Tourist Attractions, Carlow, Activities, County Carlow, Hill Walking, bike friendly accommodation, Carlow, Riverside walk, geocaching, SE Ireland

Enjoy the fresh air and unspoiled natural beauty in this truly authentic part of rural Ireland. There are many activities to choose from and, should it rain, we are conveniently situated between Carlow Town and Kilkenny City, with their cinemas, swimming pools and excellent pubs, restaurants & shopping. We are in comfortable driving distance of Counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Laois and Wicklow. Guides & leaflets available onsite.

The view from Tom Duff Hill near Borris village. You can drive here for spectacular scenery and hill walking in the Blackstairs Mountains. Directions: Turn left at bottom of village of Borris, under the old viaduct and follow the signs for the RTE Transmitter. See below for Blackstairs Mountains walking routes.

Enjoy the fresh air and unspoiled natural beauty in this part of rural Ireland. There are many activities to choose from and, should it rain, we are conveniently situated between Carlow Town and Kilkenny City, with their cinemas, swimming pools and excellent pubs, restaurants & shopping. We are in comfortable driving distance of Counties Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Laois and Wicklow. Guides & leaflets available onsite.

HILL WALKING

A walker’s paradise, County Carlow is home to three of Ireland’s key national walking routes – The South Leinster, The Wicklow and the Barrow Way which links with the Slieve Margy Way in Co. Laois. Enjoy the invigorating challenge of Carlow’s mountain treks or find peace and tranquillity on quiet country routes. Combine this with clean, fresh air, knowledgeable local guides, excellent accommodation and traditional home cooked fare for a revitalising break.

As advertised on TGO website

HILL WALKING in Ireland, blackstairs mountains

The South Leinster Way

For the more adventurous hill walker, The South Leinster Way is a long distance walking route which runs from Kildavin, Co. Carlow to Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary covering 102 kilometres (64 miles) in length and ascending 1600 metres.

The predominant features in the landscape are Mount Leinster, Brandon Hill and the river valleys of the Barrow, Nore and Suir. This stretch can be comfortably walked in five days but strong walkers can finish it in three days.

STAGE 1: Kildavin - Borris 22km (14 miles). From Kildavin the route passes along forest tracks over the northern slopes of Mount Leinster to reach the town of Borris. The "Nine Stones" vantage point at Mount Leinster offers amazing views of the Barrow Valley and Brandon Hill.

Borris Sheep Mart. Photo by James Burke

Borris Sheep Mart. Photo by James Burke

STAGE 2: Borris - Graiguenamanagh 12km (7 ½ miles). This stretch follows the towpath along the River Barrow and is particularly attractive as it passes through rich deciduous woodland and old mills. Graiguenamanagh is the end of this walk - a quayside, boating town lying in the county of Kilkenny but connected via a bridge over the River Barrow to its twin village of Tinnahinch in Co. Carlow.

STAGE 3: Graiguenamanagh - Inistioge 16km (10 miles). This walk crosses the slopes of Mount Brandon by a series of forest walks before reaching the village of Inistioge - a pretty village with a fine market square and interesting buildings and sites including the Augustinian Priory and St. Columcille's Well. In recent years, Inistioge has also witnessed the development of the film making industry in Ireland. Famous films shot here include Widow's Peak and Circle of Friends.

STAGE 4: Inistioge - Mullinavat 30km (19 miles). Suitable for the seasoned walker. This section of the way starts along the banks of the River Nore and continues via forest roads over several hills to reach Mullinavat.

STAGE 5: Mullinavat - Carrick-on-Suir 22km (14 miles). This stretch crosses the River Blackwater and passes the village of Piltown en route to the end of the walk in Carrick-on-Suir.

The County Carlow stretch of this varied trail from Kildavin to Graiguenamanagh leads the walker between some very fine lofty summits, follows the towpath along the River Barrow and passes through medieval towns and ancient sites.

Mountain Walk:

The Wicklow Way

The route covers a distance of 81 miles (132 km) in length commencing in Marlay Park, Dublin and finishing in the beautiful village of Clonegal located in the River Slaney valley in the east of the county. The route provides great variety of landscape and many areas of historical interest along the way. Noted for its rich variety of wildlife including red deer, silka deer, hares, foxes, squirrels and more rarely badgers. Call to Osborne’s in the village of Clonegal where you can collect your own personalised Wicklow Way certificate for completion of the route.

As our houses have tumble dryers / washing machines, you can get your walking kit in order back at base.

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SOUTH EAST IRELAND WALKING LINKS:

Maps: Ordnance Survey Ireland 1:126,720 Sheets available to order online from OSI

Local Walks: Mountain Views: Blackstairs mountain walks

See also: The Comeragh Mountains

The Knockmealdown Mountains

Carlow 5 Day Weather Forecast

Geocaching is an activity which combines a love of the outdoors with the use of highly sophisticated modern technology. Basically geocaching is like a traditional treasure hunt, but instead of having a paper map with an X marking the spot, "cachers" use a handheld portable device, around the size of a mobile phone, called a Global Positioning System receiver (or GPS as its more commonly known) to locate their position on the earth's surface: Geocaching Ireland

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MEGALITHIC SITES

Browneshill Dolmen - photo James Burke

Browneshill Dolmen, Co Carlow

County Carlow is often referred to as the Celtic County of Ireland. With it's lush river valleys, it was an early settlement for mankind. Megalithomania is an excellent online field guide to megalithic monuments in the Carlow area and beyond. There are no fewer than 70 megalithic sites listed in County Carlow on Megalithomania

County Carlow offers some of the best public gardens in Ireland - see the website below for full details. The Carlow Floral Trail website (held in August each year) has details of local gardens and a wider County guide:

Canadian Canoeing for all the family locally can be arranged in advance through this independent company:

Experience the thrilling Irish traditional sport of Hurling at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny

Please book direct with the courses listed below. We have more local information available at Garrison House Holiday Centre.

This spectacular 18-hole course near to Carlow town is ranked among the top twenty Championship courses in Ireland. Set in the beautiful green countryside of the South East, Carlow Golf Club is laid out over undulating sandy terrain with several elevated tees, in what was originally a deer park attached to the former Bruen Estate. The course is playable year round due to its links like character and always provides a challenging game.

Type of course: 18-hole parkland. Length: 5974 meters. Par: 70. Open: Daylight hours.
The Clubhouse Bar is open every day from 09.30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
A fully serviced restaurant offers a choice of lunch and dinner menus and is open from 11 a.m. each day.
Breakfast by prior arrangement.

Lessons: By arrangement with P.G.A. professional Mr. Andrew Gilbert.
Hire Services: Club & trolley hire.

In the south of the county the 9-hole course at Borris commands panoramic views of the neighbouring countryside with Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs mountains to the east, and the Barrow Valley to the west. This parkland course is maintained to a very high standard with a modern, automatic watering system and the texture of the greens compare favourably with the best. It would be difficult to find a course in a more picturesque setting, with the stately McMurrough Kavanagh family seat in the background.

Type of course: 9 hole parkland.
Length: 5596 meters.
Par: 70.
Open: Daylight hours. The Clubhouse opens every day offering full bar facilities and light snacks. Full meals available on request.
Lessons: By arrangement with European tour professional Mr. Brian Cullen.
Hire Services: Caddy Cars. Other golfing facilities include:

Clonmore Golf Course,
Clonmore, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow.
Phone: + 353 (0) 508 71244.

Situated in the scenic north-east corner of Co. Carlow in an area noted for its historical interest and photogenic landscape, this golf course is an 18 hole Par 3 with additional facilities for skittles, meggers and boules.

"When you arrive at Leinster Hills Golf Club in Carlow, Co Carlow we want your visit to be enjoyable as possible and we are happy to meet the specific needs of the individual golfer, societies and large groups". To secure green times and to discuss additional service please call +353 (0)59 9148974.

The course is set in 300 acres of breathtaking parklands in the former Hall-Dare Estate and the lift is provided more as a convenience than as a life saver. But it does introduce a feature that could be copied to good advantage at a number of other Irish courses which present a stern walking challenge to all and an impossible test to their senior citizens. Opulence and old world rural charm are being combined in a manner befitting a magnificent location with the end result being another glittering jewel in Ireland’s crown of fine golf courses.

This is a big golf course. It runs over 7,000 yards and it is definitely the highest point to date in the ascending design career of Jeff Howes. It is set to be a worthy neighbour to Mount Juliet and that just about says it all. Even better, the town of Bunclody is in the Adare-style of rustic charm and the luxurious Carlton Millrace Hotel is just across from the entrance.

3 Course Tickets are available for the following Kilkenny courses. Please contact the clubs direct for more details: