Blackstairs Eco Trails

Blackstairs Eco Trails is a family-run eco-tourism centre at Killedmond, near Borris in County Carlow, set at the foot of the Blackstairs Mountains in the shadow of Mount Leinster and about five kilometres from the Georgian village of Borris. Robert and Mary White have run the business since 2011, offering guided nature experiences alongside eco-friendly accommodation.

The centre specialises in guided walks and workshops that explore the surrounding countryside and its wildlife. Visitors can join foraging days, fungi forays, Celtic tree trails and biodiversity walks, learning about edible plants, mushrooms, lichens, mosses, ferns, birds and mammals. Routes vary with the weather and the group, ranging from gentle foothills to walks along the River Barrow. The team follows a leave-no-trace approach, observing and photographing rather than picking or disturbing what they find.

Alongside the walks, the site offers luxury glamping in shepherd’s huts and a restored barn used for events, team-building days and celebrations. Blackstairs Eco Trails has been certified to Gold standard by Sustainable Travel Ireland, reflecting its focus on sustainable, low-impact tourism.

The centre lies within easy reach of the wider region, roughly an hour and a half from Dublin, an hour from Waterford city and around forty minutes from Kilkenny city, making it a convenient base for anyone wanting to explore the Blackstairs area and the Barrow Valley.