Three Rocks Trail and Carrigfoyle Lake just outside Wexford are a treat! The trail starts at Ferrycarrig, goes through Barntown, and then over the Forth Mountain. We joined it at the 1798 Memorial just outside Barntown, took in Carrigfoyle Lake, and set off to see the three rocks!
As with all Wexford walks with an elevation, you’re guaranteed stunning views across the countryside, particularly from Drooping Rock!
We were tipped off to this trail by Pol O Conghaile and the Tracks and Trails TV programme on Wexford. Your intrepid walking blogger also featured, walking through Forth Mountain, explaining the intricacies of mindful walking to Pol. As with all the great trails in the Rebel County, this is one of the Wexford Walking Trail network and part of the suite of Wexford Trails.
Carrigfoyle Lake is amazing, primarily because of the red hue of the rock. The lake is actually an excavated quarry pit that has filled with water. Surrounded now mostly by Lodgepole Pine, the lake is a highlight of the walk.
Three Rocks Trail
Up past the lake, you’ll find the car park, a coffee dock, and the tarmac path alongside the road to Carrigfoyle Rock. In Irish, the rock’s name is “Charraig a’ Phoill” – “rocky area of the hole” or the “rock of the hole”. This may well refer to an underground cavern rumoured to run from this area to Ferrycarrig.
The trail goes on from here, alongside a road, well signposted, and downhill to the turn-off for Drooping Rock. And this is worth the walk. The views from on top of this rocky outcrop on the exposed northern-facing slopes of Forth Mountain are amazing!
Highlights
Three Rocks Walking Trail is steeped in history, and you’re walking here along part of a route taken by the Wexford men during the 1798 rebellion in Wexford. And you can see why. Nestled in the mountainside near to Wexford town, great elevations with views of the surrounding countryside, it must have been a great hiding place for the rebels.
Starting from Ferrycarrig, the Three Rocks Walking Trail passes by the 16th Century Ferrycarrig Castle and bridge. Also en route are the Crimean War Monument/Round Tower (1858), the 1798 attack site, the 16th Century Barntown Castle, the Three Rocks 1798 campsite. And then on to Carrigfoyle Lake/Quarry, Carrigfoyle Rock, the Raven Rock, and Skeater Rock, before finishing at Skeaterpark Trailhead (car park).
Drooping Rock sits on Forth Mountain, with stunning views across Co Wexford
Good to know:
There’s a picnic areas beside Carrigfoyle Lake Car Park. When we visited, there was a coffee dock on site, with a great choice of eats and drinks. Best of all, there are new and clean public toilets near to Carrigfoyle Lake.
The entire trail from Ferrycarrig trailhead (Sat Nav 52.3517, -6.5094) to Skeaterpark trailhead (52.293, -6.580) is 13km.
Carrigfoyle Lake – an excavated quarry pit filled in by water, surrounded by nature
Walks nearby:
Johnstown Castle: 8km from the Ferrycarrig Hotel
Raven Nature Reserve, Curracloe: 24km from Carrigfoyle Lake Car Park
Kilmore Quay: 26km from the Ferrycarrig Hotel
View of Curracloe beach from Raven Nature Reserve
