Beautiful Scenic Walks in Dublin and Surrounds
It might not be obvious when you first think of Dublin as people from out of town might associate Dublin with Guinness and Leprechauns rather than its scenic offerings, but situated on Ireland's East Coast with a rugged and beautiful coastline, Dublin has so much more to offer than meets the eye. Whether you are a local looking to explore more of the city and venture somewhere new, or if you are a tourist in town for a few days in search of stunning scenery and sea views, this post summarises my top recommendations for walks in and around the city and beyond.
Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, and Killiney Loop Walk
This walk takes you from the seaside town of Dun Laoghaire, a coastal suburb in South Dublin, from its harbour along the coast through Sandycove and Dalkey before climbing to the summit of Killiney Hill, overlooking the great sweep of Killiney Bay, and then returning to Dun Laoghaire along the historic route of The Metals*. The route is a 13.7 kilometer loop trail.
*The Metals was the route that wagons carrying the stone and granite to build Dun laoghaire harbour used to travel from Dalkey quarry to the building site and still survives to this day.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour
If you just fancy a gentle seaside stroll, you can walk from town out to Dún Laoghaire Harbour and soak in the views. Dun Laoghaire is home to the infamous 'Forty Foot' which is a historic bathing pool at the southern tip of Dublin Bay, and has been named among the best places to swim in the world by the NYT. If you are that way inclined you can go in for a dip. If you time your walk, you might end up at the local farmers market which are held on Sunday* selling the best of local produce.
*Lockdown may impact the market opening
Killiney Hill Walk
For a shorter walk where the reward outweighs the effort, this short (but steep) walk up Killiney Hill is just the ticket. An obvious place to start from is the car park from which paths will take you 400m or so to the summit. Huge numbers of people come here often with dogs.
At the top of the hill, there is a large monument and stunning views over Dublin Bay (a view compared with that of the Bay of Naples).
Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk
I just love a stroll along Sandymount Strand, when the tide is out the beach stretches for miles. This is really popular for locals, runners and dog walkers and is so nice getting the fresh sea breeze.
The walk from Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse is approx 5 Km or 3 mile. Start on Sandymount Strand and walk in the direction of the twin towers of Dublin's Poolbeg Power Station and toward Dublin's 'Great South Wall' which will lead you out to the Light House. In peak season Spring through Autumn there are usually a number of people doing this same walk. Be mindful of the tides when you plan the timing for your Poolbeg Lighthouse walk - at high tide at certain times of year, the Great South Wall is at least partially under water.
Howth Head Walk
This is my favourite walk of all time in Dublin. To the North of the city, you can catch a Dart from Pearse Street Station along the Coast to Howth. Howth is a seaside town on the North Coast of Dublin. The Howth Head walk is famous for its rugged cliffs and dramatic backdrops into the blue Irish Sea below. You want to attempt this walk on a clear day, sunny day to get the most of it. The cliffs can get quite high and sometimes windy so make sure you are wearing appropriate footwear.
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park, at over 700 hectares is the the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe. Definitely worth a visit for stroll during your trip to Dublin. Home to a large herd of fallow deer, the Park is also home to Dublin Zoo and Victorian flower gardens. The Phoenix Park is only a mile and a half from O’Connell Street in the city centre. There are many walks and cycle trails available to the public around the park. Perfect for a sunny day picnic.
Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk
Whilst not quite Dublin - Bray is a town South of Dublin - just across the border in neighbouring county Wicklow. You can reach Bray via the Dart from Grand Canal Dock and only takes 20 minutes or so. This stunning coastal path takes you 7km along the cliffs between Bray and Greystones. This is another Beautiful Coastal walk showcasing Dublin and Ireland's landscape gaziing into the blue waters of the Irish Sea. For more info - https://www.bray.ie/cliff-walk/
Dublin Mountains Way
The Dublin Mountains Way is a 42.6 km national way marked trail which crosses the Dublin mountains from Shankill in the east of Dublin to Tallaght in the west. The Trail in total takes approximately 12 hours - high vis is recommended! There are numerous routes marked out within this grand trail. For more information visit: https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/dublin-mountains-way
The Sugar Loaf Trail (County Wicklow)
The Sugar Loaf Trail is approximately 2.5 Km around the Sugar Laof mountain recognisable by its conical shape. This is a short but very steep walk affording fantastic 360° panoramic views of South Dublin and Wicklow. On a clear day you can see the mountains in Wales across the sea and the Mourne mountains to the north. You will need to drive here / hire a car if coming from Dublin and is reachable along the N11. The route starts in a car park on Red Lane under a concrete arch.
The Wicklow Way
The Wicklow Way meanders through a combination of suburban parkland, forest trails, wild and scenic mountain landscape and finally rolling countryside offers a wonderfully varied, 8 to 10 day experience for a hill-walker of average fitness. The route is approximately 127 Km. En route the Wicklow Way passes mountain lakes, ruined buildings -stark reminders of previous widespread human habitation- occasional memorials to historic events of past centuries and extensive remains of the early Christian monastic settlement in the beautiful Glendalough valley.
The Spinc, Glendalough (County Wicklow)
This is a fairly strenuous and tough mountain walk from the Medieval monastery in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, that will take you through a glacial valley, forests, mountain tops and along the upper and lower Glendalough lakes. The full Spinc walk is a 9km loop that can be pretty steep in places depending on which direction you go. It’ll take you around 3/4 hours. You can start in the car park beside the Glendalough Medieval Monastic site that’s free, or from the Upper Lake Car Park that cuts out some of the walk.
Powerscourt Gardens
One of my favourite 'get out of the city' go to is the stunning surrounds of the Powerscourt Gardens situated on the Powerscourt estate in County Wicklow. The Gardens stretch over 47 acres and offer visitors a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statues and ornamental lakes, secret hollows and rambling walks. I am a big fan of the spa here too!!
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