On Saturday June 8th we will be taking to the hills for one of our monthly hikes into the wilderness. We will meet in Killedmond and then off into the remote valleys of the Blackstairs to high bogs and wild remote areas. We will hope to see upland birds such as Ravens, Kestrels, maybe … Continue reading
Getting Ready for our Overseas Visitors
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A glimpse of Mount Leinster Although there is snow on the mountains and a cold wind blowing across the Barrow Valley, Spring is on it’s way. I was walking along the Barrow track this morning that magnificent long ,grassy walkway that runs for miles and miles , is full of the signs that winter is on the wane. Two … Continue reading
Spring – Time for Ecology,Biology &Geographical Days Out
Longer days and a perceptible shift in the natural world, tells us that Spring has definitely arrived. In the Barrow valley the woods are beginning to wake up and the forest floor is teeming with a vibrant wild life from beetles to slugs, worms … Continue reading
11 Days to go for our First Workshop of the Year
On Saturday February 23rd we will host our first Find It ,Pick It, Cook It, Eat It Workshop of 2013. We will go deep into the woods and see what is peeking up after the winter. Already I have had a sneak preview and … Continue reading
MAKING IT EASIER FOR YOU TO WALK WITH US!
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Some of you may have noticed that our website was having a little TLC applied to it last week! Well, now were’ back! We are delighted to let all our friends and Eco trailers know that we have made it … Continue reading
Robert Lloyd Praeger – The Great Irish Nature Writer
We often refer to Robert Lloyd Praeger, one of Ireland’s great naturalists who knew the Blackstairs area well. You may be interested in his book that was published in 1937 The Way That I went
New Walking and Eco Tourism Centre at Blackstairs Ecotrails
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About one hour ago we heard that we had got planning permission to develop our lovely old barn into a dedicated walking and Eco Tourism Centre. We are so delighted to get this news because it will enable us to welcome more walkers to Killedmond, host even more workshops and hold seminars and small conferences in a lovely building looking out over the Blackstairs Mountains.
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A New Year, New Events, New Trails, New Workshops
It’s all go here at Blackstairs Ecotrails as we salute the New Year and plan our calendar of events for you. I hope it’s a Happy and Healthy New Year and that you will be able to get out into the great outdoors in this unique little corner in the South East of Ireland, tucked under the Blackstairs and close to the marvellous River Barrow.
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Happy Christmas from Blackstairs Ecotrails
Not long to go now till 25th. Days are short here in the Blackstairs and with fog hanging over us today, there was virtually no daylight. We are busy here getting ready our new programme which we will launch in January 2013. Lots of new ventures and all of the old favourites.
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Tuesday January 1st 2013 – New Year's Day Walk In The Blackstairs
2012 is winding down. Over the last few weeks we have had some very peculiar weather. Heavy rain and gales, hard frost with snow on the Blackstairs and in between, gorgeous sunny days with blue skies. Great days for walking and watching what is happening here in South Carlow.
It ‘s the little things that matter.
Flocks of Long Tailed Tits moving through the woods; Egrets on the Barrow flying slowly on great white wings. On the mountains the vegetation has turned brown. There’s not a scrap of green to be seen. Foxes slink by looking thin and hungry. Badgers snuffle from their setts searching for food and deer raise their startled heads from cool mountain streams.
These are every day things. Glimpses of nature in the raw, and it is fantastic to know that our area is a Special Area of Conservation and the indicators of a healthy biosphere are quietly going about their daily business. We just watch quietly from a distance with our binoculars and note books to jot down what we see.
On Tuesday January 1st we are having a New Year’ s day walk. We will meet at Killedmond at 2pm for mulled wine and some tasty little nibbles and the we will head off into the mountains or the hills for the first winter walk of the New Year .
When we get back to Killedmond we will raise our glasses to the coming year and sample some lovely organic post Christmas treats with our Afternoon Tea. Log fires will be blazing and we will be ready to face 2013.
Booking essential. Cost €40 per person. Children under 12 go free.
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome. We leave no trace!