Howth Cliff Walk Guide, Ireland –
Howth Cliff Walk Guide for Families. Hike near Dublin, Ireland – So close to the city centre buzz of Dublin, yet this wild walk offers amazing scenery, quirky food stops and it feels a million miles away from a capital, but there are several tips and hacks along the way (especially if you’re attempting the route with children).
Things to See on the Cliff Top Walk
The views and sense of the escape are worth the effort. Look out for some beautiful properties en route, many reminiscent of Italian villas. 16 Ben Eadair, with its sweeping sea views, turned my head something dreadful. A house where Yeats lived proudly boasts a plaque – the poet was a resident of Balscadden House from 1880-1883.
Sightlines to Ireland’s Eye, the dramatic cliffs, plus the Baily Lighthouse make it worthwhile (see pics above). I made one silly mistake. When I heard we’d see Ireland’s Eye, I pictured the Irish equivalent of the London Eye. Ireland’s Eye is actually a small island that lies around 1,200–1,500 metres from Howth Harbour, not like the London Eye at all 🙂
On the route back, we also saw an unexpected relic from WW2. The word EIRE (for Ireland) spelt out in rocks; one of 83 signs positioned along the Irish coast to let the Nazi Luftwaffe know they were flying over neutral Ireland, and to continue with their bombs to Britain who’d taken on the Nazi force.
Other Things to See & Do
Back in Howth itself, stop by Howth Market. Popular with locals and tourists alike, expect local produce, organic goods fresh baking, jewellery, clothing and antiques.
Just outside Howth, drive or walk onto the curious Bull Island. A peculiar strip of land jutting out to sea that’s home to gentle walks and two golf courses (St Anne’s and the Royal Dublin Golf Course). Don’t worry, the causeway crossing isn’t tidal so take your time.
St Anne’s Park is probably the closest big park to Howth but we opted to stop at Merrion Square Park back in central Dublin where we saw silver bears running around and Oscar Wilde reclining nonchalantly in the sun. As well as open green space, it also had a playground for the children.
Getting to Howth Cliff Walk & Parking – Howth Cliff Walk Guide for Families
This walk is a hugely popular day out from Dublin. We drove from our Dublin hotel, which took 45-60 minutes. The obvious place to park is Howth harbour. There’s a lot of parking, thankfully it’s free but it’s BUSY, in high season I mean REALLY BUSY, therefore it’s smart to arrive earlier or later than the masses. Parking here means that you’re in the heart of town (ideal for cafés before or after your walk) and to take in the boats in the harbour.
From here, walk east following the path out of town to the start of the cliffs. It’s pretty obvious but if it seems unclear, simply ask anyone or follow the others!
Another limited parking option, which cuts out about 20 mins of walking, is right at the end of Balscadden Road. Here we spotted ‘Age Friendly Parking’, which isn’t something I’ve seen in the UK. We also found a map/information board detailing the routes. There was also a very informal takeaway, where we picked up coffee, water, plus ice cream for the kids.
If you opt to catch the Dart from Dublin to Howth then that adds an extra 20 minutes to your walk.
Route – Howth Cliff Walk Guide
We chose the shorter Green Tramline route as we were walking with kids. It’s still a significant hike at 7km long, taking approximately 1.5-2 hours. We took about 3 hours in total! Our children were aged 6 & 7 at the time, and it was a challenging distance for them. Longer routes include the Red Route (8km/2.5 hours), the Purple Route (12km/3 hours) and the Blue Route (7km/2 hours).
The paths are clearly marked, but it is definitely worth stressing that if you stray from the path there are deadly sheer drops down to the ocean. This is not a walk for toddlers or any child or pet who may run off or veer slightly off the path. It is a safe walk, if you stick to the path – no squabbling or pushing either!! Bizarrely, we trusted our youngest child, but the seven year old is lively (and considers himself immortal) so we were v strict with him, holding hands on the narrowest sections of the routes. Please see the video below to get a sense of what I mean.
Food & Drink
I’ve already mentioned the cafe near the Balscadden Road parking area. There was also a van at the right hand turn heading inland on the Tramline route – but there’s no guarantee it will always be there and seasonality can affect opening hours. Be sure to pack lots of water and snacks, because you’ll need them, especially if it’s a hot day.
We walked in the morning, with the plan to have a late lunch in Howth itself. We were starving by the time we returned to Howth around 2pm. I’d hoped to shop local at a small café or takeaway, but the first two we ventured into were sold out for the day. We were so hungry we stopped at the third venue, Starbucks. It wasn’t my first choice but it had food in stock so Starbucks got our money because it provided food. In low season you’d have more options, and eating erarlier would have helped too.
Must Bring
Water for everyone – whatever the weather this is a must. Howth Cliff Walk is an exposed coastal walk so dress for the weather – the sun will feel hotter, there’s no shade or shelter, the wind will whip faster. Pack suncream, wet weather gear, gloves/hat/scarf. I wouldn’t attempt this walk in high winds. It’s not buggy friendly.
Where to Stay
We opted for the Clayton Ballsbridge Hotel back in the city. We ate local, particularly enjoying Roly’s Bistro & Terrace. The hotel was smart and contemporary with stylish dining and drinking areas and good menus that pleased all the family. The communal areas are polished and on trend, the refurbished bedrooms are modern too, the basic cheaper rooms that haven’t been redecorated are pretty tired and dated, so choose accordingly. If you’d like to browse more Dublin accommodation get new ideas here. For hostel accommodation browse here. Take care and have a great time.
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