10 GREAT WALKS IN DUBLIN

1 HOWTH CLIFF PATH

THE Howth Cliff Path Loop Walk is a 10km loop walk that incorporates easy road walking, rugged but unforgettable cliff walking and sensational views of the island-speckled coast. It traces the old path of the tourist tramway that ran here until 1959.

The route takes in the memorably named Bog of Frogs and there’s plenty to appeal to history aficionados. Make sure to stop off at the ruins of the 15th century St Mary’s Abbey, where the bells used to be rung in foggy weather to guide fishermen home safely.

Further on, the Martello Tower offers a reminder of Ireland past: it was one of many built on the coastline during the Napoleonic Wars to protect against French invasion.

2 DUBLINE

THE Dubline threads a path through Dublin’s historic heart. Walk along its length from College Green to Kilmainham and you will pass some of the city’s most famous buildings, including Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral and the Guinness Factory.

Look out for St Patrick’s Tower, the soon-to-be opened Pearse Lyons Distillery (housed in an old church) and the manicured gardens of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. A visit to Kilmainham Gaol, with its excellent visitor centre, is a must: it’s the most popular Dublin activity on TripAdvisor. The Dubline is one of eight Dublin Discovery Trails. You can find out much more on these in tomorrow’s Irish Daily Mail. Just download the Dublin Discovery Trails App.

3 DALKEY/KILLINEY

A WALK along the paths of Killiney Hill affords magnificent views of Dun Laoghaire and the city beyond from one side, while the sweep of bay towards Bray is the stunning vista on the other.

Those keen for a more strenuous work-out can rockclimb Dalkey Quarry, with the help of an instructor from Adventure Burn. You can admire the sight of the quarry from the cliffside walk above. Intriguingly, granite from here was excavated to build the two Dun Laoghaire piers that jut out to the Irish Sea – they were transported downhill by a specially constructed train, and walkers can follow this route, known as ‘The Metals’, to Dun Laoghaire today. A Teddy’s ice-cream at the end of your walk is hard to resist.

4 PORTMARNOCK STRAND

THE 5km stretch of strand at Portmarnock in north Co Dublin is known to proud locals as ‘Velvet Beach’ and it has long been regarded as one of the greatest beaches on the east coast.

A Blue Flag beach with a Green Coast certification to boot, it is a magnet for walkers keen to take in the sea air and appreciate the ever-changing colours of the Irish Sea.

It’s a haven during the summer months when they come from all over Dublin to stretch their legs here, but Portmarnock Strand offers the perfect opportunity for a brisk, cobweb-eradicating walk at any time of the year. And there’s no shortage of dining options post-walk in this pretty seaside village, or in neighbouring Malahide.