The Spinnaker · Dunmore East

What to Do in Dunmore East Besides Eating

Badger's Cove, Dunmore East
Badger's Cove, Dunmore East · Photo: Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Dunmore East isn't only a meal — though the meal at the end of it is a fair reason to come. The village fills a day comfortably. Here's the short list of what to do between arriving and sitting down at The Spinnaker.

The Doneraile Cliff Walk

The clifftop path north of the village — 2km loop, 40-60 minutes, views across Waterford Harbour to Hook Head lighthouse. The most-done activity in Dunmore East, and rightly so.

The harbour

Walk the piers. Watch the boats come in. The lifeboat station is part of the village. Late afternoon is when the fleet returns — the best time to be standing on the upper road with the light behind you.

Counsellor's Strand and the rock pools

The beach below the village. Low-tide rock pools at the eastern end. Sandy underfoot. Good for an hour with kids or a hot flask and a book.

The Adventure Centre

Dunmore East Adventure Centre runs sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding sessions in season. Book ahead in summer.

And then the meal

Boots off, salt on the skin, into The Spinnaker. Peter is doing food properly. Ring (051) 383 133 from the car park if it's a weekend evening.

Book a table at The Spinnaker

Peter is doing food himself — fresh, simple, local. Ring or email direct, no app, no fee.

Quick questions

How long does the Dunmore East cliff walk take?

40-60 minutes for the loop at an easy pace. Longer if you stop for photographs.

Is Dunmore East dog-friendly?

Very — beach, cliff path and harbour are all dog-walking territory. Lead near the cliff edge.

What's there for kids?

Rock pools at low tide, the harbour, the Adventure Centre in season. A full afternoon.