Best Walking Trails in Wexford

Explore Wexford’s Best Walking Trails

 

One of the best things about spending time in the Sunny South East, is the abundance of incredible walking trails to explore. Nestled in the corner of Ireland’s Ancient East, Wexford boasts a variety of landscapes just waiting to be discovered. Miles of breath-taking beaches, uplands and lowlands, woodlands and fairy tale forests. It’s any outdoor enthusiasts dream! 

So, without further ado, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite walking trails in Wexford.

 

Our #TravelTuesday Tip: Even though Wexford is known as the Sunny South East (because we’re the #BestForSun), Irish weather is always unpredictable. We recommend you’re prepared and dressed for all weather, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes too. Please respect whatever lands you decide to discover and leave no trace behind.

 

Cahore Cliff Walk

Described by Pól Ó Conghaile as the 5km loop that ends with perfect pub grub, the Cahore Point Trail is way-marked and offers stunning sea views, an amazing beach, and gastro-pub, The Strand Cahore, at the finish line.

 

The Cahore Point Trail in Gorey is the perfect walking spot. There is a beautiful beach waiting for you on the finish line where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea. This 5km loop begins in Cahore and is a wide, paved trail. There are stunning views stretching across the Irish Sea along the loop and on a clear day, you can see all the way to Wicklow Head. How amazing is that?

 

 

Curracloe and The Raven Nature Reserve

No trip to Wexford is complete without a visit to Curracloe. This beautiful trail has been listed as one of the 50 best Irish trails by Pól Ó Conghaile. It loops through the Raven Nature Reserve and follows along the famous Curracloe beach. The trail takes about 2 hours at a leisurely pace, but leave yourself extra time if you want to stop for a picnic along the way.

 

Start at The Raven Nature Reserve car park where you take off into the woodland. Wexford Wildfowl Reserve marks the halfway point if you decide to do the full loop. This spot is the perfect opportunity take a break in the sand and watch the waves. After that, cross the sand dunes and make your way onto Curracloe Beach where you can go for a sea swim or simply enjoy the coastal view. It’s plain sailing from here as there are a couple of clearings in the woods that have a direct path back to the main trail.

 

 

Forth Mountain

Forth Mountain is definitely one of the more unique walking trails in Wexford. Pass Carrigatinna Rock, one of the many Cambrian quartzite mounds as the track leads you out to Skeator Rock. Here you will be able to enjoy some stunning panoramic views of the Wexford coastline including Rosslare, Our Lady’s Island, Saltee Islands, Hook Head lighthouse and across into Dunmore East and the Waterford estuary. Impressive, we know! While in Pennylands, some of the delightful viewing points include the Grotto and another near Clourane. The Tincurra trails are a more gentle gradient and you can enjoy the picturesque views of Barntown, the Blackstairs Mountains and the west of the county as you follow the trail downhill.

 

 

River Slaney

This 3km trail (6km round trip) takes you along the scenic River Slaney and is a local favourite.

It begins at the Riverside Park Hotel promenade where you can avail of free parking. Stroll along the gravel paths and footbridge that extends into semi-wild meadows. In addition to being level ground, the trail offers walkers the opportunity to sit, rest and take in the scenery on the many benches dotted along the route. Upon your return, grab a coffee and some sweet treats from the coffee bar, or if you’ve really worked up an appetite, look no further than the Riverside Park Hotel.

 

 

Courtown Woodland Walk

This gorgeous woodland walk shelters you under the trees from the nearby Courtown Beach. If you are out on the beach, make sure to set aside time to explore the 25 hectares of mystical woodland. You may even catch the distinct scent of wild garlic growing in the area. Recently explored and recommended by the Tracks and Trails, this trail is definitely a unique and unforgettable path to walk.

 

Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey is a picturesque, 13th-century abbey and is renowned for being a haven for wildlife. There are 4 different walking routes you can take ranging from just under 1km up to 7.2km. Along the way, you can see spectacular forestry, Colclough Walled Gardens and a stone bridge.The Gardener’s Trail is a short route suitable for all, as it is accessible with wheelchairs and prams. Click here for more about accessibility in Wexford. 

 

Similarly, the other 3 trails are filled with flourishing flora and woodland wildlife. The Abbey itself is a seasonal visitor centre that you are welcome to explore and the Colclough Walled Gardens is open to visitors all year round.  

 

 

Tara Hill

If you would like to enjoy the panoramic views up and down the Wexford / Wicklow coastline, choose Tara Hill, a 252 meters heather-sloped rocky outcrop. There are two trails and both start from two different trailheads, giving you different flavours of Tara Hill and its surroundings.

The Red Slí an tSuaimhnais trail begins from Tara Hill cemetery just beyond the village itself and there is ample car-parking space. The more challenging Blue Slí na n-Óg trail begins at the Ballinacarrig parking place (known locally as the Crab Tree).

 

 

Kilanerin/Curragh Woods

Choose from three equally breathtaking loops, ranging from 3km to 6km. Spelled either Kilanerin or Killinierin, the Irish Coill an Iarainn means the Wood of the Iron. The Kilanerin / Curragh Woods trail passes through 100 acres of native mixed woodland. Among the native trees that can be seen are alder, ash, birch, hawthorn, oak, holly, willow, non-native beech, spruce and larch. 

 

Rosslare Harbour

This trail will take you along the clifftop, past dwellings built for maritime communities such as the Coastguard, lighthouse keepers or lifeboat volunteers. Along the route, you will also observe the streets and facilities provided for the railwaymen, seamen and port employees who came to build and to maintain port services for the trains and the mail boats.

 

 

Askamore Loop

The starting point lies in the quaint rural village of Askamore, just outside Ferns village. There are 4 looped trails in total, the easiest being The Askamore Loop. This route is 6km which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.

 

Enjoy scenic views of the Wicklow Hills, Wexford’s Coastline, and the windmills on the Arklow sandbanks. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars to spot the ferries leaving Rosslare Port! The trail takes you along minor roads and through magical forestry where you might spot some deer. The route finishes in Askamore village where you can spend some time at the picnic area enjoying some local treats. 

 

Baginbun Head

The Baginbun Head offers a walk along the coastline with some stunning views of the golden sands on Baginbun Beach. It is a popular spot to stop at while sea cave kayaking with The Irish Experience. Take in the beautiful panoramic views of our coastline and enjoy the relaxing walk during your summer holiday in County Wexford.

 

 

Lacken Hill

The Lacken Hill is set in a stunning landscape that overlooks the historic Norman town of New Ross. The four beautiful trails to choose from, ranging from 1.75km to 13.6km, will all take you through forests rich in wildflowers, herbs, fungi, berries and wildlife and along scenic country roads and historic streets. 

 

Ballyfad Wood Loop

The Ballyfad Wood Loop is an easy terrain trail, perfect for a stroll. Located near Coolgreany, this 5.8 km trail should take just over an hour to complete. This is a stunning nature trail for those animal-lovers with the opportunity to spot some woodland wildlife.

 

As you can see, there is no shortage of stunning walking trails in Wexford that you can discover this summer. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing stroll with stunning views or a more demanding hiking style trail – Wexford is the outdoor holiday destination for you this summer. 

 

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Feature photograph credit: John Breen “Forty Shades of Green from The Blackstairs”