Before you go: the 2026 closure
Check this first. The South Leinster Way is currently closed between Carrick-on-Suir and Piltown after a bridge on the route collapsed, and there is no reopening date. That affects the final approach to Carrick-on-Suir, so if you are walking the full trail end to end, plan a detour or a road alternative for the last stretch and check the Sport Ireland trail page before you set out.
What the trail is
The South Leinster Way is a 103.6 km National Waymarked Trail running south-west from Kildavin in County Carlow through part of County Kilkenny to Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary. It is graded moderate, usually walked over five days at 20–25 km a stage, and marked throughout by a yellow arrow on a black background. Dogs are welcome on a lead.
Here is the honest thing to know before committing five days to it: roughly 55–58% of the route follows local roads. These are quiet tarmac lanes for the most part, and trail runners rather like them, but if you are picturing five days of mountain path you will be disappointed. The trail’s best day is the flat, traffic-free Barrow towpath; its mountain scenery is real but comes in shorter bursts than the map suggests.
It was opened on 30 November 1985 by Donal Creed, then Minister of State for Sport, and forms an Irish link in the European E8 path, which runs all the way to Istanbul. On this island the E8 threads the Wicklow Way into the South Leinster Way (via an unmarked road walk from Clonegal) and on into the East Munster Way at Carrick-on-Suir. It is jointly managed by Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary county councils with Carlow Local Sports Partnership, Kilkenny Trails and Coillte.
The route, stage by stage
The official direction runs Kildavin to Carrick-on-Suir, though it walks fine either way. Most people break it into five stages.
- Day 1: Kildavin to Borris (approx. 25 km) – The opening section climbs across the heathery flanks of Mount Leinster (795 m, the highest of the Blackstairs), then descends into the Barrow Valley past the village of Borris and the Borris House estate.
- Day 2: Borris to Graiguenamanagh (approx. 15 km) – The easiest and, for many walkers, the best day: a flat, traffic-free stretch along the River Barrow towpath, past canal locks and quiet woodland to the riverside town of Graiguenamanagh.
- Day 3: Graiguenamanagh to Inistioge (approx. 18 km) – The trail leaves the river to climb the northern slopes of Brandon Hill (515 m), then drops through Woodstock Forest to the ten-arch bridge over the River Nore at Inistioge.
- Day 4: Inistioge to Mullinavat (approx. 27 km) – A long day through coniferous woodland and country lanes to the market town of Mullinavat. In late April and May the woodland floor is often thick with bluebells.
- Day 5: Mullinavat to Carrick-on-Suir (approx. 30 km) – The final leg follows quiet tarmac and rolling farmland toward Carrick-on-Suir and Ormond Castle. Note the closure above affects this stage near Piltown.
Highlights along the way
- Nine Stones Viewing Point – On the shoulder of Mount Leinster, with a long view across the south-east; on a clear day you can pick out the coast of Wales. Local lore ties the stones to nine 1798 rebels, or nine shepherds lost in a storm.
- Borris Railway Viaduct – A 16-arch granite bridge completed in 1860 for the Wexford–Bagenalstown line. A 3.5 km loop walk takes you beneath the arches.
- River Barrow towpath – Flat, shaded and lined with old locks, and the reason day two is the one most walkers remember. A favourite with birdwatchers.
- Duiske Abbey – A 13th-century Cistercian abbey in Graiguenamanagh, one of the largest medieval churches in Ireland, with granite figures of monks set around the town.
Getting started and logistics
Trailheads and parking – There is no dedicated car park at either end; parking is on-street in Kildavin at the start (grid reference S 890 599, signposted from the N80) and on-street in Carrick-on-Suir at the finish, where the town also has public car parks near the River Suir.
Public transport
- Start – Nearest rail is Bunclody. Bus Éireann runs a request-stop express service near Kildavin; a local taxi covers the short gap to the trailhead.
- Finish – Carrick-on-Suir has a daily express bus and a Monday-to-Saturday local service. The nearest rail is Waterford station, about 30 minutes away by bus or taxi.
Maps and navigation – The official EastWest Mapping guide is a free PDF on the Sport Ireland site. Take it, or a downloaded GPX track: waymarking is generally good but goes sparse in places, particularly around the Kilbrannish Loop and after Inistioge.
Accommodation – The staging villages (Borris, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge, Mullinavat, Carrick-on-Suir) all have B&Bs, guesthouses and small hotels. Book ahead in summer and around local festivals.
Practical tips for walkers
- Surface – Just over half the route is on quiet road. Comfortable footwear for tarmac matters as much as grip for the hills.
- Weather and gear – Open year-round, but the tops of Mount Leinster and Brandon Hill are exposed and catch the wind. Pack waterproofs and boots with good grip; midges bite on the heath on still summer mornings.
- Safety – Some road sections near the bigger villages carry real traffic, so stay visible at single-track crossings and in low light.
When to walk it
Late April and May bring bluebells to the woodland between Inistioge and Mullinavat; by August the mountain heaths on Mount Leinster and Brandon Hill turn purple with heather. If you have only a day and not five, walk the Barrow towpath from Borris to Graiguenamanagh: it is flat, traffic-free, and the single best stretch of the whole trail.