Where to Go
The centuries have left their mark on the landscape of Hook Head in the most picturesque and aesthetic of manners. From the majestic beauty of Tintern Abbey, sister of its more famous Welsh cousin, to the 15th Century Fethard Castle, which was built on the ruins of an earlier 12th Century structure, you will find a rich tapestry of Irish history wherever you turn when visiting this magical part of the world.
This is a place which boasts heritage dating from every important period in Ireland’s fascinating history, from monastic times through the Normans and the Knights Templar, and onwards throughout the years to the modern era. Perhaps the most famous piece of architecture is the Hook Lighthouse, which is one of the world’s oldest, dating back to the 12th Century (and perhaps earlier). But everywhere you look you will find something of interest, whether you are looking for the serene calm of Dunbrody Abbey or the endless beauty of the surrounding countryside.
Or, if you want to take it all in, you could travel either the Ring of Hook Drive or the Bannow Drive (both signposted), maybe stopping off at the Irish Agricultural Museum and Johnstown Castle Gardens or the John F Kennedy Arboretum, a beautiful forest expanse covering more than 600 acres. Or you could just sit back and enjoy the drive...