11 Of The Best Things To Do In Gorey In Wexford (And Nearby)

If you’re looking for things to do in Gorey, you’ve landed in the right spot.

This lively town in County Wexford is a mighty base to explore from and you’re only a short spin from endless places to visit.

The town itself also boasts great pubs, comfy hotels to kip in and there’s some excellent restaurants in Gorey, too!

In the guide below, you’ll find a clatter of places to visit in Gorey and things to do a stone’s throw away!

Our favourite things to do in Gorey (and nearby)

The first section of our guide is packed with our favourite things to do in Gorey along with nearby attractions.

Below, you’ll find everything from tasty breakkie spots to one of our favourite walks in Wexford.

1. Kick-start your visit with something tasty from The Book Café or Hungry Bear

If breakfast is the meal of kings, then the best start for your day out in Gorey must begin with a hearty breakfast and there are two great options to choose from.

The Book Café and Bistro knock up some great pancakes and bacon with maple syrup along with a mean poached eggs on home-made wheaten bread.

Another good shout is The Hungry Bear which specialises in great coffee, tasty vegetarian and vegan options, and the Hungry Bear’s Big Breakfast.

2. Then head for a saunter along one of the many nearby beaches

Now that your belly’s happy, it’s time to hit the coast. You’ll find some of the best beaches in Wexford a short spin from the town.

You’ve Courtown Beach (10-minute drive), Kiltennel Beach (10-minute drive), Ballymoney Beach (12-minute drive) and Kilgorman Strand (20-minute drive) all nearby.

If you’re looking for things to do in Gorey early in the morning, grab a coffee from the town and then hit Courtown. You can nip into the woods for a stroll after the beach!

3. Take the kids to Kia Ora Mini Farm (5-minute drive)

If you’re looking for things to do in Gorey with kids, Kia Ora Mini Farm is hard to beat. The farm offers children the chance to interact with farmyard animals as well as some exotic breeds, like alpacas, emus and llamas.

There’s an onsite coffee shop that specialises in home-baking, but visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics and there is plenty of outdoor seating for relaxing on sunny days.

The farm is wheelchair accessible and has plenty to do, including go-kart tracks, a football pitch and a fire engine ride.

4. Take a spin to Wexford Lavender Farm (12 min drive)

The Wexford Lavender Farm is open in the spring and summer months and here you can find out all you want to know about the incredible lavender plant.

There are woodland walks (free) and a distillery tour that shows how the precious oil is extracted from thousands of buds. In July and August, you can pick your own bunches of the plant or buy from the village shop.

5. Or spend a fine morning conquering Tara Hill (15-minute drive)

If you’re looking for active things to do near Gorey, the Tara Hill walk is an excellent option. While not particularly big (some 253 metres), it offers some stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

There are two main trails up Tara Hill – the red trail (5km and moderately tough) and the blue trail (5.5km and tough).

If you can, try and aim your walk for when the weather is clear as you’ll be treated to glorious views out to the sea.

6. Kick back with post-adventure pints at French’s

One of our favourite things to do in Gorey with a group is to spend an afternoon hiking and an evening tucked away in French’s on the Main Street of Gorey.

This is a proper, old-school Irish pub that has been in the town since the late 18th century. It would be a sin to come here and not order a Guinness, so make sure you do.

For the true Irish experience, traditional music sessions take place from 9.30 every Thursday and it’s a great place to settle back in the snug, find yourself an old stool and soak up the atmosphere.

Other popular things to near Gorey

Now that we have our favourite things to do in Gorey out of the way, it’s time to see what else there is to do nearby.

Below, you’ll find everything from more walks and hikes to the brilliant Seal Rescue Ireland and more.

1. Visit the Seal Rescue Ireland Visitor Centre (10-minute drive)

Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI) is a registered charity that rehabilitates and releases sick, injured and orphaned seals from across the coast of Ireland. The organisation also promotes marine conservation through education, research and community outreach programmes.

It’s behind the Courtown Adventure and Leisure Centre not far from Courtown Woods. The ‘Seal Feed & Enrichment’ experience is an immersive programme that gives visitors the unique opportunity to see the seal pups up close and help get them that bit closer to being released back into the wild.

It involves a behind-the-scenes tour of the hospital where you will help prepare food and a visit to the rehabilitation pools to feed the deals and watch them dive.

2. Take the kids to Pirates Cove (12-minute drive)

If you’re looking for things to do near Gorey with kids, Pirates Cove in Courtown makes for a great family day out.

There is a sub-tropical garden where you can challenge your family or friends to a game of 18-hole mini-golf, or why not venture through the giant caves, the cascading waterfall and the treasure-laden galleon ship wreck? You can also play mini-golf at night—a great party or team building idea.

There are bumper boats that travel around the lagoon or paddle boats for the little ones in an inflatable pond. Ten-pin bowling, children’s go-karts and a games arcade are also on offer. For food, there is a treats counter or bring your own lunch to the picnic area.

3. Conquer Croghan Mountain (25 min drive away)

Croghan Mountain (aka Croghan Kinsella) is another beaut of a hike. On a clear day you can see Mount Snowdon from its summit – the highest mountain in Wales – across the Irish Sea.

The other views are over the Gold Mine River, where Irish prospectors flickered in their thousands to pan for gold during the Wicklow Gold Rush.

You’ll catch sight of the Wexford/Wicklow border where the United Irishmen army sought a safe hiding place from the forces of the Crown after the 1798 rebellion.

4. Step back in time at Ferns Castle (20-minute drive)

Before the Normans conquered Ireland in the 12th century, Ferns was the political base of Diarmait Mac Murchada, the king of Leinster. William, Earl Marshall, built the castle around 1200 and since then, it has had many diverse political and military owners.

Half of the original castle remains, and the most complete tower contains a beautiful circular chapel, seven original fireplaces and a basement. In the visitor centre, you will find the Ferns Tapestry, which records the pre-Norman history of the town.

5. Spend a morning sauntering around Wells House & Gardens (20-minute drive)

Voted Ireland’s number one family day out, Wells House and Gardens is 450 acres of woodlands and gardens, an animal farm, playground, walks and trails and more.

The craft courtyard is a terrific place to stock up on unusual gifts and there is onsite accommodation as well, if you want to turn your visit into a holiday.

Why not tour the house too—a great way to explore its 400-year history.

6. Or the equally mighty Courtown Woods (10 minutes away)

Last but by no means least is Courtown Woods. This place is perfect for those in search of a leisurely walk that isn’t overly taxing.

Courtown Woods was planted with oak and ash in 1870 when it was part of a typical Victorian estate.

It is situated immediately north of the village and covers some 25 hectares. There are several handy trails to tackle here.

What things to do near Gorey have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant things to do near Gorey from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about what to do in Gorey

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What is there to do with kids?’ to ‘Where’s good to visit close by?’.

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.