# Waterford’s Copper Coast and the Comeraghs

> 3-day road trip of about 125 km (78 mi) with 7 stops, from Waterford to Lismore. About 1 h 44 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b6-copper-coast/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 125 km (78 mi) with 7 stops, from Waterford to Lismore. About 1 h 44 min of driving in total. Viking Waterford, the coves and mine ruins of a UNESCO geopark, a mountain waterfall, Ardmore’s round tower and a castle on the Blackwater.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 125 km (78 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 44 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Waterford → Lismore |
| Countries | Ireland |
| Updated | June 23, 2026 |

## Route description

Waterford, founded by the Vikings, is Ireland’s oldest city; its Viking Triangle holds Reginald’s Tower and good museums. Drive south to Tramore, a family resort with a long beach and a big curving bay.

The R675 follows the Copper Coast west through small coves, sea stacks and the ruined engine houses of 19th-century copper mines. The geopark visitor centre in Bunmahon explains the landscape, and several beaches along the road are good for a swim on calm days.

Before Dungarvan, turn inland on the Comeragh Drive to Mahon Falls, a short walk from the car park into a corrie in the mountains. Dungarvan is a harbour town at the end of the Waterford Greenway, a 46 km cycle path on a former railway.

Continue south to Ardmore, where a 12th-century round tower stands above the beach and a cliff walk starts from the village. Finish inland at Lismore, a heritage town below a castle on the Blackwater; the Vee Gap road climbs from here over the Knockmealdown Mountains.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Waterford** (Ireland)
2. **Tramore** (Ireland)
3. **Copper Coast Geopark** (Bunmahon, Ireland): A UNESCO geopark of coves, sea stacks and ruined 19th-century copper mine buildings along the R675. The visitor centre in Bunmahon explains the geology.
4. **Mahon Falls** (Comeragh Mountains, Ireland): A waterfall tumbling from a corrie in the Comeragh Mountains, about 20 minutes’ walk from the car park at the end of the road.
5. **Dungarvan** (Ireland)
6. **Ardmore round tower** (Ardmore, Ireland): A 12th-century round tower and ruined cathedral above a seaside village linked to St Declan. A cliff walk of about 4 km starts nearby.
7. **Lismore** (Ireland)