Overview
A crane barge called the Samson has been rusting on the rocks below Ram Head since a December morning in 1987, and it’s the thing most people come to see. The headland is the tip of the Ardmore peninsula, at the southern end of Waterford’s Copper Coast, and you take it in on a 4 km cliff loop that starts in Ardmore village, waymarked with yellow arrows and walkable in about an hour. It’s exposed almost the whole way, with little between you and the Atlantic, so save it for a settled day.
Time it for low tide and you can get down to the wreck itself. And the cliffs here are one of the best places on the south coast to watch for whales and dolphins from land, so it’s worth carrying binoculars.
A walk through history
The headland’s story runs back more than twelve centuries. Early monks left holy wells here, and two still survive along the trail: St Declan’s Well and Father O’Donnell’s Well, both sheltered, quiet spots to pause. Further in, the base of the 12th-century Ardmore Round Tower marks one of Ireland’s oldest monastic settlements, rising over 29 m as a refuge, bell tower and beacon for ships rounding the point; there’s more on it on the main Ardmore page.
The townland is recorded on the old Ordnance maps as Carraig, or Ceann, an Ráma, and a castle once stood on the headland’s western edge, holding out through a short siege in 1642, though nothing of it survives. Maritime defence shaped the later headland: a Coastguard Station and small castellated building went up in 1867 to watch the shipping lanes, and a lookout post was added on the same ridge during the Second World War. Traces of both remain along the upper trail.
The most dramatic feature is the wreck of the crane barge Samson. It left Liverpool on 9 December 1987 under tow, bound for Valletta in Malta. Off the Welsh coast, early on 11 December, the towline parted in near gale-force winds; the barge drifted for a day and grounded at Ram Head at about 7.50am on 12 December. The dangerous cargo was taken off soon afterwards and questions were asked in the Dáil, but the hull was never salvaged and has sat here ever since. A partial collapse of the crane jib in 2016 exposed more of the rusted frame. The Samson’s propeller was salvaged and now stands on a plinth in Ardmore village, with a plaque telling the story.
What to see and do
- The Samson wreck – at low tide the pebble beach exposes the barge’s deck and crane base. Walk carefully around the hull for the contrast between oxidised steel, wind-worn stone and Atlantic spray.
- The coastal loop – the route links the village, the headland tip and the monastic sites, with carved stone markers and the odd bench along the way.
- Historic ruins – scan the clifftops for the foundations of the 1867 Coastguard Station, the castellated building and the wartime observation post; older monastic walls surface on the grassy ridges.
- Holy wells – St Declan’s Well and Father O’Donnell’s Well are set into the cliffside in quiet alcoves, out of the wind, with plaques on their origins.
- Wildlife – the cliffs hold breeding kittiwakes in season, with choughs and ravens working the updraughts, and offshore this is a noted land-based spot for whales and dolphins; the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group logs sightings here.
- Kayaking – the sheltered water on the leeward side is popular with sea kayakers, and paddling near the Samson gives a low-angle view of the wreck you can’t get from the cliffs.
Planning your visit
- Tides matter – the Samson is only fully accessible at low tide; high water covers the deck and narrows the beach. Check a tide table for Ardmore or Dunmore East and aim to arrive an hour or so before low tide.
- Parking – Ardmore village has parking and the loop starts from there. On sunny summer weekends it fills, so come before 10am or after 4pm.
- Footwear and weather – the trail is mostly compact earth and gravel, but sections near the wreck involve loose shingle and slippery seaweed, so wear shoes with good grip. The headland is fully exposed to Atlantic weather; bring windproof layers even in summer.
- Dogs – welcome on a short lead, especially near the cliff edges and around the wreck, where unstable metal and uneven ground are real hazards.
- Facilities – none on the headland. Ardmore village, a short walk from the trailhead, has pubs, cafés and public toilets. Pack water and snacks.
- Getting there – it’s easiest by car; the R672 runs from Ardmore village toward the trailhead. Public transport to Ardmore is limited, so check current timetables if you’re relying on the bus. Allow roughly 1.5 hours for the loop at a relaxed pace.
Nearby attractions
The Ram Head loop fits into a wider Copper Coast day. Combine it with the fuller Ardmore Peninsula and Cliff Walk, the beaches and village life at Bunmahon, or the harbour and coastal path at Dunmore East. For the geology behind it all, the Copper Coast Geopark explains the region’s mining heritage and rock formations.
Two things to get right before you go: a tide table, so you reach the wreck with the water out, and binoculars, in case the fin you spot off the point turns out to be a dolphin.