Gibbet Hill Loop walk follows forest roads on a long steady climb up to Gibbet Hill to the Marian Cross before looping back, with good views of the surrounding countryside of Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow and Mount Leinster. This walk takes you through pine and beech forests up to the summit of the hill. You'll notice all kinds of native wildlife, such as Sika deer, Peregrine falcon, hen harrier raven,Irish hare, fox and badger. In early May expect to see a carpet of bluebells, thriving away beneath the beech trees.
This walk on roadway, field and open ground on the slopes of the Comeragh Mountains takes you in the shadow of Carrignagower Mountain to the Boolas (Coum Iarthar Loughs) in the longest coum with the highest lake in the area, two spectacular glacial features - beautiful and remote with scenic views of the lakes.
Colligan Wood is situated in a scenic valley through which the River Colligan flows and enters the sea at Dungarvan Bay. The fertile soil (from old red sandstone) supports mixed woodland of conifers and broadleaves – including Norway spruce, Western hemlock, Japanese larch, Sitka spruce, oak, ash, beech, maple, and birch. The steep wooded glens on each side of the river still carry remnants of old woodland oaks. Some trees have been labelled for identification. Fox, red squirrel, badger, otter, stoat, rabbits, hares and fallow deer are often spotted in the forest and the Colligan river is a salmon spawning river with sea trout also to be seen. The proximity of the wood to the town of Dungarvan makes it an extremely popular amenity for walking.
If you like wild flowers and trees, come to Castlemorris Wood. Here are oak, ash, beech, hazel, sycamore, specimen conifers, silver-skinned hornbeams. In their shelter flourished big spreads of buttercups, tall sowthistles, purple vetches, bird’s-foot trefoil, hairy-podded herb robert. Bramble bushes wore pink and white shawls of guelder roses. Wrens chitter and blackbirds flute –let the Woods weave their powerful magic, seducing you into their green shade and glorious silences.
The Brandon Hill loop is a challenging 12 KM trail, you will follow minor roadways, forestry tracks and hillside patches to reach the peak. The Brandon Loop starts in the town of Graiguenamanagh, where you can drop into the 13th century Cistercian monastery of Duiske Abbey or stop in for a spot of lunch in the picturesque town full of traditional character and charm.
Spooky tunnels, dramatic viaducts and Copper Coast views are all in store for walkers and cyclists on Ireland's newest greenway. The Waterford Greenway, a 46km reboot of the Great Southern and Western Railway line and is now Ireland's longest off-road walking and cycling experience. The €15 million trail stretches from Waterford City to Dungarvan - with 11 bridges, three viaducts and a 400-metre tunnel dotting a swathe of coastal, forest and farmland landscapes that show An Déise off at its very best.
Forth Mountain is a rock outcrop just south west of Wexford town. No other mountain in Ireland can boast of 500-600 million-year-old rock, a pivotal location in the 1798 Rebellion, the remains of houses built in the early 1900s, a grotto, and a climb of almost 235m.
There are panoramic views of the Wexford coastline which include Rosslare, Our Lady’s Island, Saltees Islands, Hook Head lighthouse and across into Dunmore East and the Waterford estuary. In Pennylands, delightful viewing points include the Grotto and another near Clourane.
