While waiting for my Chinese visa in Dublin, I decided to do a spot of hiking. I found that Howth would be a nice walk on the outskirts of the city, so I picked a random route and set out on my way. I didn’t realise I’d picked the hardest route…
If it wasn’t for the Seagulls it would be easy to forget that Dublin is a coastal city. But Dublin is home to many beaches, and the beaches of Howth lead into a cliff walk that give you great views of the Irish Sea and of Dublin Bay.
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The first leg of the route is along the cliffs near the town of Howth. There is a place to take a break with a coffee shop along the way. Walking this stretch you will see toward Great Britain but, of course, the island is too far away to actually see.
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If you take the longer route you will end up on the cliffs to the south facing Dublin Bay. As long as you don’t get lost like I did, you will also come across some hidden beaches. This part of the walk can be very quiet, and can be a good way to experience the bliss of solitude.
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Finally you will end up crossing the peninsula back toward Howth. There will be a few cattle farms along this part of the route. There are also two peaks you can detour to along the way. I wasn’t feeling up to it by the time I got to this part, but if I went back I would take the time to see those views.
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The most dangerous part of the walk is crossing the golf course. Keep an eye out for anybody hitting a golf ball your way.
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As you get to the last few kilometers of the route and return to Howth you will encounter some legal street art.
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At the end of my walk I was hungry and also needed a pint. I went to the Bloody Stream and was happy to fill up with a steak and Guinness pie. And a pint of Guinness on the side, of course.