South Leinster Way

Walking
County Carlow
2.7/5
6 reviews
Grade Moderate
Length 103.6 km
Am 5 days
Format Linear
Ascent 1490 m
Dogs Allowed Under effective control
Waymarking Yellow arrow on black background
Start Point
Kildavin
Finish Point
Carrick-on-Suir
Nearest Town to Start Bunclody
Grid Ref. S 890 599 / S 403 219
Lat. and Long. 52.68358, -6.68519 / 52.34552, -7.40777
Get Directions

The South Leinster Way runs south-westwards from the village of Kildavin in County Carlow, through part of County Kilkenny to finish in the town of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary. It is a route that passes through varied terrain, including the heathery flanks of Mount Leinster (796m) and Brandon Hill (515m), a fine riverside stretch on the River Barrow, a large decayed demesne, and coniferous woodlands, but it finishes with a long stretch of 30 km on quiet tarmac roads. The highpoints include fine old country towns such as Borris, Inistoige and Graiguenamanagh that are on the route, and where many walkers will want to linger and overnight accommodation is available. The route is part of the European E8 walking route which links Dublin with Dursey Island off the south west coast: its northern terminus is close to Clonegal, the southern terminus of the Wicklow Way, and the East Munster Way begins in Carrick-on-Suir. The total aggregate ascent over the route is about 1500m, but there are no significant climbs.

Maps and other information

SLW - Overview Map.pdf
SLW - Map 1 Kildavin to Nine Stones.pdf
SLW - Map 2 Nine Stones to Borris.pdf
SLW - Map 3 Borris to Graiguenamanagh.pdf
SLW - Map 4 Graiguenamanagh to Inistioge
SLW - Map 5 Inistioge to Glenpipe.pdf
SLW - Map 6 Glenpipe to Mullinavat.pdf
SLW - Map 7 Mullinavat to Templeorum.pdf
SLW - Map 8 Templeorum to Carrick on Suir

External Links

Trail Management

Harry Everard, Rural Recreation Officer. Email: harry.everard@cklp.ie
Kilkenny Tourist Office, Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056-7751500 Email: kdowling@southeasttourism.ie
Web: www.southeasttourism.ie/ also Carlow Tourist Office, College St, Carlow Tel: +353(0)59 9121554

Facilities

Car parking
At Start - on street in Kildavin
At End - on street in Carrick-on-Suir

58 kms or 56% of the Way follows local roads.
There may be issues with waymarking and insufficient vegetation cut-back at some points along the trail.
***Dogs under effective control allowed***

Map Guides

Map Guides

The South Leinster Way Map Guide - published by EastWest Mapping

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheets 68, 75 and 76
Public Transportation

Public Transportation

At Start: Request stop on express bus service Check with Bus Eireann.
At End: Express bus service daily and local bus service Monday to Saturday Check with Bus Eireann.
or Rail: Check with Iarnrod Eireann.
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6 trail reviews
2.7/5
Write your own review of this trail
3/5
09/01/2023

Frieda from Cork

A friend and I are walking the SLW at the moment and have walked from kildavin to Inistioge so far. The beginning around Kilbrannish Hill we couldn’t see a way mark sign and got lost for some time before we reconnected .Then also from Graiguenamagh beyond Kilcross missed another sign and found ourselves on the R 700 into Inistioge which was very dangerous due to the traffic. So far there is too much road walking for my liking and don’t think I will finish the Mullinavat to Carrick-on Suir section .
2/5
07/05/2019

Aina from Austria

I walked the SLW as part of my coast2coast hike. Trail posts are excellent and the landscape is beautiful. Only the roadwalks are mood killer, it's way too dangerous and boring to make this hike a great experience. Forestry roads in conifer monocultures are boring to walk too. Wouldn't do again.
3/5
05/09/2018

Ed from Cork

I only completed the Kildavin to Borris stage of this walk (as intended). Some comments - the stage is nearly all road (forestry or otherwise) so no need for hiking boots - trail runners are best. Secondly, be careful to avoid Kilbrannish Loop - the road signage suggests that you follow that route - consult your South Leinster Way map. Finally, the last 2-3km of the stage into Borris is (very) dangerous - there is no shelter/'give' in the ditches and the roads are busy.
08/09/2016

Pat from Waterford

In June 2015 I walked the whole length of the South Leinster Way. It took 25 hours and we raised €4000 for our local hospice. The walk is spectacular and accurately way-marked (with one or two exceptions). There are no difficult climbs, although the Borris to Nine Stones is a test as is the Inistioge to Graiguenamanagh, but both are spectacularly punctuated with outstanding vistas of the Irish countryside. You don't need the Camino when there are walks like this on your doorstep.
06/18/2012

P from Waterford

Having just completed the South Leinster Way now, I would like to add (in addition to the previous review of mine) that with some signage improvements and some changes to busy road sections (around Mullinavat and around Piltown) that this would be a very attractive walk suitable to all. It is a nice contrast following the Wicklow Way.
06/05/2012

P from Waterford

The South Leinster Way has proved to be far more interesting than I expected and is in general very pleasent, however there is lot of road walking and signage is very vague at points so an up to date map and an ability to navigate are needed. (particulalry after Inistioge)

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