Arcadia Ireland
Five Fab Day-Trips on the Dublin Coast
Date
May 31, 2016
Lucky for us, when the sun does decided to show itself, Dublin is situated near lots of lovely places to go for walks, swims and eat ice-creams! The Dublin Area Rapid Train aka the DART is a fast, cheap and easy way to get to some of Ireland’s most picturesque villages along the coast.
Howth Head Cliff Walk
Howth is a small fishing town on the north of Dublin, famous for its seafood and featured in James Joyces Ulysses. The cliff walk begins just right of the harbour, and is suitable for everyone. Taking about two hours, the views of the Dublin coastline and Wicklow Head are stunning – just be careful if it’s a windy day!!
Sandymount Strand
Stretching for about a mile, the promenade along Sandymount strand is a popular spot for a leisurely walk, or a run and there are even exercise stations along the walkway. With views of the Smoke Stacks, this is a great place to take a study break and enjoy an ice-cream.
Swimming at the Forty Foot
The ‘Forty Foot’ is a time honoured Dublin tradition in the village of Dun Laoghaire, on the southbound DART. This outdoor swimming area was traditionally exclusive for men, although this has thankfully been changed! The Irish will swim here year round, with hundreds of people jumping in on Christmas Day. It’s extremely deep, which makes for great diving, and there are lots of signs around to remind you it is at your own risk!
Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk
Yes another cliff walk, but they are just so pretty! This one takes you from the town of Bray, along the coast to Greystones where you can get the DART back into the city. If you are very ambitions, you can walk back to Bray again after having a rest in one of Greystones tasty coffee shops.
Malahide Castle and Pier Walk
Malahide Castle is just across from the DART station and the grounds are free to walk around. There is also a cricket pitch where you can watch a game and a pitch n’ putt course. If you still have energy after all that, you can talk a stroll along the pier.
All these places are on the DART line. Remember to use your Student Leap card for the best value!