Things To Do In Howth For A Perfect Day Trip From Dublin
Only a few minutes away, beyond the swarming crowds of the Dublin city centre, is the old fishing village of Howth. Its salt-sprayed air smells of the east coast of Ireland. You can enjoy this if you need a breath of fresh air on the weekend or are a tourist who follows one of the detailed tours of Howth.
This is a great place to find a perfect balance between the wilderness, history, and cuisine of the world. Howth, which is just 15 kilometres away, is often mentioned among the best things to do in Dublin.
It seems to be a whole new world where scenic precipices intertwine with the surging waves of the Irish Sea, and it is so easy to get there. Hiking the well-known loops or seeing grey seals in the busy harbour, the number of activities to do in Howth is broad enough to have every tourist fall in love with something.
How to Get to Howth
It is an easy place to access, which is why it can easily be included in a Dublin itinerary, with no stress. The most scenic and popular is the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit).
There are regular trains which run between city centre hubs (Tara Street, Pearse, or Connolly station). The trip will take about 25 to 30 minutes and follows the coastline, offering gorgeous sights of the bay, and then puts you right at the centre of the harbour.
Alternatively, there is the service of Dublin Bus, which provides a good path through the Number 31 or 31a in Talbot Street. Although the bus is a bit slower than the train, it gives one a rare view of the green northern suburbs and access to the peninsula.
Those who prefer driving have a relatively easy time getting there. However, one should be cautious about parking. The village is extremely congested on sunny weekends and bank holidays. In the event that you drive, then it would be advisable to not be late by 10.00 AM to get to a place close to the harbour or the summit car park.
Public transport is usually a good idea to keep the crowding down to a minimum and also to have a linear increase in that you can perhaps be in the village to start and then in another location.
Best Time to Visit and Seasonal Tips
Howth is the place to go at any time of the year, but you will have a very different experience with the weather. Howth is usually visited best during the period of May to September.
The gorse and heather on the cliffs are in their full bloom during these months, and the landscape is covered with yellow and purple. The extended days are generally dry enough to make the trails on the cliffs safe and pleasant. The best months would be June and July, when the puffins are in full view on the adjacent Isle of Man.
The fall and winter seasons have a different, more autumnal new flair. The masses reduce, and the village becomes friendly and old-fashioned. But the wind of the Irish Sea is brisk, and the walkways along the cliffs may be sloppy and oily.
In case of an off-peak season visit, high-quality, windproof and waterproof gear is needed. To see the village at its quietest, attempt to book on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Weekends are much busier as Dubliners go to the coast for their weekly exercise and Sunday roasts.
Walks and Trails: Exploring the Peninsula
Howth Cliff Walks
Howth Cliff Walk is definitely the jewel in the crown of the village and the main reason why so many people decide to travel there. It has four key colour-coded trails that extend to a medium 6 km loop, all the way to a challenging 12 km trek.
The most available one is the Green Route, which is accessible to people with a recreational level of walking and takes approximately two hours with breathtaking views of the Baily Lighthouse, which has been guiding ships to Dublin Bay since 1814.
The more challenging and rigorous can be the purple loop of the “Bog of Frogs” which drives you further up the hills and off the primary crowds.
These walking paths are widely regarded as some of the best walks in Ireland. They give one the opportunity to observe grey seals playing in the waters below and the kestrels and peregrine falcons hunting off the thermals above.
Howth Head Summit
To achieve the widest panoramic sights of the whole of the Dublin coast and the mountains of Wicklow in the distance, it is mandatory to travel to the top of Howth Head.
The upper trails lead to the summit but may be made by walking upwards through the village or by a shorter distance, following the path which leads to the summit car park.
This is the dream of a photographer, especially at the golden hour when the rugged coast is being lit up by the setting sun. The peak is also the entry point of the interior heathland trails, whose terrain is much less rugged, and surroundings are quiet.
Easy Walks By the Harbour and Pier
One should not always worry about taking hiking boots to Howth. The stroll between the West and East Piers is level, convenient, and very invigorating. A walk to the terminus of the East Pier will take you to the old Howth Lighthouse.
On this drive-up, you will observe the fishing trawlers with the prawns of the daily haul offloading and the yachts floating in the marina. Watch the water around the fish-processing sheds carefully. The resident seals are usually found waiting for scraps, and the whole affair is a most pleasant scene to watch for children and adults.
Water Experiences and Wildlife
And in order to appreciate the geography of the peninsula, you must look at it from the sea. Howth boat trips are also frequent departures out of the harbour.
They are guided tours that go around the bay. A lot of these tours centre on the Ireland Eye, which is a tiny, bare, uninhabited island located just north of the harbour.
The island is a specified sanctuary of birds and a biodiversity haven. There are huge colonies of gannets, cormorants and guillemots depending on the season.
Sea kayaking is a popular activity for those wishing for more adventure, and it gives them a chance to explore the sea caves and inlets. Those cannot be reached on foot or in larger sea boats. The wildlife experiences are also well known with the waters.
In addition to the seals in the harbour, it is also common to see porpoises further out in the bay. Although human beings are used to the local seals. However, it is a reminder to the visitors that they must remain at a respectful distance and not give them food to preserve their natural habits.
Cultural and Historical Highlights
Museums and Heritage
Howth is also deep-rooted in history besides its natural beauty. The Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio is an exclusive venue located within a nineteenth-century Martello Tower.Â
It holds a huge assembly of primitive communication devices and provides an interesting insight into broadcast history.
The nearby National Transport Museum has a collection of heritage vehicles, including the famous open-topped trams of Hill of Howth that were used to climb the gradients on the steep peninsula.
Howth Castle and Aideen’s Grave
There has been a Gaisford-St Lawrence family residence at Howth Castle for more than 800 years. Although one can only enter the castle interior when taking special tours, the grounds are very vast, and the rhododendron gardens are pleasant to walk in.
Among these woods is the Grave of Aideen, a Neolithic portal tomb thousands of years old. This giant dolmen is associated with Irish folklore and gives an impression of the archaic history that pervades the scenery. It is a silent, mysterious place that creates the contrast of modern village life.
Beaches and Relaxation
Howth has a number of different beaches that are all different in terms of the atmosphere of coastal relaxation. The Claremont Beach is easily accessible to the DART station and has a broad sandy beach where people can walk and also allow their children to play in the area. It provides the open water views to the Irish Eye, and many local joggers are seen here.
Balscadden Bay is the choice of those who are interested in swimming in Howth. High cliffs cover this small and sheltered cove, so they shield it against the wind, leaving calmer water. Annual sea swimmers love it as their favourite place.
Red Rock Beach is in the south of the peninsula. This is a less crowded place, which needs a short walk here and there. That is why it is the best place to have a lovely family picnic or a sunny afternoon together, and not without using the main tourist routes.
The ideal time to visit these beaches is when a rising tide is occurring in the morning, although the colder temperatures of the Irish Sea must not be ignored by visitors.
Best Food and Drink Places
Howth is generally considered to be the seafood capital of the Dublin region. Not one visit here is finished without trying the local produce. Howth seafood restaurants of various quality, including the high and the low end, in a takeaway, are spread along the harbour.
King Sitric is well-known for its fresh lobster and crab. To take things a little easier, Beshoffs offers what most people take to be the best fish and chips in Ireland.
The cafe culture is also flourishing in the village. A place that serves the best coffee by the fireside is the Dog House Blue Tea Rooms, which is a quirky, eclectic place to have a coffee.
The Abbey Tavern, or The Harbour Bar, is the right place for those who want to experience the traditional atmosphere of an Irish pub. Live music is often played in these pubs at night, and this makes one feel very warm and cosy to share the adventures of the day.
Also, the Howth Market has an operating weekend market close to the train station that sells quite an assortment of organic goods, as well as global street food and homemade art.
Practical Tips and Safety
When you plan your trip, you should keep in mind that the weather on the cliffs can be much stiffer than in the city. Layers should absolutely be packed with a windproof jacket.
The walking paths of the cliffs also demand a sturdy pair of walking shoes because the terrain is not even and may be highly slippery when wet.
Always ensure that you remain on the designated paths to be on the safe side and also to avoid the erosion of the delicate coastal land.
Last, but not least, it should be borne in mind that Howth is a conserved biosphere. It is highly recommended that you bring all littering materials with you in order to maintain the landscape as clean for other people.
Conclusion
Howth is a tourist spot that best represents the beauty of the Irish coast, which is within reach of the capital. It provides a full sensory experience, not only because of the altitudes and the depths of its historic dolmens, but also because of the freshness of its seafood. It does not matter whether you want to take a hard hike or spend a peaceful day on the seashores, Howth still constitutes a must-have on any Irish travelling trip.
