Woodstown Strand Walk + Pub Lunch at The Spinnaker Bar

Woodstown Strand sits on the west side of Waterford Harbour, a long sweep of sand and shingle facing Dunmore East across the water. Walk the 3 km beach (flat, easy, dog-friendly), then drive ten minutes to The Spinnaker Bar, Lower Village, Dunmore East for seafood chowder, beer-battered fish, cold pints and a window seat on the working harbour. Peter runs the kitchen and the bar himself. Ring (051) 383 133 to book Friday or Sunday evenings, or walk in most other days.

Woodstown Strand: the walk

Woodstown Strand runs north-south on the Passage East side of Waterford Harbour. You park at the small car park off the R683 (follow signs for Woodstown Beach from Passage East village). The strand is 3 km long, flat sand and shingle, backed by low dunes and farmland. The water is the mouth of the River Suir meeting the Celtic Sea. You see Dunmore East directly across the harbour—the lighthouse, the coloured cottages, the harbour wall. On a clear day you see Hook Head south-west.

The walk is out-and-back, 6 km round trip if you walk the full length. Allow 90 minutes. Dogs allowed off-lead in most sections (check current signage at the car park). Tide dictates how much sand you have underfoot. Low tide gives you firm sand close to the dunes. High tide pushes you onto the shingle. Wind comes off the sea—bring a jacket even in summer. The beach is popular with local families, kite-surfers when the wind is up, and walkers year-round.

After the walk: lunch at The Spinnaker Bar

From Woodstown car park, drive back to the R683, turn left toward Passage East, take the car ferry across to Ballyhack (€8 single car, 10-minute crossing, runs every 20 minutes), then follow the R733 east 8 km to Dunmore East. Total journey 20 minutes including the ferry wait. Or drive back through Waterford City via the N25 and R684 (30 minutes, no ferry). Either way, you end up at The Spinnaker Bar on the harbour in Lower Village.

Peter serves seafood chowder €13.50, mussels €14 (chorizo / sherry / cream, served with garlic bread), prawn cocktail €12, beer-battered fish €22.50 (hake or haddock off the day-boats, chips, tartar sauce), seafood pie €23, lamb shank €27, 8oz striploin €37, and Sunday roast on the day. The bar pours Guinness, Smithwicks, Heineken, craft cans, wines, spirits. Walk-in most days. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 for Friday or Sunday evenings, or any group of six or more.

Why pair Woodstown Strand with Dunmore East

Woodstown and Dunmore East sit opposite each other on Waterford Harbour. The strand gives you space, flat easy walking, and a view across the water. Dunmore gives you the working harbour pub, fresh seafood, and a village to walk around after lunch. The ferry crossing from Passage East to Ballyhack is part of the day out—you drive onto the boat, stand on deck for ten minutes, watch the harbour traffic, then drive off the other side.

If you skip the ferry and drive through Waterford City, you add ten minutes but avoid the ferry queue (can be 30 minutes on a sunny Sunday in summer). Either route, you finish at The Spinnaker Bar with a cold pint and a window seat watching the fishing boats unload. Peter posts this week's hours and live music line-up on Facebook. Email spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com for group bookings or queries.

What to do in Dunmore East after lunch

After lunch, walk the harbour. The working boats tie up along the main pier—trawlers, day-boats, crabbers. The fish market operates early morning (4 a.m.–7 a.m. most days, not open to public but you can watch from the quay). The village wraps around the harbour in a horseshoe: Lower Village where The Spinnaker sits, and Upper Village inland. Thatched cottages line the narrow streets, painted cream, pink, blue. The lifeboat station is at the east end of the harbour—Dunmore's RNLI crew launched 47 times in 2024.

Walk the Doneraile cliff path if you want more exercise after Woodstown. The trailhead is at the east end of the village (follow signs for Doneraile Walk from the harbour). It's 2 km out to the cliffs and back, 40 minutes, views south over the Celtic Sea. Or walk Counsellor's Strand, a small sandy cove ten minutes west of the village on foot (follow the coast road past the sailing club). The Spinnaker is your end point either way. Cold pint, fresh fish, Peter behind the bar.

Practical notes: parking, timing, booking

Woodstown car park is free, space for 30 cars, fills up on sunny weekends in summer by 11 a.m. Arrive early or mid-afternoon. No toilets at the beach (nearest public toilets in Passage East village, 2 km). In Dunmore East, park along the harbour road (free, can be tight on Sundays) or in the upper car park near the church (5-minute walk down to The Spinnaker).

Timing: walk Woodstown mid-morning, drive to Dunmore for 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. lunch. Peter posts food service times on Facebook each week—check before you drive. Walk-in welcome most days. Ring Peter on (051) 383 133 if you're coming Friday or Sunday evening, or if you're a group of six or more. The Spinnaker shows every Premier League match and GAA game on the big screen, so expect a crowd if there's a big fixture on. Email Peter at spinnakerbardunmore@gmail.com for any questions.