A Walk – Walk 11 – The Blackstairs Circuit
Sunday, 5th October 2025
Begin your adventure at the Nine Stones, one of Carlow’s most iconic landmarks, before ascending the slopes of Mount Leinster, the highest peak in the Blackstairs range. Heading south along the ridge, you’ll pass the towering RTÉ television mast, a familiar sight across the region, and continue towards the broad summit of Knockroe. From the top, walkers can see across Carlow’s rolling hills to the east and south, including the Barrow Valley and surrounding farmland, as well as glimpses of Wexford on clear days. The name “Knockroe” comes from the Irish Cnoc Rua, meaning “red hill,” which may reference the reddish heather and gorse that often covers the slopes in autumn. Local folklore often notes Knockroe as a meeting point for shepherds.
From here the route descends into the Scullogue Gap, a natural mountain pass steeped in history and folklore, long used as a sheltered route between valleys and a key spot during the rebellion of 1798. The trail then rises once more onto Blackstairs Mountain, where rugged outcrops and open ridges create a dramatic backdrop and offer expansive views across Carlow’s patchwork countryside and into neighbouring Wexford.
The walk concludes in the tranquil hamlet of Knockmulgurry, a place that embodies the rural charm of the Blackstairs foothills, which brings to a close what promises to be a varied and memorable day on the mountains.
| Summary A Walk | Suitable for Very Experienced Hill Walkers |
| Duration | Approximately 7 hours |
| Length | 17.4km |
| Maximum altitude | 795 metres |
| Terrain | Terrain is on open mountain, rugged, exposed and unmarked – includes steep slopes, ridgelines, boulder fields and uneven surfaces. |
| Fitness levels | Requires excellent physical fitness and endurance |
| Reward! | Breathtaking panoramic views stretching across Carlow and parts of Wexford. |
Walk includes:
- Experienced members from Blackstairs Ramblers Club
- Bus transport to/from the start/finish of the walk
- Soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee following conclusion of the walk in Rathanna Hall
Supported by Carlow County Council under the Festival and Events Scheme
| Date and Time: | Sunday, 5th October, 2025 at 09:00 |
|---|---|
| Registration: | Rathanna Community Centre, Rathanna, Borris, Co. Carlow R95 HH68 at 8.30 a.m. at 08:30 |
| Start Point: | Nine Stones, Mount Leinster. Bus transport from Rathanna Community Centre to start of walk. |
| Finish Point: | Knockmulgurry. Bus transport to Rathanna Community Centre for soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee following conclusion of the walk. |
| Admission: | € 25 |
Sunday, 5th October 2025
Begin your adventure at the Nine Stones, one of Carlow’s most iconic landmarks, before ascending the slopes of Mount Leinster, the highest peak in the Blackstairs range. Heading south along the ridge, you’ll pass the towering RTÉ television mast, a familiar sight across the region, and continue towards the broad summit of Knockroe. From the top, walkers can see across Carlow’s rolling hills to the east and south, including the Barrow Valley and surrounding farmland, as well as glimpses of Wexford on clear days. The name “Knockroe” comes from the Irish Cnoc Rua, meaning “red hill,” which may reference the reddish heather and gorse that often covers the slopes in autumn. Local folklore often notes Knockroe as a meeting point for shepherds.
From here the route descends into the Scullogue Gap, a natural mountain pass steeped in history and folklore, long used as a sheltered route between valleys and a key spot during the rebellion of 1798. The trail then rises once more onto Blackstairs Mountain, where rugged outcrops and open ridges create a dramatic backdrop and offer expansive views across Carlow’s patchwork countryside and into neighbouring Wexford.
The walk concludes in the tranquil hamlet of Knockmulgurry, a place that embodies the rural charm of the Blackstairs foothills, which brings to a close what promises to be a varied and memorable day on the mountains.
| Summary A Walk | Suitable for Very Experienced Hill Walkers |
| Duration | Approximately 7 hours |
| Length | 17.4km |
| Maximum altitude | 795 metres |
| Terrain | Terrain is on open mountain, rugged, exposed and unmarked – includes steep slopes, ridgelines, boulder fields and uneven surfaces. |
| Fitness levels | Requires excellent physical fitness and endurance |
| Reward! | Breathtaking panoramic views stretching across Carlow and parts of Wexford. |
Walk includes:
- Experienced members from Blackstairs Ramblers Club
- Bus transport to/from the start/finish of the walk
- Soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee following conclusion of the walk in Rathanna Hall
Supported by Carlow County Council under the Festival and Events Scheme
| Date and Time: | Sunday, 5th October, 2025 at 09:00 |
|---|---|
| Registration: | Rathanna Community Centre, Rathanna, Borris, Co. Carlow R95 HH68 at 8.30 a.m. at 08:30 |
| Start Point: | Nine Stones, Mount Leinster. Bus transport from Rathanna Community Centre to start of walk. |
| Finish Point: | Knockmulgurry. Bus transport to Rathanna Community Centre for soup, sandwiches, tea and coffee following conclusion of the walk. |
| Admission: | € 25 |
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