Dunabrattin

Of all the Promontory Forts found along the Waterford coastline, the site at Dunabrattin is the largest covering an area of around 6 hectares.

Located on Dunabrattin Head, it’s just 3 km along the cliffs from Woodstown Promontory Fort. The site is accessible by a cliff path which starts at Boatstrand cove  (just off the drive down to the pier). From here there are some excellent views of sea-arches and sea-stacks along the way. Arriving at Dunabrattin Head one finds that the ancient defensive features are still very much in evidence. Here, an E-W fosse and embankment of 6.8 metres across the headland once formed a fort ( called "Dún" in Gaelic) which protected a Celtic clan called the Brattins who lived at this cliff top location around 2,000 years ago - hence the name of Dunabrattin. The defensive area also contained a subsidiary Fort which was located off the West end and was protected with a V shaped fosse measuring 14 metres wide.

Today, the Dunabrattin site also has a more modern defensive feature, that of a concrete built look-out post which was erected during World War II. From the Head there are some fine coastal views eastwards towards the seaside resort of Tramore and also west to Dungarvan Bay and Helvic Head with the ever present profile of the Comeragh mountains never far away.

A word of warning here while visiting this site. The cliff path is very narrow, unprotected and extremely dangerous and it’s certainly not recommended for the visitor to be accompanied by children.

Coastal view of the Promontory

Directions: From Tramore follow the R675 till you reach Boatstrand cove which is a journey of about 10km. At Boatstrand, just off the road downwards to the fishing pier you will find access to a cliff path on the right which leads westwards towards the site.

Click for Aardvark Map

Other sites in this area - Woodstown ( promontory fort and standing stone)