1. Howth Cliff Walk.
If you start any of the Howth walks at the DART station, prepare for a long, steep walk. A moderate level of fitness is needed. If you're looking for an easier walk with less inclines, you can drive or get the bus to Howth Summit and take shorter Walk.
The Red Route is 8km in length, The Purple Route is 12 km, The Green Route is 6 km and The Blue Route is 7 km. The Howth Summit Walk takes around 1.5 hours.
You can get the DART from Connolly station which takes around 35 minutes or take the bus from D’olier Street which takes about 50 minutes.
2. Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk.
There’s two different versions of the Poolbeg walk – a long one and a short one. The first starts from the car park on Pigeon House Road, and takes about 40 to 60 minutes to complete. The second walk starts from Sandymount Strand and takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The short version of the Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk is a fairly easy walk. The longer walk is also quite straightforward.
3. The Hellfire Club Walk.
There are two main trails. The most popular is the Montpelier loop which is a 4 km moderate walk that’ll take around 1 to 1.5 hours. The second trail is the Hell Fire forest loop which is a 5.5 km tough walk that takes around 1.5 hours.
Each of the Hellfire Club Walks have quite an incline. A moderate level of fitness is needed.
When you reach the top of the Hellfire Club Walk, you’ll have an amazing view out over Dublin City.
4. Fernhill Park and Gardens.
Fernhill Park and Gardens was saved from becoming a housing development. Instead, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council purchased the land in 2014 in order to develop it as a regional public park.
The stream adds to the charm of the gardens with a bridge, pools, waterfalls and ferns lining the banks. Fernhill is home to a unique plant collection of acid-loving plants, including established rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias.
The perfect time to see these showy plants at their best is in late spring/early summer along with carpets of snowdrops and spring flowering bulbs. In short, it’s a little taste of rural paradise a stone’s throw from the city!
Head southeast from Fernhill Park to tackle the Ticknock walk. It’s a lovely place for a hike with superb views of Dublin City, Bray and Wicklow.
5. Killiney Beach.
With some stunning views toward the Wicklow Mountains, it’s a fine place for a paddle or for a ramble with a coffee
It’s also just a few minutes from the Killiney Hill walk giving you the option to go for a nice walk after a swim. The beach runs for about 2.5 km. The beach features great views of the Wicklow Mountains on a clear day. For some gorgeous coastal views, you can take the Killiney Hill Walk just up from the beach.
The views from the top are amazing, with Killiney Beach and the Wicklow Mountains on one side and a panorama of Dublin City on the other.
