| South Leinster Way | |
|---|---|
 Trail nearCroaghaun, Blackstairs Mountains | |
| Length | 104 kilometres (65 miles)[1] |
| Location | South-eastIreland[1] |
| Designation | National Waymarked Trail[1] |
| Trailheads | Kildavin,County Carlow Carrick-on-Suir,County Tipperary[1] |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | +1,490 m (4,888 ft)[1] |
| Difficulty | Moderate[1] |
| Season | Any |
| Website | http://www.southleinsterway.com/ |
TheSouth Leinster Way is along-distance trail inIreland. It is 104 kilometres (65 miles) long and begins inKildavin,County Carlow and runs throughCounty Kilkenny before ending inCarrick-on-Suir,County Tipperary. It is typically completed in five days.[1] It is designated as aNational Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of theIrish Sports Council and is jointly managed byCarlow County Council,Kilkenny County Council,Tipperary County Council, Carlow Local Sports Partnership, Kilkenny Trails andCoillte.[2] It was opened on 30 November 1985 byDonal Creed,Minister of State for Sport.[3]
The initial stages run through theBlackstairs Mountains, crossing the flanks ofMount Leinster, the highest mountain in the range to reach the village ofBorris.[4] From Borris, the Way follows thetowpath of theRiver Barrow to the town ofGraiguenamanagh where it enters County Kilkenny.[5] The route continues from Graiguenamanagh towardsInistioge via the northern slopes ofBrandon Hill, the highest mountain in County Kilkenny.[6] A series of tracks through forest from Inistioge leads toMullinavat.[7] The final stage follows the road from Mullinavat to Carrick-on-Suir.[8]
The South Leinster Way forms part ofEuropean walking route E8 which runs fromDursey Island inCounty Cork toIstanbul inTurkey. The Irish section incorporates theWicklow Way, the South Leinster Way, theEast Munster Way, theBlackwater Way and parts of theKerry Way and theBeara Way. An unmarked road walk connects the end of the Wicklow Way inClonegal, County Carlow with the start of the South Leinster Way at Kildavin.[9] The East Munster Way starts where the South Leinster Way ends in Carrick-on-Suir.[10] The South Leinster Way also connects with theBarrow Way at Graiguenamanagh and theNore Valley Way at Inistioge.[11][12]
A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found usage by multiday walkers to be low and usage by day walkers to be medium to high on some sections.[2] The review recommended that a Trail Management Committee be established, that short scenic looped walks be developed off the trail and that the proportion of road waling (currently 55%) be reduced.[2]
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