Copper Coast Road Trip
The Copper Coast of Ireland is a much quieter and much less explores area of Ireland but it’s still very scenic. The Copper Coast is an easy trip from Waterford and Hook Head Peninsula in the Ancient East area of Ireland. This area is much less crowded and has much fewer tour busses. The coastlines are beautiful, there are several beaches to explore and the towns are lovely. For our trip along the Copper Coast we started via ferry from Ballyhack and drove south then west. The are can also be reached easily from Waterford.
The Copper Coast is listed as a Geopark and encompasses 25 km of coastline. This area was the first registered UNESCO Geopark in the Island of Ireland. The area was named for the copper mines that were located in this part of Ireland in the 19th century.
Our trip was in 2018, this post was updated 2021
How to Explore Ireland’s Copper Coast
You will need to rent or have a car to explore this part of Ireland. This area of Ireland is full of small scenic roads, ancient stone wall, crumbling ruins and generally beautiful scenery.
We took a short and easy car ferry from our rental in Ballyhack (a beautiful old school house with a castle in the back yard). The ferry leaves right across from the local pub.
The little town on the other side of the ferry is Passage East and has a wonderful playground. When you travel with kids, always stop at the playground.
From there drive south west on R685 then turn on to R684 to get to Dunmore East. The drive from East Passage to Dunmore East has many choices for historic stops. Generally we stopped at any place that grabbed our interest but consider planning ahead if you don’t want to miss something interesting.
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Dunmore East
Dunmore East is a scenic fishing village popular with tourists. Dunmore East has several secluded coves and beach areas that can be used for swimming and snorkeling during the warmer months. Dunmore East also has a photogenic harbor with photographer friendly boats. Click here for a illustrated map of the Dunmore East.
After Dunmore East drive along the coast going west. There are numerous places you can get out and explore the coves and shore lines. Some include Rathmoylan Cove and Ballymacaw Cove. Most of these coves will have a hike down to the beach area surrounded by dramatic cliffs. The Brownstown Head Pillars are another beautiful stop. They are on a peninsula overlooking the coast.
Tramore
Tramore is the next village along the coast. It has a larger beachfront “strand” and a beach town vibe. There is playground, Japanese Gardens and amusement park that is open seasonally. Tramore is a good place to stop to grab a quick lunch and explore this fun little town.
Metalman, Newtown Cove and Guillamene Swimming Cove
Just down the coastal road from Tramore is the Metalman (a 14 foot metal statue dressed in British clothing on a tall pole) as well as a very pretty swimming cove. Be careful with your footing around here – it’s slippery but definitely worth a stop.
Fenor Bog
Our next stop was the Fenor Bog. This regenerated alkaline fen and national nature reserve is a fun and unique stop. It’s beautiful and very unlike other areas of Ireland. The plants and animals that live here are also unique to today’s Ireland. We really enjoyed exploring the paths and we also enjoyed the playground across the street.
Visiting Ruins and Ancient Structures
Before or after Fenor Bog or on your way down from Waterford, you can take a detour to see other ancient structures. One possible stop is the ruins of Dunhill Castle. The ruins consist of about half of the previous castle. The castle has a very colorful history.
Other ancient structures include:
Gaulstown Dolmen: North of Tramore and Fenor accessible through private property, Pay attention to parking.
Knockeen Dolman – Confirm access is available before looking for this one.
Matthewstown Passage Tomb – This is also located on private property. In the middle of a pig farm so it may not be wise to try to gain access.
We did not visit any of the tombs. I’m not a fan of trespassing and electric fences. We continued along the coastal road and continued to stop at several small beaches along the way. If you’re looking for more historical structures then consider visiting other areas of Ireland’s Ancient East like nearby Hook Head Peninsula.
More Beautiful Beaches and Coastal Views on the Copper Coast
Annestown Beach
Continue to slowly travel west. There are several beautiful beach and coastal stops in this area. We really enjoyed Annestown Beach but there are many great choices.
Boatstrand
Boatstrand is a little fishing village with 14 cottages, a fishing area and a place to launch boats. It’s also a nice place to get a photo.
Bunmahon Beach
Bunmahon Beach is another nice beach to get out and explore. Every beach in this area has a slightly different look and feel.
Copper Coast Visitor Center
Our last stop was the Copper Coast Visitor Center. The visitors center is in a lovely building and the staff is super friendly. We enjoyed a good lunch and some time to look at crafts and relax. The staff is a wealth of information about the area.
After taking a break at the visitors center you can keep going west to see more stops or start making your way back after a fun day of exploring.
We’re a family of 5 (Physician Assistant mom, IT project manager dad and 3 kids ages 3,6,10) taking a gap year from normal life to travel. For blog posts, locations, and more information on how we did it and how you can to click here.
