International Marine, Lighthouse Tourism & Maritime Heritage Conference
Dublin Castle 7th & 8th October 2025
Pedal Power & Dog-Friendly Stays: Lighthouse Visitor Perks
Thinking of visiting or staying at one of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland? There are so many reasons to visit and even more ways to enjoy your trip while also feeling good about your impact on the environment and your contribution to the local area.
Whether that’s travelling to the lighthouse as sustainably as possible or frequenting some super independent businesses, it’s what we like to call being a #CoastalKeeper – feeling good for doing some good and looking after our coastal environment along the way.
Below are just some of the perks you can enjoy at the lighthouses by simply adopting a #CoastalKeeper attitude.
Pedal Power & EV Chargers
In Co. Cork, Ballycotton Sea Adventures offer a discount for visitors who cycle to Ballycotton Pier. With bike-friendly facilities right there at the pier, you can leave your two wheels in advance of a delightful boat tour around this charming 19th-century lighthouse – one of only two black lighthouses in Ireland!
Over at Loop Head Lighthouse, Co. Clare, freewheelers who travel to the lighthouse by e-bike are rewarded with a free hot drink. Cyclists will also find bike stands both inside and outside the lighthouse site. Be sure to take a tour of the crow’s nest in the Lightkeeper’s Cottage and the Lighthouse Tower. From the tower’s 23-metre-high balcony you’ll enjoy spectacular 360-degree views.
At Hook Lighthouse, Co. Wexford, cyclists will appreciate the site’s secure new bike racks and plentiful picnic benches. While EV drivers can rest assured that charging facilities are available too with the lighthouse’s new e-charger, so there’s no chance of being stranded out on Hook Peninsula after your visit to the world’s oldest operational lighthouse…
A Hot Drop for the Keep Cups
Caffeine-loving visitors who buy a Keep Cup at Fanad Lighthouse in Co. Donegal are rewarded with a free coffee during their trip. Wrap your hands around your snazzy new cup as you embrace the incredible views over Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay. Don’t forget to pop into their gift shop while you’re there, you’ll find locally-made goods like handmade soaps, cashmere socks, artworks, prints, artisan jewellery and more.
On the Co. Clare coast, visitors to Loop Head can enjoy 20 cent off hot drinks when they bring their own reusable cup, perfect for when you’re drinking in those fantastic views south to the Blasket Islands and north to the Twelve Pins, Connemara.
Dog-Friendly Lighthouse Accommodation
Hoping to give your canine companions a holiday too? You’ll find that a handful of Great Lighthouses of Ireland love to roll out the furry red carpet. At the Irish Landmark Trust lighthouse properties, Loop Head and Wicklow Head, your house-trained dogs are most welcome to accompany you on your stay.
While in Co. Donegal, Fanad Head’s overnight accommodation also features dog-friendly facilities with water stations and welcome packs awaiting your four-legged friends.
