The Wexford Coastal Path: Walking Ireland's Sunny South-East

Most of Ireland's walking trails head for the hills. The Wexford Coastal Path does the opposite: it follows the sea for the entire length of a county — 221 kilometres of beaches, dunes, fishing harbours and headlands, from Kilmichael Point in the north-east corner of Wexford to Ballyhack on the estuary in the south-west. It is Ireland's longest coastal path, it runs through the sunniest corner of the country, and remarkably few walkers outside the county seem to know it exists.

This post is part of our complete guide to Ireland's National Waymarked Ways — a series walking you through every long-distance trail in the country.

What is the Wexford Coastal Path?

Known in Irish as the Slí Charman, the Wexford Coastal Path was established in 1993 as one of Ireland's National Waymarked Ways. The idea behind it is beautifully simple: stay as close to the shoreline as the land allows, for the whole of County Wexford. That means long stretches of open beach, grassy dune paths, low cliff tops, quiet country roads a field back from the water, and a string of villages that have been welcoming summer visitors for generations.

Unlike the Kerry Way or the Wicklow Way, there are no mountains to climb here. The Wexford Coastal Path is essentially flat from start to finish — its challenge is distance and weather, not ascent. That makes it one of the most accessible long-distance routes in Ireland, and a lovely choice if you want big skies and sea air rather than summit views.

The route, north to south

Kilmichael Point to Curracloe: the quiet north

The path begins at Kilmichael Point, right on the Wicklow border, and immediately sets the tone: sand, marram grass and the Irish Sea stretching away to your right. Heading south you pass through Courtown, a Victorian seaside resort with a harbour and woodland walks, then on to Cahore, Kilmuckridge and Blackwater — small villages strung along miles of duneback beach. This northern half is the loneliest and loveliest stretch for walkers who like having a beach entirely to themselves on a weekday morning.

Curracloe to Wexford town: film-set beaches and wild birds

Curracloe is the beach you have already seen, even if you have never been to Ireland — the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan were filmed here, and Brooklyn used it too. It is a vast, gently shelving strand backed by the Raven Nature Reserve, a pine-forested spit curling into Wexford Harbour where the path threads between forest and foreshore. Across the harbour lies the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, winter home to thousands of Greenland white-fronted geese. Wexford town itself makes a natural overnight stop, with its narrow Viking-era streets, good restaurants and a working quayfront.

Rosslare to Ballyhack: harbours, islands and the Hook

South of Wexford Harbour the path swings past Rosslare's long strand and around the flat, windswept corner of Ireland at Carnsore Point. Then comes Kilmore Quay, a thatched-cottage fishing village looking out to the Saltee Islands — one of Ireland's great seabird colonies, alive with puffins and gannets in early summer. The final leg rounds Baginbun Head, where the Normans first landed in Ireland in 1169, and reaches the Hook Peninsula, whose black-and-white striped lighthouse has been guiding ships for over 800 years — it is one of the oldest working lighthouses in the world. The path ends at Ballyhack, a small ferry village on Waterford Harbour beneath a 15th-century tower house.

How hard is it?

In terms of terrain, this is one of the easiest National Waymarked Ways: flat walking on sand, grass tracks and quiet tarmac. Two things deserve respect, though. First, distance — beach walking on soft sand is slower and more tiring than it looks, and daily stages here can be long between villages. Second, tides. Several beach sections are best walked at low to mid tide, so check tide times each morning and build your day around them. There is little shade and little shelter, so sunscreen in summer and windproofs in the shoulder season matter more here than on most Irish trails.

A word about waymarking

We believe in being straight with you: the Wexford Coastal Path is not as consistently signposted as trails like the Wicklow Way. Coastal erosion has damaged sections over the years, some signage has disappeared, and although Wexford County Council has been repairing and resurfacing stretches of the route, you should not rely on waymarkers alone. Carry a map or a GPS track, and treat the path as a series of wonderful day walks — Curracloe and the Raven, Kilmore Quay to Ballyteige, the Hook Peninsula loop — rather than a single expedition, unless you enjoy a bit of route-finding.

When to go

Wexford is called the sunny south-east for a reason — it is statistically one of the driest, sunniest corners of Ireland. May, June and September are ideal: long days, quieter beaches and (in early summer) puffins on the Saltees. July and August bring warm swimming water and busy resort villages. Birdwatchers should consider October to March, when the Wildfowl Reserve fills with wintering geese, though days are short and the wind can be fierce.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the full path take?

The full 221km would take roughly 9–11 days of walking. Most people sample it in day walks or a two- to three-day section instead, using Wexford town or Kilmore Quay as a base.

Is the path suitable for beginners?

Yes — the terrain is flat and the villages are frequent. Just plan sensible daily distances, watch the tides on beach sections, and bring navigation for the less-waymarked stretches.

Can I walk it with a dog?

Much of the route crosses nature reserves and special areas of conservation with strict rules, particularly around ground-nesting birds. Check locally before bringing a dog onto reserve sections.

Fancy a coastal walk with everything organised?

Walking Holiday Ireland doesn't currently offer a self-guided holiday on the Wexford Coastal Path — but if the sunny south-east has caught your imagination, two of our favourite trails are right next door. The Wicklow Way finishes at Clonegal, barely a county boundary away, and swaps beaches for glens and mountain passes. And the Barrow Way follows Ireland's second-longest river down its lush towpath to St Mullins, on Wexford's western doorstep. Both come with hand-picked guesthouses, luggage transfers and our route app — browse all our self-guided walking holidays and we'll look after the details while you look after the walking.