About

Above: Unhurried Blackstairs Eco Trails reveals the secret life of South Carlow’s extraordinary biodiversity

Blackstairs Eco Trails led by Robert and Mary White

On White Mountain - Blackstairs Eco Trails

We have led walks organised by Carlow Tourism , Youth Clubs and visiting groups from abroad.All have been  amazed by the wealth of wild flowers, ferns, birds ,butterflies, mushrooms and toadstools in  this part of South Carlow.

“It’s about looking in our hedgerows, pools, bogs and streams. What’s flying overhead and what’s living underground.” says Robert.

Blackstairs Eco Trails are a slow meander through the local countryside on green lanes, along the River Barrow Track, in the lowlands of the Blackstairs, revealing the secret life of these wild places, unspoilt, beautiful and often remote.

Mary has written a walk guide to the these hills  – Walking  in the Blackstairs with the late Joss Lynam. After a long Mount Leinster Anti-Mining campaign, Mary also wrote a book called Mount Leinster Environment Mining and Politics (still in print) to highlight the beauty of  the Mount Leinster area.|

The mountain river valley of the Blackstairs Mountains: Mt Leinster, Knockroe, White Mountain, Co. Carlow, Ireland

We are members of An Taisce, Bird Watch Ireland and the Irish Wild Life Trust. We have also been involved in surveys for the Breeding Atlas of Irish Birds and  completed surveys of over -wintering birds in Ireland. We have been recording birds, butterflies and fungi in the Mount Leinster area for over twenty years .Over the years  we have tracked changes in our local biodiversity due to agricultural practices and climate change.

We look forward to sharing this special part of rural Ireland with you!