Beach, Farm, Town, Mountains and More
Clonea Strand/Beach is more than a mile long. Most of it is very private. Seabirds abound. There are Tide Pools close by. Where the beach ends, its possible to make your way along paths to Ballinacourty Light House and along the lovely championship golf course. Clonea Farm is an interesting place to be in its own right. You can watch the sheep or cattle munching away or explore the Farm's tiny pond and surrounding natural forest. There's a dovecote hidden away among the farm buildings from the days when the Farm was the center of a rich Desmesne with its own Big House, walled orchards and gardens.
There are two Championship Golf Courses within a 5 minute drive. There's the Gold Coast Golf Course and Dungarvan Golf Club course. If you weren't carrying clubs, both would be well within walking distance. A 15 minute drive brings you to West Waterford Golf Club, Dungarvan's third Championship course. In all, County Waterford has 9 championship courses.
Dungarvan Town is a thriving town set where the Colligan River meets Dungarvan Bay. It's not as widely known as some of the western tourist towns, but most visitors rate it more inviting and lovely than just about anywhere else they visit in Ireland. And, it's the real thing - a working Irish town - not a tourist trap. There's a modern cinema, Irish music pubs, supermarkets, museum, library, and several excellent restaurants including The Tannery - one of the rarest of eateries in that its a Michelin Recommended restaurant outside of Dublin.
Walks and nearby car tours are plentifully available. Dungarvan Tourism details some of the best. There's the Comeragh Drive around the spectacular Comeragh Mountains (which you can see from Clonea Beach) with Mahon Falls being a particularly easy walk into a glacial coum. Lismore with its fantasy of a castle is only 20 minutes away, the famous Vee Drive over the Knockmealdown Mountains and Melleray Abbey are close by. Ardmore's round Tower and ancient Church, Well and Cliff Walk are also 20 minutes away on the Coast Road.
Within a one hour's drive are the Granite City - Kilkenny, Cork (absolutely everyone's favourite shopping town), and the famous Crystal Factory tours in Waterford. There's also Youghal with its splendid 15th century Cathedral and intact ancient walls down the road a 30 minute drive. And there's the scenic Hook Peninsula from which we get the expression "By Hook or by Crook." And don't forget that babysitting can be arranged. In short, you'll be more than spoiled for choice of things to do. Unfortunately, in order to do them you'll have to leave the pleasures of your beach cottage. Now, there's a hard choice Clonea Farm
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