A breathtaking clifftop trail along Waterford's red-sandstone coast, linking the fishing village of Dunmore East to hidden coves, a legendary sea cave, and an ancient standing stone — with Hook Head Lighthouse always on the horizon.
The most popular section: a 5 km round trip from the harbour car park to Portally Cove. The well-maintained path follows the clifftop past Flat Rocks (the old quarry that supplied pudding stone for the harbour) to a sheltered inlet with benches, perfect for a picnic. Easy grade, about 1 hour there and back. Waymarked with red arrows on a white background.
For a full day out, continue beyond Portally to Rathmoylan Cove and on to Ballymacaw. The one-way route is about 7 km (14 km return), moderate grade, taking 2–2.5 hours each way. The path gets rougher — steps, stiles, footbridges, and a stream crossing — so sturdy footwear is essential. At Ballymacaw there's a small car park and two pubs 400 m up the road for a well-earned pint.
Early in the walk, a fenced rock shelter marks Bishop's Cave, named for its reputed use as a secret Mass site during the Penal Laws (17th–18th centuries), when Catholic worship was forbidden. Local lore says the priest would arrive and leave by sea to avoid detection.
Just past Swines Head, Rathmoylan Cove shelters what may be Ireland's longest sea cave — surveyed at over 60 metres by Geological Survey Ireland. Accessible from the beach at low tide by scrambling across rocks, it's about 8 metres high with a distinctive square profile from its conglomerate roof.
The cliffs are alive with seabirds — fulmars, kittiwakes, cormorants, shags, and the rare red-legged chough. Seals often haul out on rocks below, while Minke whales and occasionally Humpbacks can be spotted offshore at certain times of year.
On the final stretch towards Ballymacaw, a near-2-metre stone figure rises dramatically near the cliff edge. Known as the White Lady, it may be a Bronze Age menhir — potentially 4,000 years old — or a memorial to those lost at sea. Its human-like silhouette makes it one of the walk's most photographed landmarks.
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