Light up your day at the Hook Lighthouse, with 800 years of lighthouse keeping it is the oldest intact working lighthouse in the world
Part of Ireland’s Ancient East, Hook Lighthouse is situated in the South West corner of County Wexford bordering County Waterford. It has marked the entrance to Waterford Harbour at the mouth of the three sisters river system for over 800 years. The Visitor centre at Hook Lighthouse offers guided tours of this wonderful Medieval lighthouse tower, built by William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke.
Known as the Greatest Knight and the most famous Knight of his time, Marshal built the tower as part of the development of his Lordship of Leinster, to protect and develop the important shipping trade in the 13th Century.
Purpose built as a lighthouse 800 years ago, and still fully operational today, Hook Lighthouse truly is one of a kind!
Guided tours take you through the lighthouse with fascinating insights, stories and facts of this unique building. Enjoy the spectacular view from the balcony then visit the watchtower where lighthouse keepers kept watch up to 1996 when Hook lighthouse became automatic.
The Visitor Centre, located in the former keepers houses, includes a first class gift shop and café and bakery, where friendly staff are happy to help with any tourist information you require. Here, you can relax by the sea with a coffee and homemade scone and keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and even whales!
In clear weather you can see for miles and in a storm the spray often reaches the top of the lighthouse!
Highlights include:
800 years of lighthouse keeping
The oldest operational intact lighthouse in the world
Built by William Marshal, lord of Leinster and known as ‘The Greatest Knight’
The phrase ‘by hook or by crook’ is said to have originated here
Relax by the Celtic Sea
Open Year Round
Daily 09:30 - 17:00
Tours every half hour from 09:30 to 17:00 and later during peak season
Closed: December 18 to 25. Open December 26 to January 2, 10:00 - 17:00, Guided tours from 11:00 to 16:00 every half hour. During extreme weather the lighthouse may close.
Last admission: 30 minutes before closing time
Approx. visit duration: Allow 30 minutes for tour. To fully enjoy the site, allow up to 2 hours.
Admission Prices 2017
Adult: €9.00
Senior (aged 65+): €8.00
Student (with valid ID): €8.00
Toddler (aged 0-4): Free
Family (1 adult + 1 child, aged 5-16): €12.00
Family (1 adult + 2 children, aged 5-16): €15.00
Family (2 adults + 1 child, aged 5-16): €20.00
Family (2 adults & 2 children, aged 5-16): €22.00
Family (2 adults & 3 children, aged 5-16): €24.00
LANGUAGES
Leaflets in Irish, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
WI-FI
Free Wi-Fi available in visitor centre.
ACCOLADES & AWARDS
Tripadvisor Certificate of excellence 2015
DINING / REFRESHMENTS
Café and Bakery, seats 50 indoors, with full menu including seafood chowder, soups, sandwiches, paninis, and snacks. Fish n chips, mussels, seafood specials, vegetarian specials and desserts. Daily specials. Speciality coffees, teas and hot chocolate. BBQs during summer on weekends.
PICNICS
Picnic tables are provided and picnics are welcome on the grounds, however BBQs are not permitted.
SHOPPING
Gift Shop with nautical gifts, local goods and local interest books
PARKING
Free car and coach parking
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
Visitor Centre, café and gift shop are accessible. The lighthouse, by its nature, is not accessible for mobility impaired. Wheelchair accessible toilet.
GROUPS
Groups welcome. Pre-booking required for groups of 15 or over.
LOCATION
Hook Lighthouse is a two and a half hour drive from Dublin using the M9 motorway to Waterford or the Coastal route using the N11 to Wexford. This part of Ireland is best explored by car with lots of villages, attractions and scenic opportunities within short distances.
50 km from Wexford via Wellington Bridge and Fethard-on-Sea
29 km from Waterford via the Passage East Car Ferry and Ramsgrange
38km from New Ross via Campile or Fethard-on-Sea
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