30th September – 2nd October
Follow me up to Carlow may be an old marching tune associated with times past, but the title is very apt today as it is the call being issued by Carlow Tourism to walkers of all standards as it announces details of the Carlow Autumn Walking Festival 2022.
With a selection of 17 walks to choose from, ranked A, B and C in order of their difficulty and duration, this festival, which takes place from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd 2022 is all-encompassing.
It caters for those who love a leisurely walk, taking in and learning more about nature and their general surroundings, the walker with a thirst for history, those energized by the challenge of an invigorating mountain trek, the novice hillwalker, photographic enthusiasts, and those who like the stillness of mindfulness. The walks are graded and timed to suit the capabilities of walkers in each category. All walks end with light refreshments giving participants the opportunity to recap on their experiences.
Carlow is a gem in terms of spectacular scenery with the walking festival offering visitors the opportunity to walk through some of these stunning landscapes including The Blackstairs Mountains, Mount Leinster, Altamont Gardens, the Kilbrannish Forest Trails and the Barrow Valley between St Mullins and Graiguenamanagh.
All walks are led by knowledgeable local guides from Tullow Mountaineering Club, Blackstairs Ramblers and local walking enthusiasts and are of varying duration from 1.5hrs to 7 hrs.
Launching the festival, Chairman of Carlow Tourism Michael Walsh said: “Walking has become a very popular pastime over the past two years, and we expect to see an increase in the number of people visiting us this year. We look forward to welcoming returning walkers and many new visitors to Carlow for our annual walking festival.
“What better way to start a weekend in early autumn than to take a walk with a title as inviting as ‘The Magic, Myth and Moonlight under the Stars’. This first walk of the weekend, which commences at 6.30pm on the Friday, 30 September, is a great way for people to switch off for the weekend, step out of their comfort zones and try something out of the ordinary. Putting on your boots after sunset can make for a great adventure and no better place than on the Blackstairs Mountains which takes on a whole new atmosphere in darkness. Walkers will enjoy spectacular views of the lowlands of Carlow.
“We hope the variety we have included has something for everyone, be it the walk with well-known biologist and RTÉ personality Éanna Ní Lamhna, who leads a walk around John’s Hill discovering the habitats and flora and fauna of this special area on Saturday, 1 October, the photographic walk in Kilbrannish Forest North Recreation Area led by Richard Smyth LIPF, or the outdoor mindfulness meditation walk in Altamont Gardens led by mindfulness expert Jack Byrne, who will provide down-to-earth and practical tips to reconnect for improved mental and physical health and psychological well-being.
Concluding Michael Walsh noted “By introducing our county to walkers of all ages and abilities, we hope we are playing our part in encouraging more people to enjoy the splendour of the great outdoors whilst reaping the health benefits associated with walking.”
For further information on the walks, starting points and rules of participation and to book into the walks, log onto www.carlowtourism.com/walkingfestival or phone 059-9130411. Details of special accommodation packages are available at www.carlowtourism.com/specialoffers
The Carlow Autumn Walking Festival has been supported by Carlow County Council under the Festival and Events Scheme.
Carlow Tourism - College Street, Carlow
T: + 353 (0)59 9130411
E: info@carlowtourism.com
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