Travel

Coasteering video: Jump off cliffs, swim through caves in wild Wexford

The hunt continues for The Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland

Kite-surfing instructor Niall Roche jumps into the sea at Hook Head as part of his coasteering instructor course with Shielbaggan OEC. Photograph: Bryan O'Brien

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Conor Goodman
Wed Apr 9 2014 - 06:00

The Irish Times is on the hunt for The Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland, asking members of the public to nominate their favourite spots to experience nature. To inspire you, we’re also making videos of some of them.

Catherine Dundon has nominated the Hook peninsula in Co Wexford. She writes: “The Hook peninsula has it all: 14 beaches and coves; the sea and the river estuary; whale and dolphin watching; paddle boarding, kite surfing; regular surfing; canoeing; sailing; fishing; swimming; coastal walks and garden tours.”

She forgot to mention “coasteering”, which our video crew of Bryan O’Brien and Darragh Bambrick checked out this week. Coasteering, according to instructor Colin Gibbon from Shielbaggan Outdoor Adventure Centre, is “jumping off cliffs, swimming through caves, and avoiding rocks” as you work your way along the coast.

In the accompanying vid, local kite surfer Niall Roche tries out this “amazing experience” for the first time in the rough seas around Hook Head. His verdict? “No better place to go wild in Ireland.”

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For more info on coasteering in Hook, Co Wexford, see www.shielbagganoec.com, 051-389550. For kitesurfing lessons in Duncannon, Co Wexford, contact Niall Roche at www.hookedkitesurfing.ie, 087-6755567.

'Coasteering' is a mixture of adventure swimming, jumping and scrambling along the coastline. Shielbaggan OEC at Hook Head in Wexford show how it's done, for our Best Place to go Wild in Ireland series. Video: Bryan O'Brien & Darragh Bambrick

You can nominate your own favourite place to #gowild – and learn more about the competition – at www.irishtimes.com/gowild.

Conor Goodman