Dunmore East With Kids

Dunmore East works well as a family day out — short walks, a sandy strand, rock pools, fishing boats to watch, and a meal that doesn't require sitting still for two hours. Here's a route that we've seen work for families with children from primary-school age up.

Start at the harbour

Park in the village and walk down to the harbour. Twenty minutes of fishing boats coming and going is enough for most children, plus they'll spot gulls, the lifeboat, lobster pots stacked on the quay. The lifeboat slip is a good viewpoint.

Rock pools at Counsellor's Strand

Down the steps to the strand. At low tide there are rock pools at the eastern end — crabs, periwinkles, the occasional small fish trapped between tides. A bucket and a net buys an hour easily. Slip-on shoes are essential — the rocks are slippery and barnacles are sharp.

A short cliff walk

Older children handle the Doneraile Walk well — 40 minutes, with the view as the reward. Smaller children find the start of the cliff path tougher; turn back at the first headland and take the road back into the village if needed.

Adventure Centre option

Dunmore East Adventure Centre runs water-sports sessions in school holidays — kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing tasters. Book ahead in July and August. A good fallback for a windy day when the cliff walk is exposed.

Hungry kids

Lunch or an early dinner at The Spinnaker Bar. Bar food, family-friendly, and the kind of pub that takes children for granted rather than treating them as a surprise. Ring ahead on a busy day and Peter will hold the table.