Any bucket list trip to Ireland should include some coastal hikes. That guarantees incredible scenery, a spectacular coastline, and great photos to take those moments home with you. And while Ireland isn’t short of coastal walking opportunities, one of the most convenient and nonetheless beautiful hikes is the Howth Cliff Walk. That’s so close to Dublin, you can do it as a morning tour from the city and still have time to explore more of Dublin in the afternoon.
As I was traveling solo, I thought of joining a group tour to do the Howth Cliff Walk. It was the best idea to spend my last day in Ireland before heading to the nearby Dublin Airport. A Hike & Pints Tour with Hidden Howth Experiences had the right ring to it, a perfect Irish experience.
How to get to Howth
When you land at Dublin Airport, the first Irish land you see is the Howth Peninsula. Howth village is less than 15 kilometers from Dublin city center, and the drive there takes about 30 minutes. The easiest, however, is to take the regional train (DART) from Connoly station. Pay attention to board the train heading to Howth, not the one to Malahide village.
You can also spend more time in this pretty seaside village, and here are a few ideas of the best things to do in Howth.
Step-by-step Hike and Pints Tour
Hike and Pints Tour Meeting Point
The meeting point is at the DART station in Howth. That’s perfect if you’re driving there too because you can find parking by the station. That’s also the end point of the Hike and Pints tour, so it’s easy to get back or keep exploring Howth village afterward.
Mark and Missy, our guides
Our guides were Mark and his cute dog, Missy. Mark was exactly the guide I was hoping for, an Irish man with an accent and a story-telling talent. Add some beautiful Irish coastline and a pint of beer at the end, and you have a perfect tour.
Howth Cliff Walk – Admire the Irish Coastline
After meeting everyone and a quick group picture at the DART station, the first walk is to Howth Marina, a few minutes away. This is where Missy gets very excited because she is looking for the seals. We were very fortunate to see a couple of seals in the bay.
St. Mary’s Abbey and Cemetery
Only the stone walls of St. Mary’s Abbey in Howth still stand. However, the cemetery around it is one of the best spots to admire Howth Marina, directly in front of it. Mark entertained us with fun but also spooky stories before heading on.
The Martello Tower
The next stop was the Martello Tower, above Howth village. The British built these Martello towers around the Irish coastline as a warning system. If one of them spotted the enemy approaching, they would signal the towers next to it and thus the warning could travel along the coast. Their main reason for existing was a fear of a potential Napoleon invasion of England and Ireland at the time.
Now, the Martello towers still standing around the Irish coastline have been repurposed for anything from private homes to museums or even hotels. The Martello tower in Howth is now hosting the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio, for instance.
Getting back to our tour, the area around the tower also has one of the best vistas over the Marina and the neighboring islets.
After that, we stopped for a quick refill before getting to the start of the Howth Cliff Walk. You will see a sign with four different loops you can take around Howth Head. Each of them is signaled with a different color.
Howth Cliff Walk – The Tramline Loop
We walked the tramline loop, which takes you close to Bailey’s Lighthouse before heading to the Summit and then back to the station through the old trainline path.
The first section of the hike takes you closest to the edge of Howth Cliff. The views are spectacular, and the path is well-maintained, but you shouldn’t step too close to the edge for an extra selfie.
Howth Cliff Walk
You will have the peak covered in green on one side and the sea immediately on your left. Further on, you will pass through a sea of green. One word of advice: the plants here are pretty thorny, so don’t get too close to the bushes.
I loved the goat story here. Because of a large bushfire in 2021 in Howth Head, the local authorities came up with an original solution for preventing a future fire in the area. They brought goats to Howth Head and they are happy to eat all the dead vegetation in the area. I can’t think of a better or more sustainable solution.
Howth Head is a popular spot, so I suggest booking your tour on a weekday. On weekends, Dubliners enjoy the Howth Cliff Walk as much as the tourists, so it’s easier to just enjoy it when locals are at work.
After reaching the Summit, we took a short walk back to the village on the former tramline. The walk is pretty straightforward, and it took us to The Bloody Stream Pub, right next to the station.
So, the tour ends with a well-deserved pint of beer, and if you have a fun group (like I did) with lunch and a few laughs.
Useful tips for your Howth Cliff Walk
Our hike was 7.7 km, and it took us almost three and a half hours. We stopped often enough to admire the views, take photos and listen to the tales. The hike isn’t difficult. However, there is the elevation gain to consider.
Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Remember, it is Ireland, and you can have some rain and also sunshine in three hours span. A bottle of water to bring with you is a good idea too, though you can buy that at a kiosk you stop before entering the coastal trail. Using a sunscreen cream is also a good idea, as the weather shifts rapidly over there.
Howth Cliff Walk Booking Options
You can book the Hike and Pints tour on your preferred platform: GetYourGuide, Viator, or TripAdvisor.
Final thoughts
There are plenty of things to do in Dublin, but a Howth Cliff walk is the perfect intro to the rest of Ireland. Don’t miss it, no matter how short your stay is.
Disclosure
I was offered the Hike and Pints tour by Hidden Howth Experiences. All opinions stated above are my own. Some of the above may be affiliate links. So, if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!
We went out to Howth for dinner and to walk around a bit but did not get to do a Cliff Walk. I would definitely do this on a future trip. Dinner in Howth was my favorite of the whole trip though!
The food is great over there, I loved it!
I remember visiting Howth many years ago, it’s really a beautiful area but I don’t think I hiked, just explored the region, I’d love to go back one day!
Same here, I had been to Howth before but without hiking Howth Head. I’m glad I did it this time, the views are gorgeous all along the walk.
Sounds like a fun tour. I wish we had been able to visit Howth; it looks and sounds great. Did you go into the radio museum? I forget where I heard of it but it looks pretty neat.
No, I missed the radio miseum, we were heading to the cliff and only stopped there for a few minutes.