Blackstairs Mountain Walk
4.1 miles (6.6 km)This walk climbs to Blackstairs Mountain in County Carlow.
The mountain stands at a height of 732 metres (2,402 feet), making it the second-highest summit in the Blackstairs Mountains range, surpassed only by the neighbouring Mount Leinster. The mountain's ridge marks a natural border between County Carlow and County Wexford, offering expansive views across the rolling lowlands of southern Leinster.... The rugged landscape is home to diverse wildlife, including birds of prey like kestrels and merlins, as well as native flora such as ling heather and bog cotton.
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Nearby Routes
Mount Leinster Barrow Way Graiguenamanagh to St Mullins Walk Kilkenny River and Canal Walk Nore Valley Walk South Leinster Way Brandon Hill Loop John's Hill Loop
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Geologically, the mountain is part of a 22-kilometre-long chain with a core of granite. On its western Carlow side, erosion has carved into the rock to create a distinctive steeply stepped slope, while the eastern Wexford side retains layers of older slate and sandstone.
The area is steeped in local history and folklore. The mountain has traditionally served as an assembly site for the ancient festival of Lughnasa, a celebration known locally as "Mountain Sunday". Hikers exploring the slopes can encounter physical reminders of the past, including the ruins of a nineteenth-century police barracks and the site of a World War II German bomber crash near the rocky outcrop of Caher Roe’s Den. Today, it remains a popular destination for walkers who follow trails through forestry roads and rocky paths to reach the summit cairn