South Leinster Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary
South Leinster Way is a 103.6 km moderate waymarked linear route in Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary, starting near Bunclody.
Notice from the trail operator
NOTE - CLOSED between Carrick-on-Suir and Piltown until further notice due to a collapsed bridge
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Trail Kilkenny & Carlow County Council before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 5 days |
Getting there
Starts at Kildavin, near Bunclody.
Finishes at Carrick-on-Suir.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.68358, -6.68519
- Irish Grid reference
- S 890 599
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 68, 75 and 76
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
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. .
About the trail
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.
Before you go
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***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Trail Kilkenny & Carlow County Council
Harry Everard, Rural Recreation Officer. Email: [email protected] Kilkenny Tourist Office, Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny. Tel: 056-7751500 Email: [email protected] Web: www.southeasttourism.ie/ also Carlow Tourist Office, College St, Carlow Tel: +353(0)59 9121554
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Clody Valley Craan Loop 3.9 km away · 14.3 km trail
- Clody Valley Long Lane Loop 3.9 km away · 7.7 km trail
- Kilbrannish Loop 5.6 km away · 5.1 km trail
- Windfarm Loop 5.6 km away · 3.2 km trail
- John's Hill Loop 5.6 km away · 11 km trail
- Kilbrannish North to Kilbrannish South Trail 5.6 km away · 14 km trail
Common questions
How long is the South Leinster Way?
103.6 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 1,490 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 5 days.
How hard is the South Leinster Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the South Leinster Way start?
Starts at Kildavin, near Bunclody. The trailhead is at 52.68358, -6.68519 (Irish Grid S 890 599).
Can you bring a dog on the South Leinster Way?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Can you get to the South Leinster Way without a car?
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. .
Who manages the South Leinster Way?
Trail Kilkenny & Carlow County Council. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.