Model, healthy eating guru and hiker hails Brandon Loop as Kilkenny’s best trek

With murmurings from Leinster House suggesting we won’t be permitted to travel beyond county bounds until July at the earliest, a former model, turned food influencer and happy hiker has revealed her favourite walk in Kilkenny.

Roz Purcell, who hails from just across the border in Tipperary, has given the Brandon Hill loop which begins in Graiguenamangh her nod as the best hike in county Kilkenny.

The 12km walk was selected by the health food guru and hiking enthusiast in her Irish Times article “32 great hikes around Ireland – one in every county”.

Roz states the walk is of middling difficulty which should take about three to three-and-a-half hours and advises walkers to ‘bring a map and a good sense of direction, as there isn’t much signage”.

Unfortunately for dog lovers, Roz who represented Ireland at Miss Universe in 2010, says leave the little pet at home, as the walk is not really suited to our canine friends, and parking is limited.

Roz, who hosts the Instagram hiking page, ‘@thehikelife,’ recommends another couple of hikes near Kilkenny. The Coumshingaun Loop in the Comeragh Mountains near Carrick-on-Suir was her choice in county Waterford.

The Mount Leinster Trail got her approval in county Carlow, while the Glenbarrow Red Trail was Roz’s selection in county Laois.

All Roz Purcell’s selections can be found on the website www.alltrails.com.