ROSSLARE HARBOUR
VILLAGE LOOP
Distance: 2.87km (1.8 miles)
Ascent: Negligible
Walking time: 45 minutes
Waymarking: Blue
Grade: Easy
CLIFF WALK
Distance: 3.4km (2.1 miles)
Ascent: Negligible
Walking time: 1 hour
Waymarking: Red
Grade: Easy
OSI Discovery Map Series 77
GRID REFERENCE: T 131 124 (Rosslare)
SAT NAV: 52.252, -6.341
Both walks start at the Viewing Point overlooking Rosslare Ferryport. The Cliff Walk follows the path of the Village Loop for a kilometre as far as the children’s playground. Here the path divides. The Village Loop turns back through the village toward the trailhead at the Viewing Point. Don’t miss the secret garden along the way! Continuing south for a further 1.7 km, the Cliff Walk tracks along the cliff top towards Greenore Point.
The early part of the trail looks down on the busy Europort. Ferries from Wales, France, and Spain dock continuously and load and discharge passenger traffic, freight and imported vehicles. On land, you will pass dwellings once used to house Coastguards, Lighthouse keepers or Lifeboat men’s families. Along the route you will also observe the streets and facilities provided for the railway men, seamen and port employees who came to build and to maintain port services for the trains and the mail boats
At the southern edge of the village, the path overlooks Moran’s Bay and the natural sand dunes below the cliff. Spot seals swimming playfully near the shore. Tuskar Lighthouse stands proudly on the horizon while seabirds soar across the seascape.
The history of Rosslare Harbour originates in the 19th century when Wexford Town was the main shipping port of the South East. By this time Wexford was in decline due to the silting up of the estuary which caused much navigational difficulty and delays due to tidal and weather conditions. This coincided with the development of the railways throughout Ireland and the UK and plans to connect London to the West of Ireland via rail and sea became a reality.
Merchant venturers on both sides of St George’s Channel were casting speculative eyes on the 50 mile stretch of sea between southeast Ireland and southwest Wales. They wanted to open a new, speedy, rail-linked crosschannel steamer service to carry mail, passengers, livestock and cargo. Rosslare Harbour and Fishguard in Wales developed jointly to support this shipping link while later developments in continental travel and trade created even greater expansion of the port and village and linked Rosslare Harbour to Europe.
DON’T MISS
- The concrete emplacements at ground level are old WW2 observation posts/gun positions used by the Military for observation and protection and to blow the explosive charges on the old viaduct in case of emergency.
- The sandy beach below you is very popular all year round and provides excellent and safe bathing particularly during the warm summer months. Watch out for hawks hovering over the dunes in search of prey.
- Enjoy the children’s playground in Rosslare Harbour.
- Read the Village Park sign and visit the diverse areas hidden in the trees.
GETTING HERE
VIEW ROSSLARE HARBOUR