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The Howth Cliff Walk is the perfect way to appreciate the Emerald Isle’s breathtaking ocean views. Howth is a village located on the Howth Peninsula, which is just east of Dublin. Howth Castle has beautiful gardens and the medieval ruins of St. Mary’s Abbey are in close proximity. You can easily make this into a day-trip to Howth, arriving in the morning and leaving mid-afternoon.

Getting to Howth

The easiest way to avoid traffic and having to find parking is to take the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit). In all honesty, it’s not too rapid, but does the trick. If you have a LEAP Card, you can easily tap-in from any station and then tap-out at the final stop (Howth) along the DART Green Line.

After disembarking from the train, take a left out of the station. Head up through the town and harbor. There will be maps and signage along the way to guide you. If you feel lost, just ask someone–everyone is quite easy-going and friendly.

How Long the Hike Takes

All routes will take between 1.5 – 3.5 hours, dependent on your level of fitness. There are some fairly steep and rocky areas along the way. When I hiked the Howth Cliff Walk, I ended up combining different routes and made it back to Howth Station in about 3 hours. As someone who is in decent shape, the hike was enjoyable yet had its challenging moments. Always budget more time, bring water and snacks, and take breaks as needed. There are several different routes of varying length and intensity, all of which are marked by colored trail posts and arrows. Click here for more information on the various routes.

Before & After Hiking Howth Cliff Walk

• Grab a pre-hike coffee at Tuck Coffee or from one of the smaller local businesses.
• Explore the harbor–you’ll be better off doing this beforehand.
• Use the facilities near the base of the hill, as there aren’t any (to my knowledge) on the trails.

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• Get a delicious serving of fish & chips from Beshoff’s. Sit in the park across the way or walk to the ocean to enjoy your meal.
• Pop in and out of the local shops and support the small businesses of Howth.
• Grab a pint of Guinness at O’Connell’s Pub, McNeill’s, or The Abbey Tavern.
• Take a Bailey’s coffee to wind down after a long day at The Dog House and Blue’s Tea Room, an eclectic little spot right outside of the DART Station.