A dramatic 13th-century Norman tower house ruin perched on a rocky bluff high above the Anne Valley, free to visit and rich with tales of Cromwellian siege, betrayal, and buttermilk.
Scramble up the steep grassy slope to the remains of the 15th-century tower house. Only about half the tower survives, with a vaulted ground floor and traces of a spiral staircase and garderobe. The panoramic views over the Anne Valley towards the coast are superb.
A 4.5km (one-way) flat, gravel-surfaced linear trail linking Dunhill village to Annestown Beach. The path winds through wetland and woodland, with picnic spots, information panels on local wildlife, and fairy doors for children. Fully accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.
Across the slope from the castle lie the fragmentary ruins of a 14th-century parish church, also destroyed by Cromwell's forces. The surrounding graveyard contains historic headstones dating from 1753 to 1821.
Keep an eye out for herons, kingfishers, mute swans, and the resident otters that hunt along the stream. The constructed wetlands area near the trail also attracts a rich variety of birdlife.
At the seaward end of the Anne Valley Walk, Annestown Beach is a quiet, sheltered cove popular with swimmers, kayakers, and families. It's a perfect spot to cool off after the walk.
Dunhill Castle is stop number 6 on the Copper Coast driving route — a UNESCO Global Geopark stretching along Waterford's dramatic southern shore, rich in geological wonders, beaches, and mining heritage.
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