ITINERARY NO.1 THE VERY BEST OF COUNTY 3 DAYS 165 KM 12 POINTS OF INTEREST

Journey Overview Welcome to , a place steeped in history, abundant in natural beauty and brimming with homegrown, quality cuisine. This itinerary is designed to show you the very best of what County Waterford has to offer.

Whether you wish to explore the city’s fascinating Viking heritage, discover the county’s stunning Copper Coast or enjoy a Michelin recommended meal, County Waterford is the place for you! DAY 1 Route: Stay in Waterford City Points of Interest: Museum of Treasures, 1 KM 4 POINTS OF INTEREST Epic Tour, Waterford Glass, King of Vikings Virtual Tour

YOUR JOURNEY begins in Waterford City, the oldest in - it was established by the Vikings in 914 A.D. Just over 250 years later, the city was claimed by Strongbow for the Normans.

Some of the most fascinating artefacts relating to these periods are on display at Waterford Treasures - a trio of museums situated only a few minute’s walk from each other in the heart of the city. Viking house and lets you experience the world of the Vikings using the latest virtual reality The 45-minute, Epic Tour of the Viking technology. Triangle, will walk you through 1,000 years of

the city’s fascinating history, from the Vikings to For lunch, be sure to try Waterford’s very own

the Victorians in 1,000 paces. delicious white floury bread roll – the‘ Blaa’ and why not wash it down Also located in the heart of the Viking Triangle, with one of the the House of Waterford Crystal provides an many mouth- intimate insight into the centuries old tradition watering beers of Waterford Crystal making, where you can feel on offer from the heat of the furnace and marvel at the skill of Metalman the craftspeople. - Waterford

city’s very

Located nearby, the exciting ‘King of the own craft Vikings’ project takes place in a reconstructed beer brewers.

DAY 2 Route: Waterford City, , , Points of Interest: Lafcadio Hearn Japanese 94 KM 4 POINTS OF INTEREST Gardens, Copper Coast, Waterford Greenway

ON DAY 2 of your journey, travel west from providing a stunning geological record of Comeragh Waterford city, to discover the spectacular the volcanoes, ocean, desert and ice sheets mountains coastline of the county. which combined to create this spectacular guiding you landscape. Once at the pretty harbour town on your Situated in the picturesque sea-side town of Dungarvan, you will find numerous journey of Tramore, just 15-minutes outside quality cafes and restaurants to enjoy some back to Waterford, stop at the Lafcadio Hearn lunch. Waterford. Japanese Gardens. In their design and If you’ve planting-style, the gardens showcase Whether you decide to walk, cycle or take left your car the gardening traditions of the places an electric bike, the recently opened 46km in Dungarvan, that Lafcadio Hearn lived in during his Waterford Greenway provides an excellent a free shuttle- adventurous lifetime. Softly-running way to immerse yourself in the natural bus will drop you back streams, a rushing waterfall, ponds and beauty and history of this area. to collect it. an extensive woodland area all add to the serenity of these beautiful gardens. Running along the path of a disused railway line between Dungarvan and Waterford, the From Tramore, head west along the coast, Greenway passes medieval ruins, enjoying panoramic seascapes of beaches, Norman castles, a Viking settlement and coves and rocky headlands, to the village a Famine workhouse. of Bunmahon which sits at the heart of the County’s Copper Coast. The landscape continually transforms from boggy marsh to rich pastureland, from Now a UNESCO Global Geopark, the wilderness to sweetly-scented strawberry Copper Coast extends for some 20km fields, with the stunning backdrop of the DAY 3 Route: , Lemybrien, Lismore, Points of Interest: House, 70 KM 4 STOPS Mahon Falls, Lismore Castle, Lismore Heritage Centre

START YOUR final day by heading Heading further west brings you to yet themed around the ‘Father of Modern northwards to visit the stunning another of County Waterford’s architectural Chemistry’ – Robert Curraghmore House. Set among some gems – Lismore Castle. Originally built by Boyle who 2,500 acres of formal gardens, woodland King John of England in 1185, the castle was was born in and grazing fields, it is the largest private owned in turn by Sir and the Lismore demesne in Ireland today. Great Earl of - Richard Boyle, before it Castle. passed to the Dukes of Devonshire in 1753, Of the many striking features of who still own it today. Curraghmore is the courtyard to the front of the house, where the original castle is Although the castle itself is only available for encased in a spectacular Victorian mansion private event hire, the exquisite gardens with flankingGeorgian ranges. With offer spectacular views of the castle and the stunning historic interiors, furniture and lush Blackwater Valley below. artefacts, Curraghmore is still the home of the 9th Marquis of Waterford, whom you The fascinating stories associated with may meet walking his dog in the grounds. the castle and its characters are told in the wonderful Lismore Heritage Centre A short, scenic drive westwards provides a just a stroll away which takes visitors on close-up experience of the majesty of the a fascinating journey through monastic, . At Lemybrien you Viking, Norman, and medieval Lismore. can discover the spectacular Mahon Falls where the waters of the River Mahon plunge If you’re looking for a novel experience, why dramatically over the sandstone not try out the centre’s exciting new ‘Boyle cliffs and rockfaces of the mountainside. Escape Room’ which is atmospherically