For those seeking a rewarding and invigorating challenge, the Scullogue Gap hike is an ideal choice. This A hike offers the perfect combination of breath-taking scenery and exercise, taking in several of the highest peaks in the Blackstairs Mountains. Starting from the picturesque Scullogue Gap, this route leads you through some of the most stunning landscapes in County Carlow.

The hike includes ascents of Mount Leinster, the highest peak in the Blackstairs range at 795 metres, offering panoramic views that stretch across eight counties including Carlow, Wexford and Kilkenny and on a fine day you can even glimpse the coast of Wales. You’ll also conquer Black Rock Mountain, known for its rugged beauty and dramatic terrain, as well as the Cloroge’s, a series of peaks that provide a fantastic vantage point for taking in the unspoiled countryside below.

This route takes the walker through the dramatic scenery of the Scullogue Gap, a natural mountain pass steeped in history. It was here during the 1798 Rising that local insurgents and Crown forces clashed in a fierce and bloody battle, leaving a lasting mark on the landscape. Along the route on Shannon’s Lane, walkers will also learn of the tragic fate of the Shannon family home, bombed during World War II,  which killed four members of the family along with striking examples of ancient rock art and slabs dating to the Neolithic period.