Visit Wexford by hook or by crook

If you thought the only good things in Wexford were the strawberries, you have been greatly mistaken.

Nestled in the sunny southeast of the country, it is the cornerstone of Ireland’s Ancient East – an initiative by Fáilte Ireland to bring tourists from near and far. It seems as though every town in the Model County has got something to offer for all ages.

Steeped in history with castles and abbeys, such as Dunbrody Abbey dating from as early as 1170, to miles of sun-kissed beaches, it is hard to see everything in just a few days. However, thanks to VisitWexford and their children’s passport to fun, they have made it a whole lot easier.

Where to stay

We stayed in the recently renovated four-star Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey. The family room was spacious and included a welcome hamper of wine, water, snacks and cupcakes. It also included the latest smart tv and multiple USB points – including four in the kid’s room that was home to bunk beds. In the leisure centre, there is an 18-meter pool with a pool area for kids. Outside there are plenty of activities on offer, including a football pitch, go-karting, crazy golf and a playground. Inside there is a kid’s camp and a cinema.

For offers, visit www.ambersprings.ie

Pirate's Cove

Pirate’s Cove in the seaside town of Courtown is a haven for kids, with both indoor and outdoor activities. Your children will never be bored with bubble rollers in the water, bumper karts, go-karts and 10-pin bowling.

Prices at www.piratescove.ie

Irish National Heritage Park

Travel back 9,000 years in time at the Irish National Heritage Park. A tour in this park will take about an hour and will take you deep into Ireland’s past. Starting with a middle stone age site, you will learn about the first people who came to the country after the last ice age. From there, your guide will bring you along to another 15 sites detailing times in our history. Once you have completed your tour, there is a restaurant in the visitor centre.

See www.irishheritage.ie

Eating

Possibly the jewel in the crown is the Duck restaurant on the grounds of Marlfield House on the outskirts of Gorey. We were greeted by our host Margaret, who gives a genuine homely feel to the restored courtyard building.

Sitting on the terrace overlooking the manicured gardens, we were blown away by the explosion of flavour that came with our meal. Following our dinner, we were invited to take a stroll around the garden and Marlfield house – a luxury country house hotel.

Booking is advised for the Duck. See www.marlfieldhouse.com/dining/the-duck/

We also dined in the Italian restaurant Farina. Situated in the garden of Amber Springs Hotel, you get a real taste of Italy to satisfy the taste buds. See www.ambersprings.ie/italian-restaurant-gorey

Quadventure

Quadventure just outside Clonroche is an absolute must when you visit Wexford. We arrived early and were greeted by the very hospitable owners, John and Eileen. After a short safety DVD, Eileen brought us to get suited and booted while John made sure the quad bikes were in perfect order for our spin around the 80 acres of land.Stopping briefly to take in the scenery of the Blackstairs Mountains, I was quickly back ripping through the dirt under the supervision of the very experienced John. They say if you love your job you will never work a day in your life, I think this may be true for John and Eileen.

Visit www.quadventure.ie

Wells House

The Victorian Wells House and Gardens is steeped in 400 years of history. Your tour guide will bring you through a number of rooms, which are well-maintained from their era. The Doynes bought the house and gardens and went on to hold ownership for 260 years. Much later, in 1965, a German industrialist named Gerhard Rosler bought it and moved there with this family. Today it is owned by Uli and Sabine Rosler.

You can also book a tour with the expert falconer. We also checked out the fairy walk, where we discovered the Mad Hatter’s tea party, fairy doors around every corner and we even found the Gruffalo.

Visit at https://wellshouse.ie/

Famine ship

After a short video, we climbed aboard the Dunbrody Famine Ship – a reproduction of the 1840s famine ship. Our tour guide brought us along a journey that so many had to endure on their way to what they hoped was a better life. Together with stories from passengers travelling in first and second class, it made for an entertaining tour.

Booking is advised at www.dunbrody.com/

Hook head

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest intact operational lighthouse in the world. Built over 800 years ago, the tower is four stories high with walls four meters thick. A beacon has shone at Hook Head since St Dubhan lit the first fire in the 5th century. Voted one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions, it is somewhere you must visit by hook or by crook.

Incidentally, it is alleged that Hook Head found its way into common English usage in the saying “by hook or by crook.” The phrase is derived from a vow by Oliver Cromwell to take Waterford by Hook (on the Wexford side of Waterford Estuary) or by Crook (a village on the Waterford side).

Tours are available throughout the year.

Beaches and swimming

If you enjoy lying on the beach with the soft white sand between your fingers and toes, then this is the county for you. A plethora of beaches are never far away. Morriscastle beach, also known as the “Golden Mile”, is a firm favourite for us. The beach has shelter from the sand dunes, which also provide great entertainment for the kids. If you are a little more adventurous you can go pier jumping during high tide at Cahore Point or Slade.

So whatever you are looking for, whether history, adventure or cuisine, it would seem as though Wexford has it on offer. Irish Country Living travelled as a guest of the “Wexford Passport To Fun” initiative. For further information, see www.visitwexford.ie

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