Hook Head

Cape Ancient headland in Wexford with historic lighthouse

A limestone headland at County Wexford’s southeast tip, Hook Head hosts Hook Lighthouse-one of the world’s oldest working lighthouses. Visitors tour the lighthouse, walk coastal paths and watch seals offshore.

Hook Head is a prominent headland on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, Ireland. The site is best known for the medieval lighthouse that crowns its seaward tip and for coastal scenery along the peninsula.

The headland supports a worked agricultural landscape, low cliffs, and coastal walking routes popular with day visitors and photographers. The area is accessible from nearby villages on the peninsula and offers views across sea approaches to southeast Ireland.

Hook Lighthouse, set at the point of the headland, has a long history of maritime navigation and operates as a visitor attraction with guided tours and exhibits explaining its historical role.

Historic lighthouse: The lighthouse at the head of the peninsula dates to the Norman period and is frequently described as one of the oldest operational lighthouses in the world; it is open to the public for tours and museum displays are provided on-site.

What to See #

Hook Lighthouse: The historic stone-built lighthouse at the tip of the headland is a focal point for visitors and is set on the seaward promontory overlooking the entrance to Waterford Harbour and the Celtic Sea.
Coastal paths: Coastal walking routes and cliff-top paths follow the peninsula and reveal features of the rocky shore, small coves and agricultural land typical of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford.

Tips for Visiting Hook Head #

Arrive early in the morning to join one of the first guided tours of Hook Lighthouse - tours run on a schedule and early slots avoid larger day‑trip groups and give clearer views from the tower.
Use the main visitor entrance/parking at the Hook Lighthouse visitor complex on the headland rather than trying to park along the narrow coastal roads; the visitor centre houses exhibits that many people skip.
Take the coastal walk around the headland after your tour for different viewpoints of the lighthouse and the rugged cliffs - stay on marked paths and allow extra time for changing weather conditions.