- Barrow Way Towpath: A largely traffic-free, flat path along the picturesque River Barrow, running through County Carlow from north to south, ideal for leisurely family rides with locks, wildlife, and historic mills.
- Mount Leinster Climb: A demanding ascent up one of Ireland’s toughest hills in the Blackstairs Mountains, offering steep gradients and rewarding panoramic views from the summit, popular among experienced road cyclists.
- Bagenalstown to St Mullins Loop: A scenic route combining sections of the Barrow towpath with quiet country roads through south Carlow, passing charming villages, ancient sites, and lush valley landscapes.
- Carlow to Kilkenny (National Cycle Network Route): A dedicated on-road cycle path along the old N10, linking Carlow town to the county border, with gentle terrain and connections to urban trails and attractions.
- Blackstairs Mountains Circuit: A hilly looped ride around the rugged Blackstairs range, featuring challenging ascents, descents through glens, and views over rolling farmland and volcanic landscapes.
- Nurney Plateau Route: A quieter inland loop on minor roads with gentle climbs, providing elevated views of the Barrow Valley and access to lesser-known heritage sites and tranquil countryside.
- East Carlow Quiet Lanes (Clonegal Area): A peaceful circuit through unspoilt eastern Carlow, using bóithríns (narrow lanes) past rivers, bridges, and historic spots in a verdant, mountainous setting.
- South Leinster Rural Loops (Borris and Rathanna): Undulating routes on backroads through orchard country and under the Blackstairs, visiting pretty villages, castles, and offering a mix of serene immersion in Carlow’s hidden heartlands.
Carlow combines historic landmarks with serene landscapes, with the Carlow Castle ruins and the nearby Altamont Gardens offering a mix of medieval and botanical appeal. The Barrow Way provides scenic riverside walks, while the Brownshill Dolmen, a prehistoric portal tomb, adds ancient history. The county’s market towns and quiet countryside make Carlow an engaging stop for culture and nature enthusiasts. Carlow is Ireland’s second smallest county by size (896 square km) and third smallest by population (61,968).
Carlow:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
Cycling
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
