A compact 1858 limestone lighthouse perched on the rocky shore of Dungarvan Bay, surrounded by a championship golf course and reachable only by a shoreline scramble — a raw, rewarding slice of the Waterford coast.
The lighthouse itself is not open to the public and sits on private land within the Gold Coast Golf Club. The only way to reach it is by walking along the rocky shore from Ballinacourty Point beach or Clonea Strand — best attempted at low tide with sturdy footwear.
The 13-metre tower stands dramatically above the low-lying coastline. Sunset is the prime time — the lighthouse is lit by warm light against the backdrop of Dungarvan Bay and Helvick Head.
Just east of the lighthouse, Clonea Strand is a Blue Flag sandy beach with gentle slopes, rock pools at low tide, and good conditions for swimming, surfing, body-boarding and kayaking. Toilets and a seasonal café are available.
The 46 km Greenway passes right by the area on the former Dungarvan–Waterford railway line. Cycle or walk it for superb coastal and mountain views, with the lighthouse visible across the bay.
The adjacent Gold Coast Golf Club is an 18-hole par-72 championship parkland course stretching along 1.5 miles of Atlantic shoreline. Non-members can book tee times; the clubhouse Bunker Bar and GC Carvery serve food and drink.
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