Howth

Dublin's peninsula by the sea

Howth sits on a rocky peninsula that closes off Dublin Bay to the north, and it's the classic day trip for Dubliners – and for visitors basing themselves in the city – barely half an hour away on the DART, yet a world away from the capital: a fishing village of gulls, boat masts and heather-covered cliffs. Its heart is the harbour with its two long piers; at the West Pier fishmongers sell the day's catch, and with a bit of luck seals surface among the boats. Just offshore lies the uninhabited bird sanctuary of Ireland's Eye, with a Martello tower and ruined monastery, reachable by boat from the harbour in summer.

The Cliff Walk

Howth's best-known outing is the walk along the cliffs. Several colour-coded loops start at the DART station; the most popular follows the eastern edge of the peninsula, with views of the Baily Lighthouse on its own headland. Depending on the route, the walk takes between an hour and a half and three hours, and sturdy shoes are all you need. In early summer gorse and heather are in bloom, and on clear days the view stretches across the bay to the Wicklow Mountains. For a shorter outing, just walk the first stretch up to the cliffs above the harbour and double back the same way.

Castle, market and seafood restaurants

On the edge of the village lies the grounds of Howth Castle, the ancestral seat of the St Lawrence family since medieval times, with rhododendron gardens and a small transport museum. The ruins of St Mary's Abbey above the harbour lay Howth's medieval history bare. On the food front, the village is a safe bet: fish and chips from Beshoff Bros or Leo Burdock are best eaten on the pier, while the seafood restaurants along the West Pier offer something a little more refined. At weekends, the small Howth Market opposite the DART station adds another draw. A good rhythm for the day is to walk in the morning and leave the harbour, castle and restaurants for the afternoon.