There’s loads of great outdoor activities in Wexford, for those of you looking to get out into the fresh air and explore.
And, although the County Wexford coastline is home to endless stunning beaches, outdoor activities in this county aren’t confined to the sand.
There’s heaps of walks, hikes, outdoor adventure centres and water-based activities in Wexford, as you’ll discover below.
Our favourite outdoor activities in Wexford
The first section of our guide is packed with our favourite Wexford activities, with a mix of hikes, walks and water-based stuff.
Below, you’ll find everything from the brilliant Forth Mountain walk to some very unique attractions.
1. Hikes
If you’re up for some decent hiking, Wexford has plenty of options for you. There are some challenging hills to climb, with many offering stunning panoramic views to reward your hard work.
Some of our favourites include the 10km return hike up Forth Mountain, just outside of Wexford town. Or you can also head north of Gorey and complete the 8km climb to Croghan Mountain on the border with Wicklow.
Another is the Mount Leinster hike. This challenging trail takes you up the 794-metre-high mountain and is best done on a clear day when the views are visible.
2. Walks
If you’ve read our Wexford walks guide, you’ll know there’s endless trails in this peach of a county. For a forest ramble, try Courtown Woods where you can combine a beach walk with a nice ramble through the woodland on the coast.
The Cahore Cliff Walk is a stunning walk from Cahore Pier around Cahore Castle and to South Beach taking in some beautiful views on the way.
Tintern Abbey has a variety of trails from where you can enjoy ancient architecture and mixed woodland on walks less than an hour.
3. Beaches galore
There’s some stunning beaches in Wexford and with over 250km of coastline and over 35 stretches of sand, you’ll certainly find a few that tickle your fancy.
No matter where you base yourself on your trip to Wexford, there’s bound to be some great beaches nearby. Two of our favourites are St. Helen’s Beach and Dollar Bay.
However, there’s also Curracloe Beach, Rosslare Strand, Booley Bay, Ballymoney Beach, Ballinesker Beach and plenty more!
4. Watersports
While there’s plenty of water sports that you can get into in Wexford, surfing is the big one in this county. With the vast array of beaches, you can easily enjoy a surfing road trip along the coast with plenty of towns for a post-surf pint.
The Hook Peninsula is home to the wildest of the surf beaches in the county, with Carnivan Beach widely considered to be one of the best.
If you’re looking for some unique Wexford activities, give the folks at The Irish Experience a shout.
From sea kayaking to coastal canyoning, you’ll find some unique outdoor experiences for a range of ages and skill levels.
Family-friendly activities in Wexford
Now that we have our favourite Wexford activities out of the way, it’s time to see what else this corner has to offer.
Below, you’ll find more walks and outdoor attractions along with some brilliant family friendly activities in Wexford.
1. The Village at Wheelocks
The Village at Wheelocks has been growing fruit by the same family since the 1950s. It’s open to visitors who are able to explore the 17-acre property with plenty of tours and activities on offer.
Located just outside of Enniscorthy, it’s easily accessible from Wexford town for a weekend outing. The family can enjoy one of the many walking trails through the farm and gardens or the kids can try their hand at picking their own fruit from the fields.
There’s also a farm shop and café onsite, where you can indulge in some local goodness.
2. Wexford Lavender Farm
Located just north of Gorey town, the Wexford Lavender Farm is a beautiful place to enjoy the aroma as you wander amongst the blanket of purple flowers.
The farm has been in the hands of the same family since 1950 and is registered as an organic farm. They grow mostly Dutch lavender ‘Grosso’ and English lavender ‘Munstead’ and are open to the public for visits.
It’s a popular place for families, with a café, maze, activities for kids, plant sales and a gift store all located on the farm.
3. Wells House and Gardens
A visit to Wells House and Gardens is another popular family friendly buzz in Wexford. There are guided tours on weekends, where you can learn more about the history of the 17th century house and gardens.
Otherwise, you can let the kids run wild, with plenty of walks, garden space, playgrounds and an animal farm to explore.
With around 450 acres, the family will surely burn some energy discovering the hidden corners of the estate. Tickets are €24 for a family of up to 5, with no time limits for your visit.
4. The Saltee Islands
The rugged Saltee Islands off the coast of Kilmore Quay are a popular day excursion in Wexford. Reached by a ferry from Kilmore Quay, the islands are home to a range of seabirds, including puffins, gannets, razorbills and gulls.
Once you arrive off the boat, there are walking trails leading to some of the historical sites, including old stone walls which prove human occupation up to hundreds of years ago.
It’s thought that the islands were used by pirates, wreckers and smugglers for centuries.
5. Irish National Heritage Park
You’ll find the Irish National Heritage Park just outside of Wexford Town. Known as one of the best of the educational activities in Wexford, the 35-acre living history park takes you through 9000 years of history on various walking trails.
There are displays depicting the first human settlements up to the 12th century, demonstrating the changes in human evolution. The whole family can learn something new from the pre-historic times to the Age of Invasion.
One of the most unique parts of the park, is that you can also learn an ancient trade or craft. From foraging to wood carving and even a Viking boot camp, the kids will love the hands-on activities.
6. Seal Rescue Ireland
Just behind Courtown Beach, the volunteer-run Seal Rescue Ireland and rehabilitates seal pups from around the Wexford coast.
Their Visitor Centre is open to the public for a feeding experience at limited times throughout the year. Over the popular Christmas break, you can expect multiple daily sessions, for one of the cutest ways to spend an afternoon.
It’s a completely unique place to take the kids and learn about this fantastic organisation, with the hour-long sessions costing around €20 per person.
FAQs about fun activities in Wexford
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Which are good fro families?’ for ‘What Wexford activities suit big groups?’.
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.
What are the best outdoor activities in Wexford?
There’s endless hikes (Tara Hill, Forth Mountain, etc) and there’s heaps of water activities in Wexford, too (see guide above for full list).
What Wexford activities are good for groups?
Hikes are the obvious answer but the tours offered by The Irish Experience are a great unique activity that should suit groups of friends.