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The Cahore Cliff Walk In Wexford: Parking, Map + The Trail

The Cahore Cliff Walk In Wexford: Parking, Map + The Trail

The Cahore Cliff Walk is one of our favourite walks in Wexford.

Though there are loads of wind-whipped shores and soaring mountains for the more intrepid hiker to explore, sometimes all you need is a gentle cliff walk to enjoy Ireland’s gorgeous coast!

And down in County Wexford, the lovely Cahore Cliff Walk is an easy little ramble that’ll dust off the cobwebs in no time.

What to know about the Cahore Cliff Walk

YouTube video

Although the Cahore Cliff Walk is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Starting point

An easy and recognisable starting point, you’ll kick off the walk from the small stony pier extending out from Cahore Point. But before you begin, make sure to walk to the end of the pier and look south, where you’ll get a nice view of the early stages of the cliff walk you’re about to tackle!

2. Parking

There’s a decent bit of parking just before the pier that should sort you out (here on Google Maps). Turn off Cahore Road onto the ride road heading up to the pier and look out on the left-hand side where there should be ample space to park up free of charge. 

3. How long it takes

The looped trail is 4.8km long and should take around one hour to complete, although that could take a little longer if you want to stop and enjoy the coastal views (entirely understandable!). 

4. Difficulty

With its relatively short length and lack of significant gradients to climb (the ascent is only 10 metres!), the Cahore Cliff Walk is an easy trail that’s suitable for all ages and levels of experience. Dogs on a lead are allowed too, which should tell you something about how leisurely this walk is!

5. Warning

On the return journey towards Cahore Point, you’ll be using a road with no paths. Make sure to remain vigilant and stick as close to the side as possible (some of the roads have grassy verges) and be careful, especially when coming to a bend in the road.

An overview of the Cahore Cliff Walk

The map above gives you a rough outline of the trail to follow from Cahore Point. As we mentioned earlier, it’ll be the pier where the walk roughly begins so head up the steps to the right-hand side of the pier and get onto the stony trail and start heading south.

Breathe in the fresh salty coastal air as you head down the track with some beautiful views over the Irish Sea for company along the way. 

With birds wheeling overhead and the sound of the waves below, make your way down to the golden sands of Cahore Beach as you pass some interesting landmarks on the way, including Cahore Castle, an old WW2 EIRE sign and some stone lookout towers.

Also, on clear days, if you look back north along the coast you should be able to see all the way to Wicklow Head Lighthouse!

Mid Point

Eventually, Cahore Beach will merge with Old Bawn Beach. Keep on strolling until you see a sign on the beach pointing you back in land and where you’ll rejoin the trail for the next section.

This part heads north back towards the village, and, while there are no coastal views during this stretch, you’ll still hear the sound of the sea and the walk up the quiet roads and boreens is flanked by pleasant green shrubbery. 

It must be pointed out that there are no clear footpaths during this section, so make sure you stay vigilant for any cars that come down this way. Take a left when you reach the Cahore Holiday and Leisure Park on Cahore Road and then continue to follow the road when turns right, taking you back up towards the pier.

Finish

Remember that there’s still no footpath on Cahore Road so keep your eyes and ears out for any passing cars. Along the way back up north you’ll pass by houses of all shapes and sizes, with glimpses of the rolling green Wexford fields and hills behind them.

Eventually, you’ll come to a signposted road on the right-hand side pointing you back toward the pier and the end of the trail. 

Remember to stop off at The Strand Bar for a post-ramble pint and feed! The pub is at the end of the road and just in front of the pier. It’s got some deadly views of the coast and the beer is cold and the food’s great too. Don’t miss getting stuck into one of their 14 wood-fired pizzas!

What to do after the Cahore Cliff Walk

One of the beauties of the walk up at Cahore Point is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Wexford.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from the Cahore Cliff Walk.

1. Glenavon Japanese Garden (10-minute drive)

Glenavon Japanese Garden

Photos via Glenavon Japanese Garden on FB

With its expertly manicured gardens and charming wooden pagoda, the Glenavon Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquility and took around 10 years to build. Located a 10-minute drive north of Cahore Point, this one-acre garden is a lovely spot to unwind and get away from it all. 

2. Carrig Rua Hill (20-minute drive)

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If the Cahore Cliff Walk didn’t quite hit the elevated heights you needed, or you simply just fancy a cracking view of the landscape, then drive around 20-minutes west from the pier and head up Carrig Rua Hill. The walk isn’t too far and the trail is lined with trees, eventually getting up to around 140 metres high and offering some gorgeous views of the Wexford coast and the Blackstairs mountains. 

3. Wells House & Gardens (20-minute drive)

wells gardens wexford

Photos via Wells House & Garden on FB

Voted Ireland’s #1 family day out by the Irish Hospitality Awards, Wells House and Gardens is a Victorian Tudor-Gothic country house museum, located around 7 km outside of Kilmuckridge and a 20-minute drive from Cahore Point. Dating back to the 1830s, there’s loads to do here including a tour of the house, an animal farm and woodland walks. 

4. Morriscastle Beach (20-minute drive)

Morriscastle Beach Wexford

Photos courtesy of @johnobeez

If you enjoyed the cliff walk but want to get down and put your feet on some more sand, then there’s no better place to do it than Morriscastle Beach. In fact, did you know that it’s the longest unbroken stretch of beach in Europe? Just a 20-minute drive south of Cahore Point, it runs for over 20kms. This is one of the most popular beaches in Wexford for good reason.

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