carlow and Wexford before finishing in Knockmulgurry.
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A Walk – Walk 2 Scullogue Gap
€20.00Scullogue Gap is the ideal location for a bracing hike – this walk takes in most of the higher peaks of the Blackstairs Mountains including Mount Leinster, Black Rock Mountain and the Cloroge’s.
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A Walk – Walk 3 Take Your Skills to the Next Level
€20.00This walk covers Tomduff Hill, Slievebawn, Mount Leinster and Black Rock Mountain before finishing in Ballycrystal. Led by a professional mountaineering Ireland course director and mountain leader, this walk will cover some useful navigation and orienteering tips, which will take your skills to the next level for hill walking.
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B Walk – Walk 6 Scullogue Gap and Blackstairs Mountain
€20.00This walk is an excellent introduction to the landscape of this beautiful mountainous area and some of its main peaks including Blackstairs Mountain (733 metres) and the historic site of Caher Roe’s Den (564 metres). Caher Roe was reputedly a highwayman or Robin Hood type character who hid his treasure on this part of the mountain in a cave, where some of his stolen loot is apparently still stored!!.
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B Walk – Walk 1 – Dusk Hike
€20.00B Walk – Walk 1 – Dusk Hike. A unique opportunity to experience the magic of walking in the Blackstairs Mountains as evening falls. Spectacular views of County Carlow and surrounding counties can be seen through the falling dusk. Immerse yourself in this captivating landscape, this is a popular walk, not to be missed and is led by experienced local guides The evening hike route is weather dependent and will be decided at the start of the walk. A torch is essential so please bring one, along with suitable outdoor clothing/footwear.
Registration: 18.00 p.m. at the Town Hall, Main Street, Borris, Co. Carlow
Departure time: 18:40p.m.
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B Walk – Walk 1 Night Hike
€20.00A unique opportunity to experience the magic of walking in the Blackstairs as night falls. Walkers love the experience of the mountains at night-time – the peace and tranquility of nature can be seen and heard so clearly and it’s a joy to identify the towns and villages dotted throughout the countryside below. Spectacular views of County Carlow are on offer through the autumn darkness. Experienced guides from local clubs who have regular night walks all year round will accompany the walk. This is a popular walk, not to be missed – a torch is essential. Route will be decided on the night.
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B Walk – Walk 12 Improving Your Hill Skills – Getting the most from your walking trips
€20.00This mountain walk provides an insight into the skills required for hill walking to ensure you get the most from future walking trips. While not a formal course, areas covered will include map reading and navigation. Taking in the forestry trails at Deerpark, the walk then continues onto Greenoge passing the wind turbine station before descending to Corrabut Gap. From there the walk continues through Kilbrannish South Forest along the Black Banks finishing at the famed viewing spot of the Nine Stones. This walk provides great variety for those interested in learning how to navigate different landscapes within the mountains and will include some navigation/orienteering tips. Led by a professional mountaineering Ireland course director and mountain leader. Normal hill walking gear required.
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B Walk – Walk 14 Drummond to Knockmulgurry
€20.00Running from Drummond to Knockmulgurry, this walk starts at the southern end of the Blackstairs range, before continuing northwards to Carriagalachan Gap and then downwards to Knockmulgurry, near the village of Ballymurphy. Fabulous views of the south Blackstairs area.
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B Walk – Walk 15 – Croaghaun and Mount Leinster.
€20.00With a height gain of 433 metres, this route provides a pleasant 4-5 hour walk at any easy pace providing lovely views of the surrounding peaks of Croaghaun and Mount Leinster.
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B Walk – Walk 16 Rathnageeragh Castle to the Nine Stones, Mount Leinster
€20.00This walk commences at Rathnageeragh Castle (in ruins) before ascending Slievebawn and then descending into Tomduff. From there the walk passes through Raheenkyle and Raheendarragh before ascending once again to finish at the Nine Stones vantage point.
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B Walk – Walk 17 History and Heritage of the Blackstairs Mountains
€20.00The Blackstairs Mountains has a fascinating historical heritage and this walk led by knowledgeable local guides will introduce walkers to some of its key aspects. This five – six hour mountain walk explores its ancient history – time will be taken to look and talk about sites of historical interest and the overall history of the area. Normal hill walking gear required.
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B Walk – Walk 4 Flora and Fauna with Éanna Ní Lamhna
€20.00Wit and wisdom comes aplenty with Éanna Ní Lamhna, environmentalist and RTÉ personality. Walkers are sure to learn lots about the habitats and natural world of the Blackstairs on this pleasant route as Éanna introduces some of the amazing habitats of the Blackstairs from conifer plantations to upland bog, hedgerow and scrub, and the birdlife that thrive here including kestrals, peregrine falcons, skylarks and pheasant. This walk promises to be an informative tour of all things to do with our wonderful natural world, opening hearts and minds to this very special place.
Éanna will be signing copies of her most recent book Our Wild World.
