Old Bawn Beach Wexford: Parking, Swimming + Handy Info

Old Bawn Beach is one of several beaches in Wexford that we find ourselves returning to over and over again.

Merging with the mighty Morriscastle Beach, Old Bawn Beach is a tranquil sandy haven on the east coast of County Wexford.

Ramble along its sands while you tackle the sublime Cahore Cliff Walk or simply relax on its sheltered dunes and enjoy Old Bawn’s unspoilt serenity.

In the guide below, you’ll find info on parking, swimming and what to do while you’re there. Dive on in!

Some quick need-to-knows about Old Bawn Beach

Although a visit to Old Bawn Beach is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

You’ll find Old Bawn Beach just to the south of Cahore Point, where it merges on its north side with Cahore South Beach. The nearest town is Gorey which is a 20-minute drive away, while if you’re coming up from Wexford Town it’ll be closer to 40 minutes. 

2. Parking

There’s a parking area at the end of Cahore Road that leads right to the beach (here on Google Maps). You can then just head over the sandy dunes and onto the beach. There’s also a car park up at Cahore (here on Google Maps), if you’re planning on doing the Cliff Walk first.

3. Swimming

While we can’t find any information from official sources on swimming at Old Bawn (and trust me, I’ve tried!), we’ve had reports from people to say that swimming here isn’t advised.

4. Water safety (please read)

Understanding water safety is absolutely crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland. Please take a minute to read these water safety tips. Cheers!

About Old Bawn Beach

Part of the Cahore Polders and Dunes National Heritage Area, Old Bawn Beach is one of the most picturesque of Wexford’s beaches (and there are plenty to choose from!). 

A Green Coast awarded beach with a wide range of native wildlife in the shelter of its impressive sand dunes, Old Bawn blends naturally with neighbouring Cahore and Morriscastle beaches to form one of the longest stretches of unbroken sandy shore in Ireland.

Basically, if you’re looking for a fine ramble on a balmy sunny afternoon or a windy winter’s morning, you’ve come to the right place!

As well as being a fine part of the Cahore Cliff Walk, there are also plenty of things to do nearby once you’ve enjoyed watching the ocean roll in one last time.

Things to do at Old Bawn Beach

There’s a handful of things to do at Old Bawn Beach if you fancy making a day of it (and if you’d like to pair some ocean air with a bite-to-eat by the sea).

1. Flick off your shoes and head for a stroll or a paddle

With its luscious soft sands, the first thing you’ll want to do at Old Bawn is to throw off your shoes and go for a stroll. And if you’re feeling brave and want a taste of the ocean, go for a paddle too!

Also, make the most of the rising dunes to the back of the beach. Use them as an elevated spot to sit and take in the view, or take a blanket and use their natural shelter from the wind to relax and read a book (in the summer, of course!). 

Old Bawn is also a very dog-friendly beach so don’t hesitate to bring your four-legged friends down either!

2. Or stretch out your walk and tackle the Cahore Cliff Walk

One of Wexford’s most pleasant (and perhaps underrated) trails, the Cahore Cliff Walk is a gentle coastal ramble with some great views along the way. 

Starting from nearby Cahore Point, the looped trail is 4.8km long and should take around one hour to complete (it’ll take you down onto Cahore Beach, too!).

And 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. 

3. Followed by a post-walk feed at The Strand

If you do decide to take on the Cahore Cliff Walk, then there’s no better way to finish it than going for a post-walk feed at The Strand. 

Located just in front of Cahore Pier, it’s got some cracking views of the coast to enjoy while you sip your post-walk pint. And if you’re after something to eat, then don’t miss getting stuck into one of their 14 wood-fired pizzas!

It does get busy around here during the summer months, so be prepared for lots of people and maybe arrive a little earlier so you can grab a parking spot. 

Places to visit near Old Bawn Beach in Wexford

One of the beauties of Old Bawn Beach 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 Old Bawn.

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

Wells House and Gardens is well worth a visit! This is a Victorian Tudor-Gothic country house museum, located around 7 km outside of Kilmuckridge and a 20-minute drive from Old Bawn Beach. Dating back to the 1830s, you’ll find a ton of things to do here, including a tour of the house, an animal farm and woodland walks.

2. Morriscastle Beach (20-minute drive)

Part of the Wexford coast’s Golden Mile, Morriscastle Beach is a gorgeous clean family-friendly beach that’s perfect for swimming and rambling alike! Awarded Blue Flag beach status in 2008, this stretch of beautiful sands is just a further 20-minute drive south from Old Bawn. 

3. Tulach a’ tSolais monument (20-minute drive)

Opened in 1999, the Tulach a’ tSolais monument was built to commemorate the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. Located on Oulart Hill and around a 20-minute drive from Old Bawn Beach, it’s a unique grassy burial mound that really catches the eye at first glance. There are also a few trails you can tackle to reach it, that provide some lovely views along the way.

FAQs about visiting Old Bawn Beach

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where is the main car park?’ (see Google Map link above) to ‘How long does it stretch?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.