We had decided to visit the Hook in September of 2014, and plumped for this cottage purely on its location, enabling us to escape to a quiet location, yet close enough to explore the county of Wexford and its remarkable history.

On arrival we were met be Laurene, who warmly welcomed us, instantly made us feel at home, showed us round the Cottage and answered all our questions.

The cottage itself was very clean, warm, cosy, and fitted with everything to make our stay an enjoyable and relaxing affair. In addition Laurene made available a huge selection of literature on places to visit, pubs, restaurants and shops.

The local area was great for exploring. The close proximity of two beaches, Carnivan and Baginbun Head, were picturesque and a pleasure to take a leisurely stroll along.

The Hook lighthouse was impressive, and well worth a visit, try and do it on a windy day as it adds to the experience and makes it clear why it has been there so long.

Duncannon Fort, Loftus House and Tintern Abbey were also well worth a visit.

Further afield, The Irish National Heritage Park, Wexford Town, Rosslare, Ballyhack, Waterford City, Our Lady’s Island, Slade, Enniscorthy, The JKF Arboretum and the Famine ship at New Ross all made excellent trips out and added to the whole experience. You will need a vehicle to get the best out of this location.

One of the things we discovered shortly prior to leaving was that the area was the initial “landing point” for the Norman Invasion of Ireland. If you enjoy history it’s worthwhile taking a little time to familiarise yourself with the history of the Anglo-Normans in Wexford prior to your arrival, as it will set the scene for a very interesting historical experience.

There was a wide range of restaurants within 5 or 6 miles ranging from pub grub to a la carte. If you fancy something a little special we can recommend the Aldridge Lodge just outside Duncannon, but make sure you find it on a map before leaving as it is in a rural location and can be a little difficult to locate.

The weather ….. if you are coming in March or April expect everything , it gets windy, it gets sunny, it gets foggy (at night), so take a number of different coats and jackets, however, when the clouds clear, the night skies are something to behold. If you enjoy your astronomy, don’t forget your scope .. you won’t be disappointed.

The people… everyone we met was pleasant, warm and welcoming.

The host … Laurene is a lovely lady who made sure we got the best out of our break, making suggestions and offering advice as well as making sure the cottage was clean, warm and welcoming.

To summarise: secluded, cosy, quiet, relaxed, stunning scenery, impressive history and a host who made sure we got the best out of our time in Wexford.

Thank you Laurene

Mick & Lucy