Dublin Day Trips: Howth

My first post in my Dublin Day Trips series covered the Bray to Greystones cliffwalk, at the southern end of the DART line. This next trip is the opposite end -- one of the northern stops to the DART line -- in Howth. 

Howth (pronounced hoe-th) is an easy half-day drip from Dublin, making it a common choice for tourists. While I'm partial to Bray, Howth is a cute town and the cliff walks also feature beautiful scenery.

It's located on the peninsula of Howth Head, on the northern side of Dublin Bay. The Norse first invaded Howth in 819 (the name Howth is thought to be of Norse origin). Originally a fishing village and trading port from the 14th century, Howth is now a bustling suburb that becomes quite busy on nice weather weekends.

In my opinion, the best way to get there is via the DART. You can drive, but the roads to Howth are pretty congested on a sunny day. The DART train also conveniently stops right by the harbor, near pubs and restaurants, and the beginning of all 4 walking loops along the cliffs. 

The loops range from easy to moderate to hard, depending on length and ascent. The distances span from 6 to 10k, with shorter walks taking around 2 hours, and the longest walk taking 3-4 hours (though I always find the estimates slightly exaggerated). Let's just say you can leave your heavy duty hiking boots and walking sticks at home, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring a rain coat. You just never know here!

I've only done the shorter walks along the cliffs, but you still get to see a lot of Howth Head, including the lighthouse, and are back in town with plenty of time to head to a pub for a pint and some seafood chower :) 

I'd recommend the Bloody Stream -- I know, it sounds weird! The name comes from a bloody stream caused by a battle, which now sits beneath the building. Aside from the strange name and somewhat touristy location (right beneath the DART station), it's a good spot for some local food before heading back into town.

Aside from the harbor and cliff walks, 14th century Howth castle is also nice to visit. Located only 10 minutes walking distance from the train station, it is definitely worth a look. 

If you have a few days to spend in Dublin, I would definitely recommend a stop in Howth. 30 minute train ride, scenic walking loops, and charming boardwalk/harbor area... an ideal day or half-day trip out of the busy city!

Dublin Day Trips: Bray to Greystones

The other day, B asked me if I could send him my Dublin itinerary to forward to a visitor in town. As I'm writing itineraries for various European cities, you would think I'd have a great itinerary for the city I'm living in, right? Nope! It got me thinking that I need to put more focus back into Dublin and the surrounding areas. 

The city itinerary is a work in progress, but I'm starting a new series: Dublin Day Trips. 

I've gone on several day trips around the Dublin area that I would definitely recommend for visitors. What's great about Dublin being pretty compact is that you get out of the city quickly. You can take a 30 minute train ride or car ride and be in much more rural, picturesque spot for hiking, lounging, etc. The first trip I'll cover is Bray to Greystones.

Boardwalk & Beach in Bray

Bray and Greystones are two separate coastal towns located just across the Dublin county border in Wicklow. Trains first arrived from Dublin in 1854 and Bray became the hot spot for urban holiday goers, so it was developed to resemble an English beachside town. Greystones is a quaint little town named for a stretch of stones on the beachfront, and makes the location where the southbound DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) terminates.  

View of Bray Boardwalk from the start of the Cliff Walk

The "Bray to Greystones" trip involves catching the DART to either destination (I prefer Bray) and taking the Cliff Walk from one point to the other. You can walk along the boardwalk in Bray, complete the Cliff Walk, stop for a bite in Greystones, and hop on a train back to the city in 3-5 hours total. It's the perfect half day trip! I've done this 5 times now and have enjoyed it every time!

The Cliff Walk itself is about ~3.5 miles and is not strenuous (I've done it in flip flops a couple times, but I would recommend gym shoes!). The route boasts spectacular coastal scenery -- some that, in my opinion, rivals some of the most beautiful places in Ireland on a sunny day. Even after 5 times, the beauty doesn't get old and I'm still compelled to take pictures each time.

See what I mean? Stunning. The path winds around the edges of the cliffs, showing off views of the train cutting through the hillside, rounds off for a great vista of the beach and Greystones in the distance (below), and brings you through country fields on the decline into town. 

My favorite place to end the walk is at The Beach House in Greystones. It's a bright pink pub/restaurant at the end of the walk with a large back patio (useful if you're lucky enough to get a nice day!). It's the ideal place to refuel with a pint and some good local food before walking through the little town centre and heading back into Dublin. 

You can't miss it!

The Bray to Greystones walk is unquestionably one of my top choices for Dublin Day Trips. It's cheap, relatively quick, close to the city, and gorgeous! I'd suggest this for anyone staying longer than 1 day in Dublin, as the city itself is easy to see in a short amount of time. 

More day trips to come...