A selection of beautiful walks awaits you in Wexford: wooded, historic, coastal and mountain trails. Choose a different walk each day. Wexford has an exceptionally varied landscape for you to savour. Ranging from long sandy beaches in the east to the wild Hook Peninsula in the south-west. Walk through bird-rich polders beside Wexford town. Traverse the slopes of Mount Leinster and the Blackstairs Mountains in the west.
 

Tintern Trails

Gardener’s Trail 

This walk starts at Tintern Abbey, which was founded in the early 13th century. Cross the Tintern River via the old stone bridge and enjoy the mixed woodland containing 200-year-old beech trees. About halfway, discover the Colclough Walled Garden which once supplied the Colclough family who lived in the abbey. Look out for the ruins of the head gardener’s cottage on the return path to the trailhead. This trail is suitable for buggies and wheelchair users.

Tintern Demesne Trail

This walk along the Tintern River and around the demesne boundary shows Nature’s bounty, including fine beech, oak, and chestnut trees as well as kingfishers, egrets, buzzards, red squirrels, stoats, and seven types of bat. As the path winds through the woods enjoy picturesque views of the Abbey across the green pasture.

Bannow Bay Trail

Starting at the abbey, this trail meanders through the Deal park and on to the Brickfield where the bricks to construct the walled garden were made. Your walk will take in the old estate village of Saltmills. Crossover Saltmills bridge, following part of the Wexford coastal path and, after passing St. Mary’s ‘First Fruit’ church, turn right and follow the edge of Bannow Bay. This area is home to an old IRA memorial, a rare double lime kiln, a grounded dredger and is rich in bird
life. Follow the road uphill to a crossroads, turn left, and eventually cross the L4041 road. Climb over the stile and a tranquil leafy lane returns you to the trailhead.

Ferns Village Trail

Renowned through the ages as the Ancient Capital of Leinster, this is a trail well worth taking. Experience sites of national and international importance–a centre of early Christian and medieval significance. Visit heritage sites linked to some of the greatest changes in Irish history. Linger at a holy well founded by St. Aidan who came to Ferns in 598AD. Nearby you can visit 12th century St. Mary’s Abbey and the grave of the king who brought the Normans to Ireland in 1169. Spend some time in St. Edan’s Cathedral and view the high crosses in its grounds. Take a tour of Ferns Castle, a 13th century Norman castle, and in the adjacent Visitors’ Centre you can see the wonderful Ferns Tapestry exhibition. Nearby is a monument to Fr. John Murphy, a 1798 Rebellion leader and further along the trail is a 1916 commemorative plaque linking Ferns to these significant events in Wexford’s history.

Kilmore Quay Trail

Of international conservation importance, Ballyteige Burrow or “the Burrow” as it is locally known, is one of the finest sand dune systems in the South East. There are three main walking routes – along the beach, through the dunes, or on the path by the fence that separates the dunes from the adjoining farmland. Walking along the shore provides an opportunity to watch passing seabirds. Little terns occasionally nest on the beach at the western end. In the dunes, you will see meadow pipits, wrens, stonechats and linnets.