Hook Head: the shore path to Slade

From the Hook Lighthouse car park, walk round the lighthouse grounds and pick up the grassy shore path north-east along the east side of the Hook peninsula, past Black Chan, with flat limestone platforms below on your right. Follow it to the small harbour at Slade and its 15th-century tower house, Slade Castle. Return the same way.

It is 4.9 km there and back with 16 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: a level, grassy path along field edges, with stiles and walls to cross.

This is not an official or waymarked trail: walkers use the long-established path along the field edges by custom and the landowners' goodwill. Livestock may be in the fields. Keep to the grass: the limestone platforms are slippery, swell can wash over them without warning, and there are deep fissures and blowholes. The headland is exposed to the wind. The walk is free, but entry to the lighthouse is by pre-booked guided tour only (€15 an adult, €10 a child), and dogs must be on a lead in its grounds.

The lighthouse car park is free. TFI Local Link route 399 from New Ross to Hook Head runs daily, about four buses each way, and stops at both ends of the walk: Hook Head car park and Slade Harbour.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.