Suggested Tours of County Wexford.

Suggestions for short tours or trips during your stay in County Wexford

Wexford has long been a traditional holiday destination for tourists and has over the years developed a range of activities to appeal to every taste and fancy. With this in mind we suggest to you just a sample of what is available while you stay in our county. The topography of the county presents a wide and varied canvas against which both water and land based sports has been well developed.

Discover North Wexford
Email: info@northwexford.com
Web: www.NorthWexford.com
Wexford - Enniscorthy - Gorey - Courtown
This area is a favourite with families - lots of sandy beaches, including the blue flag beach at Courtown.

Departing from Wexford town, taking the R742, this route will lead you along Wexford's scenic eastern coastline. Castlebridge village with its water mill is the first village on your left you will also pass close to Curracloe Beach and Ballinskar where Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' battle scenes were shot -well worth a detour!

Also along this route you will find Kilmuckridge. This old style village boasts many historical buildings, a golf course, excellent fishing facilities and a host of award winning restaurants and pubs.

Further along this coastal drive, you will see Oulart Hill to your right, scene of one of the infamous 1798 battlefields, Boolavogue Village and The Father Murphy Visitor Centre. Shrule Deer Farm, in Ballygarret, is also open to the public at this time and is well worth a stop during your tour.

Why not take some time to explore Courtown Harbour, Courtown Wood and Tara Hill, where you will find breathtaking views of miles and miles of coastline. Courtown Harbour has many fine hotels, restaurants and cafes to enjoy within a panoramic view of the ocean. There are also golfing, angling and water sports for all the family to enjoy. Pirates Cove and Forest Park Leisure Centre will provide amusement, fun and games for the adventure seekers!

Alternative routes to North Wexford will take you along the N11 from Wexford through Oylegate and Enniscorthy Town. This scenic Slaney Valley Drive follows the journey of the river as it passes through the landscape leaving a lush and green pastures for all to enjoy. Famous for its river angling, and Strawberry Fair, Enniscorthy is a great base to explore North Wexford. The town has many craft and pottery studios, challenging golfing, and excellent lunch and dinner stops. The County Museum is open all year round, and all this in the magnificent backdrop of Vinegar Hill. The 1798 Visitor Centre charts the course of Irish Independence during the turbulent rebellion years, with an excellent audio-visual, gift shop and café included.

Continuing your journey along the N11, you will enter into Ferns, the traditional seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Explore the Castle, Abbey, and Cathedral. (Walking Tours of the area are available on request). The Courtyard , in the village centre, is an ideal lunch or coffee stop. However for a real experience of rural Wexford life during the past two centuries, a visit to Ballymore Historic Features is a must. This centre run by the O' Donovan family is a unique offering of old and new told by the family who have worked, lived and loved this land for the past two hundred years.

Take a left at Camolin Village and follow the signs to Cranaford if you would like to see a working Water Mill in action. Continuing along the N11 will lead you straight into the bustling town of Gorey, traditionally famous for its markets, it continues to be a good treasure throve of small shops, boutiques, pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Discover South East Wexford
Wexford - Rosslare Strand and Harbour - Tacumshane - Kilmore Quay

Taking the N 25 from Wexford Town to Rosslare Harbour. On route take in the beautiful coastal resort of Rosslare Strand, it blue flag beach, Water sport's centre and, golf courses and driving ranges and shops. Rosslare is world renowned for the standard of its accommodation from Kelly's Resort Hotel to the numerous four star self catering accommodation on offer.

Continuing along to Rosslare Harbour, take time out to visit Yola Farmstead Folk Park. The park includes thatched cottages, a forge, schoolhouse, church, rare breeds of poultry and common farm animals, with a supervised play area for children and a coffee shop and craft shop on site.

Rosslare Harbour itself is a lovely visit, watching the ferries in transit and fishing boats at their daily tasks. The Harbour boasts a string of excellent hotels, pubs and restaurants all within striking distance,
and with amazing views of the ocean. This part of Wexford's coastline is infamous for the purity of its waters, it's undiscovered nature is a treasure for those who delight in the thrill of the unknown, following windy roads and boreens in search of a hidden beach or cove. This is truly the 'hidden Ireland'.

Returning from the harbour and taking a left onto the R 736 at Tagoat, is a beautiful scenic journey following the coastline from Rosslare , passing close to Carnesore Point, Our Lady's Island and Tacumshane Lake into Kilmore Quay.

Kilmore Quay is a beautiful, quaint working fishing village. You will be instantly struck by a blaze of yellow thatch and white wash upon entering the village. The ocean breeze is refreshing as you stroll along the new Blue flag Marina, where lobster pots and shark fishing implements mingle side by side. A gastronomic delight, you wont go hungry nor thirsty in this area. The Silver Fox restaurant boasts the best sea food for miles and Kehoes Pub and Parlour is a veritable open museum of maritime history. But for a real museum visit, the Guillemot Maritime Museum is a converted lightship open to the public.

Boat trips and charters are available from the pier, ideal for angling, diving or sight seeing. Local knowledge is freely shared with tips for best fishing and diving locations. A trip around the Saltee Islands is well worth time. This Island is home to rare breeds of migrating birds and is a nature lovers paradise.

Discover South West Wexford
Wexford - Wellingtonbridge - Hook- New Ross

With the Saltee Islands to your left following the coastline will bring you through to the famous Hook Peninsula. Alternatively leaving Wexford Town take the R 733 through Wellington Bridge. This area is a heritage treasure. Castles dot the landscape besides the miles of coastline and inlets.

The Seven Castles of Clonmines (privately owned), Tintern Abbey and forest walks (open daily to the public), Dunbrody Abbey and Visitor Centre, and Duncannon Fort are but a few of the historical sites in this area.

The Bannow drive is well signed, covering a wide diversity of attractions including coastal walks, bird watching on Cockle Strand, The Island of Bannow (first landing site of the Normans in 1169), the Buried city of Bannow and Bannow Church. You can also take in Saltmills Village, Kelly Kraft and a stop in the Vine Cottage, Saltmills for some traditional Irish music sessions.

Fethard-on-Sea village is a popular tourist stop and the Hotel Naomh Seosamh will cater for all your dining needs. Outside the village on the road to the Hook peninsula, is Hookless Village, with self catering accommodation, swimming pool and leisure centre, children's play area, pub and restaurant. This self contained development is ideal for all ages and tastes.

Hook Lighthouse is now open to the public. In a magnificent setting of roaring surf, you can enjoy a guided tour, audio-visual presentation and excellent restaurant and craft facilities in this centre. Relive the legend of the peninsula, where the famous 'by Hook or by Crook' phrase was associated.

Duncannon Village and Blue flag beach, is a delight. Also Arthurstown and Ballyhack village are breathtaking. Both boast excellent cuisine experiences, Dunbrody House and the Neptune Cookery School located in Dunbrody Abbey run world famous cookery demonstrations, and a visit to these establishments for lunch, dinner, or gastronomic advice will be an unforgettable experience. The Passage East Car Ferry is a nice 30-minute return journey linking Wexford and Waterford.

New Ross golf club, situated just 2km from the town of New Ross itself is a fine 18 hole parkland course and well worth a few hours play. The Dunbrody Famine Ship is an important replica of the famine ship, which carried many thousand Irish to far off shores during that period. Guided tours, audio-visual presentation and café are available. JF Kennedy Park and Arboretum and the Kennedy Homestead are also very worthwhile visitor centres in the New Ross Area. Turn left on leaving the park and follow the Hook Head sign, and you will come across signs for Kilmokea Gardens, open all year by appointment, these gardens have many features of horticultural interest.

The beautiful Slaney Drive
Bunclody - Enniscorthy - Mount Leinster

The river Slaney runs through the heart of Wexford. Meandering through lush green agricultural lands, it services two towns, Enniscorthy and Bunclody before reaching the sea at Wexford harbour. The Slaney is very popular with anglers and bird watchers.

The road from Bunclody to Enniscorthy runs on the floor of the valley. A Prominent hill with a ruin of a windmill is Vinegar Hill, one of the strategic locations held and fought for by the rebels during the 1798 battles. The Island Hunt is also based in Bunclody, and visitors are welcome by arrangement.
Take the Kiltealy road from Bunclody and enjoy magnificent views, right, of Black Rock Mountain, Mount Leinster and other peaks in the Blackstairs. This is known as the Mount Leinster Drive and large expanses of Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wicklow can be seen at one time or another on this most scenic and spectacular marked way.

The County Museum at Enniscorthy, housed in a castle, is a fascinating exhibition of agricultural, military and domestic memorabilia. St Aidans Roman Catholic Church also in Enniscorthy Town is a fine example of Pugin architecture. The 1798 Centre explores the historical richness of the area during those infamous battles and also provides a insight into the political and social issues governing Irelands history at that time. Golfers have good reason to linger this area, just off the main Enniscorthy - New Ross route is the Enniscorthy Golf Club a par 70 designed to utilise most clubs in your bag!
Grey hound racing is another popular sport, with race meets twice weekly.

The craft of pottery has become synonymous with Enniscorthy, with one of Irelands oldest potteries established in the region over 300 years. Carleys Bridge Pottery specialises in hand thrown terracotta pots for the home and garden. Badger Hill and Kiltrea Pottery are also open to visitors forming a lovely pottery trail in the area.

Wexford Town and environs

Leaving Enniscorthy in the direction of Wexford Town, the Slaney will remain beside you for a good part of your journey, on a good day you will witness the reflection of the lush grassland surrounding the river as the anglers cast their line in hope of a record catch that day. The route passes through the village of Oilgate, across the Ferrycarrig Bridge with its castle and picnic stop and just 3KM outside the town of Wexford is located the premier visitor Attraction of the county. The Irish National Heritage Park records 9000 years of history in one wonderful site. Stone Age, Bronze Age, Celtic and early Christian, up to the early Norman Period are all wonderfully illustrated through audio-visual, guided or self guided walks. To top off the visit, the Fulacht Fiadh Restaurant is themed on archaeological exhibits within the park, where you dine in unique surroundings overlooking the Crannog (early house on lake).

Johnstown Castle, Gardens and Agricultural Museum has long attracted interest worldwide. Located a few kilometres from the town of Wexford, the gardens are wonderfully maintained, with wooded and lakeshore walks, where thousands of plant life species are nurtured and protected. The agricultural museum houses one of the finest collections of rural and agricultural life in Ireland, with early farm furniture, machinery and implements on display.

Wexford Town itself is a vibrant and exciting town to visit. Founded by the Vikings in the 9th century, it's winding streets, intact Norman walls, period buildings and colourful seafront provide a visitor with a 1000 year stroll through time.

The town boasts wonderful jewellers, crafts shops, boutiques and coffee houses. Most pubs offer excellent pub lunches and many will have nightly entertainment and traditional Irish sessions. Culturally Wexford is world renowned for its annual Opera Festival which takes place during late October and early November, but the town is also involved with year round festivals of music, light opera and art exhibitions. More information is available from the Art Centre in Cornmarket Street. The centre is always worth a visit with ongoing exhibitions and a good coffee shop attached.

Other areas worth visiting are Selskar Abbey, built circa 1190 and the Westgate, one of five medieval entrances to the town, where an audiovisual presentation of the towns history is shown on the hour between 10am and 4 pm. The Cornmarket, Bullring and Main Street are also worth spending time, for exact details of buildings to watch out for contact the Tourist Information Office on the Quay Front.

We hope you have enjoyed our little corner of the World, and that you will share your experiences with your friends and family.

Discover Curracloe

Welcome to Curracloe, as Gaeilge, Currach Clo, boggy or marshy land, set in the middle of some of the most interesting landscape, flora and fauna.

Curracloe Beach, a Blue Flag beach, comprised of Culletons Gap, Black Turf Landing, White Gap and Ballinesker, a white sand beach that stretches for miles. Backed by sand dunes that contain some very rare specimens of flora.

Raven Nature Reserve, once an island that joined the mainland in the 1800's. The forest was planted in the 40's and is well worth walking. This area is designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection area. Unusual flowers can be seen in the forest and sand dunes and it is the only site in Ireland where the rare Round -leaved Wintergreen can be found. Red Squirrel, Badger, Fox, hare and rabbits can be seen and grey seals can be seen in the sea and resting on the sandbanks.

Ballinesker Beach.

A Green Flag Beach beach, site of the Normandy Landings scenes in the film The Saving of Private Ryan.

Wildbird Reserve, minutes from Curracloe. During the winter months, thousands of geese make their winter home here, along with many other rare bird sightings. A wonderful site, with hides, videos, and all the information on the Reserve to hand. Well worth a visit both winter and Summer.

Kaim and Kettle.

The most spectacular results of the ice age are to be found in The Screen Hills. After the glaciers disappeared. they left great depressions known as Kettle holes, many of these filled with water, so the whole area now forms a complex of sand and gravel hills known as Kame and small lakes and ponds known as Kettle. This is best viewed from the Screen to Curracloe Road known as the Sandy Lane.

Curracloe, a most beautiful and informative area to walk/cycle or drive.

Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time.

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