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The view of Hook Lighthouse from across the peninsula. Shutterstock/Michal Wlodarczyk
roads to remember
My Favourite Drive: Keith Elliott takes the scenic route to Wexford's Hook Lighthouse
It’s the world’s oldest operational lighthouse, but can it keep three young kids entertained?
Journeys, even everyday ones, can mean a lot. Keith Elliott is the foreman at AUTOTRANZ in Dublin. As someone with a passion for cars and motoring, Keith told TheJournal.ie about a drive that meant a lot to him.
First up, describe the drive.
I have a mobile home in Carne Beach in Co Wexford, and we spend lots of the summer weekends down there. One day this summer we took a half-day trip to Hook Head, to visit the lighthouse there. It’s the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, located right on the Wexford coast.
From the caravan park you head out onto the Wexford to Dublin road, turning off at the Duncannon Road roundabout. From there it’s a fairly rural coastal road, right out along the peninsula toward the lighthouse. It takes a bit over an hour, or a bit longer when you have three young kids in the back like I did.
Is there a view or moment that sums it up?
The standout moment was probably when we spotted the lighthouse up ahead of us on the road. It’s huge, far bigger than you’d imagine. We drove right up to it and spent a couple of hours exploring. There’s a visitor centre, and the day we were there they were selling food outside, so there was a bit of a buzz. Our kids are six, four and two so we did have to watch them a bit – it’s well fenced off but there is access down onto the rocks.
While we were out that direction we made a quick stop into Loftus Hall, which is supposedly one of Ireland’s most haunted buildings. If the kids were a bit older we might have stayed longer!
What makes it special?
In general, Wexford is special for us because it’s where we head as a family so much. The kids love it because we are right on the beach, and when the weather’s good they can be in the sea every day. We get down there as much as we can, because it’s such an easy drive from Dublin.
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