"Stay away stay away stay away from me, for I am the man of misery" is supposedly what the man atop…read morethe pillar shouts. To be honest, he looks like a giant smurf - white pants, blue shirt. During storms, ships used to try to shelter in Tramore Bay. Only to be welcomed by rocks. One of the masts of these unfortunate crafts now stands on Tramore Beach's backstrand as a further reminder of the treachery of the bay's hidden rocks. So the locals hoisted pillars on each headland of the bay - to the east on Brownstown Head, and on the west headland (called Westown) the Metal Man. It's a lovely walk through the fields along the coast out to the Metal Man - start at Newtown Cove and tramp the mile or so around the inlets and through the fields. You'll need sturdy shoes and a waterproof/windbreaker: even if it's not rainy, it will most likely be windy. The view is well worth the effort.

Nice and quiet for a picnic . Plus the dog can run wild here to their hearts content…read more Nice , quiet and a relaxing beach. I go here at least once a year when I'm staying in tramore .

A couple of miles outside Tramore is Kilfarrasy Beach. Wonderfully isolated in winter, and never…read moretoo packed in summer. It's a lovely sandy beach for about a mile before curving around a headland into a rock-climbing paradise. It has everything you want from a beach - high cliffs to shelter you from the wind, a small stream, sand for castles, high rocks for climbing, caves for exploring. It also banks steeply, so you don't have to wade for hours before getting down for your dip. It can sometimes tend to have flies in summer, which isn't great. You'll also need to keep an eye out for the tide coming in...it's very quick, and punters with trousers wet up to their knees or even mid-thigh is a pretty common sight.

We were in the area(ish), heard this was the world's oldest, intact, operational lighthouse and…read moreknew we had to take the detour to see it. Hook Lighthouse has 800 years of history and is found on Hook Head, a rocky blustery bluff jutting out into the harbor on the Atlantic. The history is cool but you definitely feel the necessity of the lighthouse when you're there as it must have saved many ships from rocky fates during the frequent spring storms. We didn't go in the lighthouse but have heard such good things about the tour. We came a little later in the day. There are beautiful overlooks and the view of the lighthouse is pretty splendid regardless. Get to it!

This was really a highlight on our trip! We wandered the grounds for a bit, viewing the free…read moreexhibits, enjoying the day, taking in the amenities. Our tour guide was charismatic, knowledgeable and patient. Our group of about 10 included young and old requiring some time on the stairs. We had plenty of time to explore the lighthouse and learned so much more than we could have imagined. The tour includes some quick films based on persons who worked in the lighthouse as well as information provided by our guide. I just can't say enough good things about this tour. All together, this is a must do if you find yourself any where near by. Bring the kids, bring mom & dad, bring your friends, just go!

This was the spot that the tender from the ship dropped us for our excursion. When we returned, we…read moregot a great workout climbing the stairs up to the street level. Went in search of a public toilet, not knowing there was one right here! On the way back from town, passed a lovely anchor and memorial to those lost at sea. By the way, I liked the mural at the Fish Hatchery nearby.

Anchored by its famous lighthouse, Dunmore East harbour is a fully working harbour (as is very…read moreapparent if the wind is from a certain direction) and is home to dozens of fishing trawlers, a fish factory, boatyard and even a fish auction. It's a great place to bring kids - they love the brightly coloured boats, the raucous gulls and the lobster pots littering the quay. Blow away the cobwebs (and the kids?) with a walk along the high harbour wall. Check out the daily evening auction, where you can bid for the catch of the day with the local restauranteurs, fish factory or fish brokers. When I was last there, a shark was up for grabs. It was 'this big". It's a fun way to kill an hour working up an appetite for supper, or to catch a glimpse into one of the toughest professions around.

Loftus House or Hall is a beautiful mansion located on the Hook peninsula in Ireland. The current…read moreMansion as I recently visited it, was built about the year 1350, and the prior castle stucture was built about the year 1170. The story goes, that the current mansion is haunted by the Devil and the ghost of a young woman named Anne Tottenham. Outside of being supposedly haunted, the Loftus Hall also has a very colorful history as it was attacked by the English during the Irish Confederate war in 1642. It was first attacked by Captain Thomas Aston serving King Charles the 1st of England. The mansion as it was defended by Irish loyalist is quite amazing. At Loftus Hall today, you can take a tour of the house and learn about its amazing and sometimes dark history. The house architecturally is beautiful! The custom floors that were hand cut and laid by Italian Masons is just breath taking! I will add, that the Italian Masons had their hands cut off by an English Lord at the time of floor completion so the floor could not be replicated (Creepy). The master entry staircase in Loftus Mansion (hand carved wood) is one of only three that were made by the original wood master craftsman. The other two staircases, one is located on the Titanic at the bottom of the ocean, and the 3rd located at present in the Vatican City. The tour is amazing, creepy, and fun! They have a wonderful little cafe and coffee shop where you can sit and enjoy a cup of tea, and the location of the Mansion is just beautiful. The Loftus Hall is also not far from the Hook Light House (One of the oldest light houses in the world built in the year 1172). Standing in front of the Loftus Mansion on the Hook Peninsula, looking out over the bay towards St. Georges Channel, is very mystical. If I could, I'd have a little getaway Irish cottage here it is so beautiful. I definitely recommend you visit Loftus Mansion and the area overall. You will not be let down by the history, and the beauty of the environment.

Very cool old house but the majority hasn't been restored yet so you only get to see a small…read moreportion. The history is fun and interesting but the way they take you through it is geared more towards families.

Used as the setting for several period dramas and films, including Maeve Binchy's "Echoes", Dunmore…read moreEast Village is a wonderful olde-worlde place, but not in a twee way. It's main industry is fishing, followed by tourism (without being tacky or commercial). It's a favourite haunt of Dublin hot-shots, being a manageable distance for a weekend away. As most of the cottages are holiday homes, the population quadruples during school holidays. And no wonder - served by excellent pubs (with the occasional lock-in), hotels and restaurants, several beaches and coves, tennis courts, a park, a marina, and the "Fisher-man's hall" around which village life revolves, it's a peaceful and relaxing place to visit for a quiet weekend away. Be warned, if a vibrant nightlife is your thing, this is not the place for you.

If the Pier is where every Tramorian learnt to swim, Newtown Cove is where they learnt to live in…read morewater. It's a very steep cove with a stony sea bed, and a short pebbly beach. A concrete platform and walkway runs the length of the Southern cliff, with ladders and ramps to allow quick access to the water, without the bane of sandy-feet. In summer the high-diving board is installed, and kids spend their days practising their moves. Backed by lovely shady woods, it has everything (including public loos and changing rooms) necessary for a trip to the seaside.

This is a secret beach known only to locals. It's part of what's knows as the "Copper Coast" -…read morehaving coarse red sand. The beach consistency itself is unusual - it's a sandy bed, with occasional stripes of shale/slate washed up along the tide-line. There may, or may not, be a small sign-post directing you to it. In any event, turn off the main road at the strange house of glass. You'll find yourself in a small car park, and will see a narrow precarious path through cliffs down to the beach. It's a smallish beach backed by high red cliffs, and on a sunny day is marvellous - the red sand soaks up the sun and roasts the soles of your feet. It's known for jellyfish though - nice pink ones - we always associate jellyfish with heat, maybe the red sand warms up the water and attracts them in? A great place to visit - never too crowded in summer and isolated in winter, lovely deep water when the tide is in. Not long enough for a bracing walk though, it's more a swimmer's cove than a walker's beach.