Here’s my annual guide to holidaying with kids around Duncannon and the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford. It’s where I grew up, and we spend lots of time there with the kids all year ’round. I’ve included some practical information this year to answer the questions I’ve been asked, and as always if there’s anything I’ve forgotten do tell me!
It’s an annual tradition now, my guide to holidaying around Duncannon and the Hook Peninsula. So, without further ado here’s what’s happening this year:
The area is perfect for a family holiday, where you kick back and relax, enjoying the beaches, the fresh air and the outdoors.
The Highlights
Hook Lighthouse, sitting out at the edge of the peninsula it lends its name to is the undisputed number 1 tourist attraction of the area. The Lighthouse tour experience introduced last year gets good reviews (I haven’t tried it yet but it looks fantastic on the ads.) The lighthouse is the oldest in Europe, called “the flashiest” by Lonely Planet, there’s a wooden ship play thing, and lots of games and spacehoppers out on the lawn in front. rocks to climb and an art room where kids can make their own slate artwork and bring it home as a holiday souvenir9 (Drop in, Cost from €5). The views from Hook Head are breathtaking, even if you skip the tour make sure you visit the site. There’s a coffee shop on site, get the chowder, you’ll thank me, or a coffee and an icecream and sit on the picnic benches out front. Admission to the lighthouse costs €9 per adult, but they have a good variety of family ticket combinations (for example 2 adults and 2 kids for €22) and under 5’s are free. Booking your ticket online in advance is recommended at busier times to avoid a wait til the next available tour. The view from the top of the lighthouse is superb, and only accessible on the tour, but we often go down and just hang out and walk on the cliffs.
Duncannon Fort, a star-shaped fort jutting out into the Waterford Estuary and dating from the 16th century is well worth a visit, the Estuary views are breathtaking and the guided tours (book and after a closed season last year it’s now open for business for guided tours. I spent a summer on a student scheme as a tour guide here in the 1990’s and I can confirm that getting behind the scenes is fantastic, the views of the estuary alone are worth it. Their Facebook page is here and tickets can be booked online in advance here. Adults €6, children 6- 16 €1.50; children age 5 and under are free. You can see our review of the tour we did last year here.
Beaches. There are enough beaches on the Hook Peninsula to go to a different one every day for two weeks (I’m pretty certain I got that from a tourism brochure back in the ’80s, in fact I can picture it). Duncannon is handy as it’s in the village and easily accessible, plus you can drive down on to it. The water is shallow and there are lifeguards on duty. There’s also a beach wheelchair available to book this year to book contact Christina in Hooked on 087 6103224. Our other favourite is Dollar Bay, a secluded cove with lots of rockpools to explore, but you can check them all out, one day at a time.
What Else?
Attractions in the area include
Image: Sinead Fox
Tintern Abbey We love Tintern for a walk and amble through the woods. There’s a walled garden (admission charged) and the abbey is open to the public, but usually we wander in the woods and explore. For this, admission is free. There’s a tea room on site and the abbey is open to the public for a fee. Perfect picnic spot- have a look at the Tintern Trails page here for more info.
John F Kennedy Park and Arboretum You could spend the day here, walking in the grounds, riding the model train (in season) and playing in the playground, you can even take a ride in a pony and trap and see one of Jackie O’s outfits in the small museum. Don’t forget the bread for the ducks. I wrote more about it here.
Cockleshell Art Centre which once operated from the Fort is now run by local Peter Murphy from a room in his house on the Main Street – check out his facebook page here or look out for the sign on the Main Street when it’s open.
Attractions I have yet to visit (Still)
Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross comes highly recommended.
Abbey Par 3 and Crazy Golf is at Winningtown outside Duncannon
Loftus Hall – Ireland’s most haunted house, so possibly more for the adults but kids are welcome.
Dunbrody Abbey and Maze website http://www.dunbrodyabbey.com/maze.htm a friend recently visited and raved about it, bring a picnic and do the maze.
Kilmokea Gardens More info here
Close by (30 minutes drive or less)
Choose one of my Things to do in Wexford as a short day trip or if it’s raining my list of things to do in Wexford when it’s wet.
Take a trip to Dunmore East via the Passage East Car Ferry– the ferry trip itself is exciting for the kids, but very short so get out of the car as soon as you drive on!
Check out Waterford and Suir Valley Railway
There are cinemas in Waterford and Wexford.
The nearest indoor playcentre is Playbarn in New Ross.
Activities
If you’re feeling active check out Hooked Kitesurfing in Duncannon, “supping” is suitable for older kids and adults and they have kayaks this summer too.
There’s kayaking and surfing at Monkey Rocks Surf Shop in Fethard.
Go Whale Spotting You can visit the local humpback whale by booking a tour with local skipper Martin Colfer -contact details here. Sightings of the whales are not guaranteed but you’ll have nice day out.
Food
Bar Food: The Strand Tavern, Roches Bar and the Fort Conan Hotel and The Local at Dunbrody House serve food til about 9pm in summer and offer excellent children’s menus and a family friendly atmosphere.
Chippers: The village has two traditional chippers – Off the Hook (who also do pizza) and Juff’s.
Coffee: A welcome addition to the village The Wild Rose Cafe has recently opened in the Fort Conan Hotel, it’s breakfasts get great reviews. Takeaway coffees area available from the Kitesurfing Hut and Strand Stores.
Ice-cream: The Kitesurfing Hut has Maud’s cones, Off the Hook has 99’s and Strand Stores has a fridge full of HB delights and a cone machine.
New this year is the Duncannon Gourmet Food Market, on Sundays from June – more info here.
Fethard Country Market is on Saturdays – more details here
For fancier dining (as in without the kids) Aldridge Lodge and Dunbrody House are a stone’s throw (or walking distance, depending on your shoes).
Socialising
Hal’s Ceili Band play every Thursday night all year long in The Strand Tavern, kicking off around 9.30pm
Roches Bar, The Strand Tavern and The Fort Conan Hotel have live music throughout the summer.
Kids’ Club with Lisa is in the Strand Tavern from 6-7.30pm from the first Monday in July until end of August, and includes balloon modelling, puppet show, fun & games. €3 per child.
Playgrounds
The HUGE slide at Duncannon playground
Duncannon’s playground is a highlight, the adults should all climb to the top of this slide for the view. We have spent hours here and I have been down the slide a couple of times 🙂
There’s a smaller playground in Fethard-on-Sea.
Festivals
This weekend 3rd June is Hooked on the Sea Festival on the whole peninsula, more details here.
Duncannon’s famed Sandsculpting Festival is on 11th – 13th August and is always a great family friendly affair.
Accommodation
There’s a small hotel in the village, numerous B&B’s and lots of holiday lets.
Dunbrody Country House is just outside the village and Aldridge Lodge has a small amount of accommodation.
Duncannon Holiday Park is very popular for camping and mobile homes.
Practical information
Groceries: There’s a small shop in Duncannon for daily requirements, Floods Centra in Ramgrange has everything you could need including hot dinners and a butcher counter, further afield there’s a Wallace’s Supervalu in Wellingtonbridge and Tesco in New Ross.
The nearest chemist to Duncannon is in Campile -details here
Dr Byrne is the local GP 051 389215; out of hours cover is by Caredoc 1850-334999
Petrol – There’s a petrol station in Arthurstown
See, there’s so much to do, there’s a great reason why they call it #Funcannon
*Some of this content appeared previously on Bumbles of Rice as I’m too lazy to re-write it ! Also I really need to take better photos
There’s lots more infomation available on visitwexford.ie
Well done!
Cheers
I think Bord Failte should employ you! This is definitely the most definitive guide to the area that I’ve ever read x
That’s my dream job
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