Enjoy the great walks and hikes that Waterford has to offer. Short strolls, long hikes and multi-day treks, discover amazing walks across Waterford City & County. Explore Waterford’s vast walking trails from walks across the Comeragh Mountains to the breathtaking Ardmore and Dunmore East cliff walks. Enjoy epic views and drink in the crisp, fresh air.
Award Winning Waterford Greenway
From Waterford City to Dungarvan, the old railway line is now a spectacular 46-kilometer off-road cycling and walking trail that winds its way through history and nature from the River Suir to Dungarvan Bay. The route passes over eleven bridges, three impressive viaducts, and a long atmospheric tunnel. Beautiful scenery along the River Suir, the Comeragh Mountains, the Copper Coast, and Dungarvan Bay can be found along this route in Ireland's Ancient East, as can the site of a Viking settlement from the 9th century, the Waterford & Suir Valley narrow gauge heritage railway, and the former woollen mills and railway stations.
Waterford City Walking Tour
Jack Burtchaell, a tour guide with more than 30 years of experience, has won awards for his creative, historically rich walking tours of Waterford. Jack's walking tour lasts for an hour and takes you around the regional capital and Ireland's oldest city, featuring two cathedrals, four national monuments, and a gallery of rogues and rascals, all told in a funny, amusing style by a master storyteller Jack Burtchaell wears his scholarship lightly, many of his guests realize afterward that they've spent an hour in the company of a true expert in a city whose history is worthy of his retelling of it. Jack’s tour showcases the best of Waterford history and heritage. Jack's Walking Tour operates from mid-March to mid-October, 7 days per week and departs from the Granville Hotel daily at 12 noon and 2:00pm.
Comeragh Mountains & Nire Valley
If you're a fan of the outdoors, enjoy hiking and taking in some vast, stunning views, then the Comeragh Mountains should definitely be on your to-do list when visiting Waterford. The Comeragh Mountains are an impressive range in Waterford, stretching from the coast of Dungarvan inland to Clonmel. They make for the perfect location for a quick stroll or a full day of mountain exploration. There are a number of different routes you can take - The Coumshingaun Lake Walk and The Crough Wood Walk to name a few. Nestled within the Comeragh range, visitors can find the idyllic 80 metre waterfall - Mahon Falls. Surrounded by sheer rock faces and inhabited with an abundance of goats and sheep, the falls are located close to the village of Lemybrien and make for a walk to remember with the perfect backdrop to capture some picture-perfect memories.
Dunmore East Coastal Walk
Dunmore East is one of Waterford’s most picturesque fishing villages and a haven for visitors. With the 2020 extension, the Dunmore East Coastal Walk now spans along the Waterford coast for over 7 kilometers beyond its original starting point at the harbour car park. It is recommended that walkers with a moderate degree of fitness take the first section, which leads them to Portally Cove and contains steps and some undulations. This out-and-back route covers around 4 kilometers of ground. The nearly 15-kilometer round-trip from Portally Cove to Rathmoylan Cove and onward Ballymacaw Cove is a more strenuous trek that needs a strong level of fitness.
Saint Declan’s Way
Saint Declan’s Way is a pilgrim walking route linking Ardmore in County Waterford and Cashel in County Tipperary. It retraces Declan's steps from the fifth century when he traveled to Cashel to visit Saint Patrick. This route has been used by pilgrims for the past fifteen hundred years to journey to Ardmore to pay their respects at Saint Declan's holy well, monastery, and grave. The trail itself is approx. 110Km in length and passes through some wonderful countryside and small towns along the way.
For further information on Waterford’s various trails. Visit www.visitwaterford.com/trails or Discover Ireland.
