Routes
Day 1: East Coastal Route (31 Kms)
The longest continuous beach in all Ireland runs along the Wexford’s east coast, an astonishing 27 kilometres from Cahore Point near Courtown, south to Raven Point, which marks the northern side of the entrance to Wexford town’s shallow harbour.
The route begins at Cahore point and continues along the beach through Morriscastle and Knocknasilloge. It continues on around Blackwater head towards Ballinesker beach. This beach is internationally famous as the location where Steven Spielberg filmed the incredible opening scenes to his World War II epic Saving Private Ryan.
Ballinesker is part of the larger area of Curracloe beach, a blue flag beach that also contains Culletons Gap, Black Turf Landing and White Gap.
From Raven point at the southern extremity of Curracloe beach you are rewarded with fantastic views of Wexford harbour. Raven Point is a well known nature reserve. This was once an island that joined the mainland in the 1800's. The forest was planted in the 1940's and is well worth walking. A walk back along a beautiful forest path to Culleton’s Gap will complete the day’s trek.
Day 2: South West Coastal Route (25 kms)
The second days trekking begins at Templetown, where there is an old fortified church of the Knights Templar. Parts of this site at Templetown date back to the 12th century.
The route continues through Portersgate and Slade in a loop around Hook Head peninsula. Hook Head is a headland located on the east side of the estuary of the three sisters rivers (the Barrow, the Nore and the Suir).
The Lighthouse at Hook Head is one of the oldest working lighthouses is the world, dating back to the 13th Century. Hook Head is said to have found its way into common English usage in the saying “By Hook or by Crook”. It's claimed that the phrase is derived from attempts by Cromwell to take Waterford by Hook (on the east side of the harbour) or by Crook (a village on the west side of the harbour).
Returning back up the peninsula we will pass Loftus Hall (famous for its “Ghost”) with wonderful views of the Waterford coastline to the west. The path then winds it’s way up the coast along the clifftops to Duncannon.
This popular fishing village boasts a star shaped fortress, Duncannon Fort, which was built in 1588 in the expectation of an attack on the area by the Spanish Armada. The Fort is surrounded by a 30 ft high dry moat and has one of the oldest lighthouses of its kind in Ireland. All the major buildings in the Fort surround a parade ground. A walk around the outer ramparts affords spectacular views across the estuary to Co. Waterford and down to Hook Head. Located below the moat is the croppy boy cell. After the 1798 rebellion, prisoners were detained here pending transfer to Geneva Barracks for trial and sentencing.
From Duncannon we will pass through Arthurstown on the way to the finish line at Ballyhack. The small fishing village of Ballyhack is dominated by the ruins of the historical 15th century crusader castle. It is situated at the outlet of the rivers Barrow, Suir and Nore and overlooks Waterford Harbour.
Day 3: The Blackstairs Walk (26 kms)
Perhaps the most challenging of all the days, this route is considered one of the classic routes in Irish hill-walking.
The Blackstairs Walk is a 26Km mountain walk along the Carlow Wexford Border and traverses the entire range.
The average time to complete this walk is 9 hours. Starting at Killanure, the route follows the Carlow-Wexford border taking in Mount Leinster, Scullogue Gap, Blackstairs Mountain and at finishes at Glynn (Co. Carlow).
Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs are a ridge of rounded granite peaks lying between the beautiful Barrow valley and the rich lowlands of Wexford.
The summit of Mount Leinster is the highest point in Wexford (793 metres), and from here on a clear day affords truly extensive views of the whole South East of Ireland, taking in much of the coast and all other mountain ranges.
Blackstairs Mountain itself is approached from the Sculloge Gap and just past the summit it is possible to inspect Cahir Rua's Den, where a notorious outlaw once lay low.
The route then descends gradually to the finish line at Glynn.
Day 4: The Three Rocks Trail (18 km)
The Three Rocks Trail is a 13 km nature walk which takes us across Forth Mountain, west of Wexford Town. You will walk through unspoiled countryside, with wonderful views, passing historical sites. Along the route, near the Skeater Rock, there is a cairn, or prehistoric burial mound. This viewing point gives a commanding view of South Wexford coastline and was used as a key lookout point by the rebels in 1798.
From Carrigfoyle Rock there are wonderful panoramic views. Other interesting sites include the ruins of Carrig Church, Carrig River, the Norman castle at Barntown and St. Alphonsus Church, designed by Pugin. South of Barntown is the ruin of a church used in 1798, and beside it the old one-room school.
The Three Rocks camp, on the eastern side of Forth Mountain is where in 1798 the main body of the rebels waited before one of the main battles of the rebellion. The rebels won, the troops left Wexford and on May 30th Ireland’s first (short-lived) republic was declared.
The route takes us past the ruined Ferrycarrig Castle on an outcrop overlooking the River Slaney and you pass the Round Tower (a memorial built in 1858 to Wexford soldiers who died in the Crimean war) and the Irish National Heritage Park.
From here we continue towards Wexford town, passing the Faythe Harriers grounds at Pairc Charman on a triumphant final march into the town.
Itinerary subject to change