Things to do in Waterford - The Clonea Strand Hotel is the ideal base

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Clonea Strand Beach & Dungarvan Bay
Step outside the Clonea Strand Hotel and you're confronted by the number one sight in the area and the most popular of the Dungarvan attractions - two mile long Clonea Beach and Dungarvan Bay. Swept clean by the tides, this enormous beach is the premier bathing beach for nearly 100 miles of coastline. A European Blue Flag Beach, Clonea Strand boasts clean sand, clean water and lifeguard service in season. A trip to Clonea strand is the ideal choice when looking for activities in Dungarvan to keep all the family happy. Only 20 minutes from Clonea Holiday Resort stands the ancient village of Ardmore with its spectacular Round Tower and 10th century sculptures. Ardmore was a recent National Tidy Town winner and it too features a huge bay of sandy beaches and cliff walks.

Dungarvan Town
Dungarvan is one of Ireland's gems - a bustling market town of more than 7,000 people perched on Dungarvan Bay beneath the Comeragh Mountains. The salmon run past the 14th century church tower and up the rushing Colligan River to lay their eggs in the gravel beds beyond the town. Several award winning restaurants are located in the town or nearby. As well, there's a 5 screen cinema, plenty of shopping and a castle that dates from the time of King John of Robin Hood fame. 

Ardmore Adventures
Ardmore Adventure Centre is located in the stunning and picturesque Ardmore bay just 20 minutes from the Clonea Strand Hotel. All levels of fitness are catered for. Why not try rock climbing, sea kayaking, surfing, snorkelling, powerboat trips, archery, teambuilding, lifeguard training or first aid courses in unspoilt natural locations in West Waterford and East Cork. With 15 years of experience in teaching and coaching the staff at Ardmore Adventures will show you what you are capable of and through fun and adventure will help you to reach your true potential.
Life is an adventure so live it with Ardmore Adventures.......
For more information visit www.ardmoreadventures.ie

Waterford Crystal Tour
Waterford is the Crystal City and Waterford Crystal is justly famous for its beauty and superb craftsmanship. The plant offers tours where you can watch the glass being blown and cut. The hot furnaces where the glass is melted and the skills of the glass blowers and cutters are all on display. Afterwards comes a tour of the Showrooms which are a veritable museum of glass with dozens of unique and one of a kind crystal pieces. You can order and ship home any items in the huge range of products.

John F. Kennedy Park
20 minutes beyond Waterford is John F. Kennedy Park - Europe's finest arboretum . This several hundred acre tree garden is a gift of the American people to Ireland, and set beneath the wild hill where the entire countryside can be viewed are hundreds of special gardens devoted to trees and shrubs. The rockeries, lakes, tree maze, beech walks, birch gardens, model railroad, and hundreds of other nooks and crannies make this park a beauty spot without rival in Ireland. Amazingly, few are the tourists who know about it and visit.

Dromana Bridge
Dromana Bridge was just a pokey place to cross the Finish River until Lord Villiers Stuart married a high society bride in the mid-1800's. His tenants erected a fantastic Moorish castle made of paper maché over the bridge to greet the young bride. She was so delighted that Villiers-Stuart decided to make the bridge a permanent fixture, and this incredible vision still graces one of the country roads of West Waterford.

Cahir Castle & Swiss Cottage
Cahir, a one hour drive, is the home of two remarkable buildings that are part of the National Park system. The first is the Swiss Cottage, a style of building that was all the rage around the time of Marie Antoinette. Queen Marie, before she lost her head to the guillotine, loved to play at being a peasant, and the richest families in Europe followed suit. The Swiss Cottage is the best remaining example of these ornate "Peasant" palaces, an incredible example of the simple pleasures millions of pounds can buy. Also present in Cahir is an intact castle from the medieval period.

The Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel is a little over one hour's drive away. This was the seat of the Kings of Munster for more than a thousand years, and the ecclesiastical centre of southern Ireland for nearly as long. The Rock is a stupendous place. The whole is eye filling and a quite splendid climax to a tour of the nearby countryside.

Along the Copper Coast to Tramore Bay
The County Waterford coast is quite as spectacular as any in Ireland. Tall sea cliffs hide wave sculpted coves which only locals visit. Easily accessible at many points by car, uncrowded beaches beckon. Drive east for 10 minutes and you pass the frequent Tidy Towns winner, Stradbally. Then comes the Copper Coast, Europe's first Geologic Park with its mining heritage and spectacular cliffs. Finally, you come to the resort towns of Tramore and the fishing village of Dunmore East.

Disability Activities
For information on upcoming Disability Activities in Dungarvan and Waterford please click on the link below or contact Katie Kelly, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer on (051) 849757 www.waterfordsportspartnership.ie