Barrow Way

The Barrow Way (Irish: Slí na Bearú) is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 100 kilometres (62 miles) long and begins in Robertstown, County Kildare and ends in St Mullin's, County Carlow, following the course of the River Barrow and the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal through counties Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny and Laois. It is typically completed in four days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Waterways Ireland.^[2]

The trail starts in Robertstown and follows the Barrow Line Canal, a branch of the Grand Canal, as far as Athy via the towns of Rathangan and Monasterevin.^[3] The section from Robertstown to Rathangan once formed part of the now defunct Kildare Way.^[4] At Athy, the Way joins the River Barrow and follows its banks to St Mullin's, taking in the towns of Carlow, Leighlinbridge, Muine Bheag, Goresbridge, Borris and Graiguenamanagh.^[5]

The Barrow Way connects with the Grand Canal Way at Robertstown.^[6] It also shares its route with that of the South Leinster Way between Borris and Graiguenamanagh.^[7]

A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found usage by multiday walkers to be moderate and usage by day walkers to be high.^[2] The Barrow Way is often done by way of a series of out and back excursions rather than as one continuous walk.^[8] The review recommended consideration be given to developing sections as a cycle route.^[2] The review also recommended that the Barrow Way be designated as a National Waterway Trail as it falls into the category of trails that follow the towpaths of inland waterways.^[9]

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Fewer, Michael (1993). Irish Long Distance Walks. A Guide to the Way-Marked Trails. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-2040-6. 
• Fewer, Michael (1996). The Way-marked Trails of Ireland. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-2386-3. 
• National Trails Office (2010). "Setting New Directions. A review of National Waymarked Ways in Ireland" (pdf). Dublin: Irish Sports Council. Retrieved 30 April 2011. 

External links

• Barrow Valley Guide at
• Barrow Way at RiverBarrow.net
• Barrow Way at IrishTrails.ie
• Barrow Way at Fáilte Ireland
• River Barrow Walks at the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland

Long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland National Waymarked Trails Ballyhoura Way Barrow Way Bealach na Gaeltachta, Dún na nGall Beara Way Blackwater Way Bluestack Way Burren Way Cavan Way Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail Dingle Way Dublin Mountains Way East Clare Way East Munster Way Grand Canal Way Hymany Way Kerry Way Lough Derg Way Mid Clare Way Miners Way and Historical Trail Monaghan Way Multeen Way Nore Valley Way North Kerry Way Offaly Way Royal Canal Way Sheep's Head Way Slieve Bloom Way Slieve Felim Way Sligo Way South Leinster Way Suck Valley Way Táin Way Tipperary Heritage Way Western Way Westmeath Way Wicklow Way Pilgrim Paths Cosán na Naomh Lough Derg Saint Kevin's Way Greenways Boyne Greenway Dublin-Galway Greenway Great Southern Trail Great Western Greenway Other Bangor Trail Malin to Mizen