Coastal Discovery
Taste Trail
Coastal Discovery
Taste Trail
Discover Co. Waterford’s stunning coastline with our food and drink producers
Co. Waterford offers a spectacular coastline rivalling that of the best in Ireland. With sweeping bays, stunning beaches, spectacular vistas and hidden coves – it’s an unforgettable experience.
This extraordinary coastline includes the Copper Coast Geopark, awarded the prestigious UNESCO Global Geopark Status. This geologically diverse area contains records of ancient volcanism, mountain building and the last ice age.
Using our guide and downloadable map, take the trail at your own leisure and make the most of this spectacular landscape, and food and drink experiences along the way.
Whilst we understand you may take the trail in a car or campervan; we aim to encourage more sustainable forms of transport. Therefore, please consider using a bike, or taking a bus (wheelchair accessible) which covers most of the route – visit Local Link Waterford for details. Alternatively, hiking is the perfect way to see the coast, and builds a healthy appetite!
Highlights
Foraging
Food and drink members
Beaches
Viewpoints
Copper Coast UNESCO Geopark
Villages
Members en route
Ormond’s Cafe
Dún Artisan Bakery
Churriosity
Seagull Bakery
The Sea Gardener
Mezze
The Coastguard Café
Your journey
Your journey starts in Dungarvan (meaning ‘Garbhann’s Fort’) – a beautiful town known for its award-winning food and drink scene and stunning harbour and bay views.
Here you can get breakfast at Ormond’s Cafe. Or pop into Churriosity for delicious traditional Spanish churros. After visiting the acclaimed Dún Artisan Bakery for great quality bread, pastries and coffee to have on your journey, head off on the R675.
Cross the Barnawee Bridge and you’ll see points to stop and enjoy the Waterford Greenway.
Keeping the Gold Coast Road on your right, your first highlight is Ballyvoyle Cove with a stunning beach.
Continuing on the R675, next is Bunmahon, where copper was mined extensively in the 1800s, and now has a UNESCO Geopark. Bunmahon offers plenty of parking to enjoy a spectacular beach.
Leaving Bunmahon, you’ll find the ruins of the Tankardstown Engine House – used for pumping water from the copper mines.
Another gorgeous bay awaits – Kilmurrin Cove with plenty of parking.
Head east and you’ll find stops to enjoy the incredible vistas on your right, along with Boat Strand – with its tiny picturesque harbour and popular for swimming.
Continuing on the R675, Annestown is a beautiful village with another great beach offering good parking.
After passing through Fenor, which has a bog where you can enjoy a biodiverse walk in a 13 hectare community owned nature reserve, visit Kilfarrasy beach is just a short drive away.
This beautiful spot also offers a seaweed forage with Marie Power – The Sea Gardener.
Your last stop is the seaside town of Tramore and home to many award-winning producers.
Tramore (Trá Mhór, meaning ‘big beach’) has everything in a coastal town – shops, bars, restaurants and a 5km beach – perfect for surfing due to the many good breaks in the area.
Whilst there, make sure you pop into Mezze, a Middle Eastern deli, shop and cafe recently voted Best World Cuisine by the Irish Restaurant Awards.
The Coastguard Café in Tramore also offers great food, along with spectacular views of the Irish Sea and Tramore Bay.
And the award-winning Seagull Bakery has pioneered the use of Irish grain in sourdough baking. Pop in for quality bread, pastries and coffee to ensure your journey starts, or finishes, with a true taste of Waterford.
Don’t forget
Depending on if you’re starting or ending your journey in Dungarvan or Tramore, you can visit these members for breakfast, lunch or dinner:
Cliff House Hotel and Michelin star restaurant – Ardmore
The Moorings – Dungarvan
Interlude – Dungarvan
Coach House Coffee – Kilmacthomas
Dunhill Cafe at Dunhill Eco Park – Dunhill
IASC Seafood Bar & Takeaway
AndChips – Dungarvan
Did you know?
The Copper Coast Geopark was the first Geopark designated in Ireland.
Owner of Churriosity, John Curry, was trained by a master churro maker in Madrid.
The Dún Artisan Bakery reduces their carbon footprint by using food in season and that is locally grown and sourced.
Mezze won Best World Cuisine at the Irish Restaurant Awards 2022.
Please remember: respect the coastline, countryside and take litter home with you.