Explore Waterford

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Walks Hikes & Cycles
Beaches
Sports & Activities
History
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Comeragh Drive & Mahon Waterfalls

The Comerage Mountain range is 15km outside of Waterford City and provides beautiful scenery and a range of different hiking trails. Mahon Falls is worth a visit on its own but if you’re feeling healthy you can hike all the way to Dungarvan over 30 miles away.

Mount Congreve House & Gardens; Curraghmore House

Both of these estates offer scenic walks around their well-tended gardens and woodlands.

Coumshingaun Lough

Some of the finest scenery in Ireland are viewable on this medium length, but challenging hike. Park at kilcooly woods on carrick Road and set off up through the forest, then over stile and follow dried river path for maybe 100-150m. Then the climb begins.

Cycle the Greenway

46 km of old disused railway line is now a cycle and pedestrian route between Waterford and Dungarvan. This is a very scenic and flat route manageable for a range of cycling abilities. Waterford Greenway Bike Hire (+353 (0) 51 295955) Waterford Bike Hire provide a shuttle bus from both Dungarvan and the mid-point of Kilmacthomas if you wish to only cycle part of the route.

Tramore (13 km)

Beach town with plenty of amusements and a water park for kids. There’s a (long) beach walk for the adults and a nice village behind the beach area (the Japanese Gardens are worth visiting).
Surf lessons and other water sports are readily available but should be booked in advance.

Dunmore East (19km)

A quaint fishing village with a small beach and a scenic but accessible cliff walk and some nice restaurants.

Woodstown (14km)

A long but relatively unvisited beach, compared to others along the coast. The views are beautiful but the water is generally too shallow for swimming most times of the day.

Copper Coast Drive

Highly recommended is the drive between Tramore Stradbally. There are numerous small beaches along the drive, many which are rarely frequented. The area is designated as a geopark related to its historical metal-mining industry and a visitor centre is located outside Bonmahon.

Clonea Strand (28 km)

Large flat lifeguarded beach with surf boards etc available for hire near to Dungarvan

Hook Head Lighthouse

the oldest functioning lighthouse in Europe, hook head is a nice scenic drive from Waterford, using the Passage East ferry into Wexford. On the way you’ll pass Loftus Hall, Ireland’s most haunted house, where you can do a tour of the house if you’re brave enough!

Horse Riding

Lake Stable Tours, Tramore (086 812 8631)
Pallas Equestrian Centre – offer beach riding (0834854485)
Stonehaven Equestrian Centre (051 873816)
Ballinamona Equestrian Centre (051874429)

Kayaking

A number of places operate kayaking within an hour of Waterford City:

Blackwater kayaks & Canoes - Kayaking on the nearby Blackwater River (087 098 9813)
Ardmore Adventures (083 374 3889)
Pure Adventure Day Tours (087 226 5550)

Hawkeye Falconry

Gain hands-on experience flying, handling and feeding trained Hawks and Owls. Guests are taken on woodland walks through the scenic grounds of some beautiful hotels and estates. (0830039743)

Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium

Racing every Friday and Saturday Open at 7.00pm

Golf

There are 5 golf courses within a 15km radius of Waterford City:

Williamstown Gold Club (051 853 131)
Waterford Golf Club ()51 876 748)
Waterford Castle Golf Clun (051 871633)
Faithlegg House Hotel & Golf Club (051 380 587)
Tramore Golf Club (051 386 170)

The Viking Triangle

The Viking triangle is the most historical area of the city and comprises a number of museums and attractions, including Waterford Tourist Office as well as Waterford landmarks dotted around it’s small alleys.

Waterford Treasures Medievel Museum

Ireland’s only purpose-built medieval museum and the only building on the island to incorporate two medieval chambers, the 13th century Choristers’ Hall and the 15th century Mayor’s Wine Vault. The museum houses a collection of ancient clothing and artefacts.

Bishops Palace

The Bishop’s Palace Museum houses a display of Waterford treasures from 1700 to the 20th Century, and gives visitors a wonderful insight into the history of what was, up until the 1750s, Ireland’s second city

Reginalds Tower

A small Viking tower that can be explored through it’s narrow stairs, housing Viking artefacts and an audio-visual historical presentation on the top floor

Virtual Reality: King of the Vikings

Using Virtual Reality this exhibition brings you on a 3D adventure, up close and personal with the Viking warlords who founded Waterford Ireland's oldest city!

Churches

Visit Christ Church Cathedral where Strongbow himself got married and view their amazing organ. Or have a look at Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, the oldest Catholic Cathedral in Ireland

Dunmore Adventure

Water sports & Land activities - Wibit Wipeout Aquapark, Kayaking, Archery, Powerfan Freefall, Sailing, Climbing, Windsurfing, Caving, Canoeing, Kayaking, SUP, Powerboat and Sailing courses. 051 383 783

3D Archery Ireland

Archery experience in New Ross (35 mins drive)

The Great Escape

This is a group activity where you find clues and keys to attempt to escape from a locked room (051854613)

Spas

Estuary Spa Faithlegg (051) 382000
Spirit Spa Treacys Hotel (051) 840 777
Karuna Day & Wellness Spa (087 320 4523)

Waterford & Suir Valley Railway

Narrow gauge railway that runs from Kilmeaden to Waterford city in partially open period carriages as you take in the panoramic views of the river rolling farmland.

Walking Tours

Jack Burtchaell Waterford Walking Tours - 1 hour tour of the city streets (051- 873 711)

Waterford Beer Tours - Visit a number of Waterford pubs while learning about Irish and Waterford History, as well as a bit of background on what you’re drinking! (086 3046740)

Boru Irish Adventures - Bespoke small-group tours. Particularly good for groups who don’t have their own transport and can’t reach particular places or wish for some new adventures off the beaten track (051 323603)

Arts

Garter Lane Arts Centre houses theatre, music, film, literature, dance, visual and children's art, with various events taking place throughout the year.

Soma Contemporary Gallery: Mainly houses art exhibitions at various points

Theatre Royal: A Victorian theatre hidden inside a Georgian building within the Viking Triangle that houses various performance and arts events throughout the year.

Eating & Drinking

Waterford has a host of pubs and restaurants suited to every taste. Please ask at reception and we can recommend the place that’s right for you. Various pubs have live music on different nights of the week so please feel free to ask where the place to be is while you’re here.

It’s recommended to reserve a restaurant table in advance, particularly on Saturday nights and during the Summer.

Further Afield

The Rock of Cashel (1 hour 10mins drive)

Kilkenny Castle (35 mins drive)

JFK Arboretum (41 mins drive)

Dunbrody Famine Ship (30 mins drive)

Ardmore Open Farm & Mini Zoo (55 mins drive)

Hook Lighthouse (50 mins drive)