Wildflower Identification and Foraging Walk at Barrow Brew, Milford

What to Expect

Bare Necessities Ireland run this two-hour foraging and wildflower identification walk from Barrow Brew at Milford Weir on both Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2026, each afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. The route follows a historic canal stretch of the River Barrow, and the focus is on learning to recognise native wildflowers and hedgerow plants by sight, then understanding what they were used for. The organisers frame it around the Heritage at Risk theme, reconnecting walkers with the plants their forebears foraged for food, tools and medicine.

The food element is genuine rather than incidental. Along the way the guide points out edible species, and participants are given samples of edible plants found on the walk plus refreshing wild tisanes brewed from what grows on the route. It is a good introduction for anyone who has thought about foraging but does not know where to start, and it doubles as a biodiversity walk covering how these plants are used today as well as historically. The walk is free, suitable for families, and there is car parking at the meeting point.

Good to Know

• Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2026, 3pm to 5pm both days.
• Meeting point is Barrow Brew, Milford Weir, Co. Carlow, R93 W586. Venue phone 086 606 2222.
• Free. Part of the National Heritage Week 2026 programme.
• Booking is through heritageweek.ie. Organiser contact is Bare Necessities Ireland, 085 726 0278 or barenecessitiesireland@gmail.com.
• Car parking is available at the meeting point and the walk is described as family friendly.
• Wear boots or shoes you do not mind getting wet. This is a towpath walk in late August.

Getting There

Milford is on the River Barrow about six kilometres south of Carlow town on the R448 Kilkenny road, between Carlow and Leighlinbridge. Barrow Brew sits at Milford Weir, one of the best-known weirs on the Barrow Navigation. There is parking at the meeting point. There is no direct bus, so this one realistically needs a car or a lift from Carlow town, which is ten minutes away by road. Carlow railway station on Station Road is the nearest rail connection, with taxis available from the rank on Tullow Street in the town.