Barrow Way facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrow Way |
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Towpath of the River Barrow near Borris, County Carlow, part of the Barrow Way
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| Length | 100 kilometres (62 miles) |
| Location | Ireland |
| Designation | National Waymarked Trail |
| Trailheads | Robertstown, County Kildare St Mullin's, County Carlow |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | 1,370 m (4,495 ft) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Any |
| Surface | Grassy towpaths, tracks and roads |
The Barrow Way (called Slí na Bearú in Irish) is a super cool long walking path in Ireland. It stretches for about 100 kilometres (62 miles), which is like walking from one end of a big city to another! This trail starts in Robertstown, County Kildare. It finishes in St Mullin's, County Carlow.
As you walk, the path follows the beautiful River Barrow. It also follows the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal. You'll pass through several counties: Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Laois. Most people take about four days to walk the entire Barrow Way. It's officially a National Waymarked Trail. This means it's a special path recognized by the National Trails Office. Waterways Ireland helps to look after it.
Contents
Exploring the Barrow Way
This amazing trail offers an easy adventure for walkers. It's mostly flat, following old paths next to the water. You'll see lots of nature and history along the way.
Where Does the Trail Begin?
The Barrow Way starts in Robertstown. This is in County Kildare. From there, it follows the Barrow Line Canal. This canal is a branch of the Grand Canal. You'll walk along this canal all the way to Athy. On this part of the journey, you'll pass through towns like Rathangan and Monasterevin.
Following the River Barrow
When you reach Athy, the trail changes. It leaves the canal and joins the main River Barrow. From Athy, you'll follow the riverbanks all the way to St Mullin's. This section takes you through many interesting towns. You'll see Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Muine Bheag, Goresbridge, Borris, and Graiguenamanagh. Each town has its own unique charm!
Connecting with Other Trails
The Barrow Way is part of a bigger network of paths.
- At Robertstown, it connects with the Grand Canal Way. This means you could keep walking even further!
- Between Borris and Graiguenamanagh, the Barrow Way shares its path with the South Leinster Way. So, for a while, you're on two trails at once!
How People Use the Trail
Many people enjoy walking the Barrow Way. Some people walk the whole path over a few days. Others prefer to walk shorter parts of it. They might do a day trip, walking a section and then returning. This makes it a great choice for both long adventures and shorter outings. There's even talk about making some parts of the trail suitable for cycling in the future!
