Howth, Ireland Guide

Use our realistic Howth, Ireland Guide to plan your next day trip to this fishing village and its Cliff Walk trail.

Howth is a peninsula on the northeastern tip of Dublin. Its rugged shoreline makes Howth a great hiking destination.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Howth has a particular shape because it was once an island. Over the course of history it became connected to the main island of Ireland by a narrow land strip (isthmus). That makes Howth a tombolo peninsula.

Nowadays, Howth is a fishing village and a paradise for seafood lovers. Its pier and harbor feature several seafood restaurants and a market.

Apart from fish and chips, Howth is known for its Cliff Walk. Close proximity to Central Dublin and abundance of dining options attract tourists and locals to Howth.

There are several trails to choose from in Howth, including the Cliff Loop and Bog of Frogs.

We decided to follow most of the Bog of Frogs trail. But we finished our hike in Sutton as opposed to in Howth. Our hike covered 7 miles (12 km) with an elevation gain of 626 ft (191 m).

Our Howth, Ireland Guide follows this hiking path.

Howth Harbor

Howth is a fishing village and a local resort. Therefore, we were not surprised to see a lot of yachts in the harbor.

The Howth harbor has several short walks. But we were here for the Cliff Walk, the main adventure. It takes some time to reach the trailhead.

The Cliff Walk and other Howth trails are located about 1.2 miles (2 km) from the DART station. We followed the Harbor and Balscadden Roads, the fastest way to the cliffs.

Ireland’s Eye

The Balscadden Road has some elevation gain. Coupled with a lack of a sidewalk, the walk on the road felt as challenging as hiking a trail.

After the intersection with the Kilrock road, the road revealed nice views of the harbor and Ireland’s Eye island.

The weather around the island did not instill optimism. It was cloudy and foggy. And the rain looked imminent.

Down at the sea level, the visibility was better. It gave us hope that we could finish the hike before the rain begins.

Howth Cliff Walk

Soon we arrived at the trailhead. The starting section of the trail had almost no elevation gain. It felt like a relief to walk on a designated trail.

The weather also improved. We could the Ireland’s Eye and the coast of Ireland a lot more clearly.

Howth Head

The trail had another uphill section with a good incline right before the Howth Head.

Once we arrived at Howth Head, we got a good first look at the famous cliffs. The large Lambay Island is on the horizon.

A couple of trail crossings had concrete structures. Rusty and rough, they looked very organic on this trail.

The flowers and bushes around the trail were blooming during our hike. Their sight livened up the mood and made the hike more enjoyable.

Wildlife Spotting

The Howth Cliff Walk offers plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife. Besides the countless gulls, we spotted a couple of magpies right next to the trail.

If you have a keen eye, you could also find smaller animals on the trail. We enjoyed observing several snails as they climbed up the plant stems.

Plane Spotting

The Howth Cliff Walk is also a great plane spotting location. The final approach to the Dublin Airport takes place just over Ireland’s Eye.

As a result, the Howth Head Peak provides the best plane views on the trail. If you enjoy plane spotting, it is easy to spend several minutes following the plane paths.

Ship Spotting

If planes and wildlife are not enough, you could also spot ships. The Dublin Bay is a major ferry hub. Ferries connect Dublin with Liverpool, Plymouth, Isle of Man, and Continental Europe.

A closer look at the same ship as it approached Dublin.

As the name suggests, the Cliff Walk trail mostly followed the cliffs. It often hid the views behind sharp turns. However, when the cliffs appeared they looked spectacular.

Baily Lighthouse

Thanks to frequent spotting, it was hard to keep track of time. The trail started to feel a bit repetitive.

But it all changed when the Baily Lighthouse appeared in the distance. It provided a new, natural goal for this hike – to reach the lighthouse.

As we continued further on the Cliff Walk, we started to get closer views of the lighthouse.

The best view of the lighthouse on the trail is at the same named photo point. After that the Cliff Walk starts losing elevation. For about 0.6 miles (1 km) the lighthouse will be out of sight.

The lighthouse appeared less fascinating up close. However, the views of Dalkey Island, and Sugar Loaf Mountains made the hike well worth it.

Bog of Frogs

The Cliff Loop trail turns back near the Baily Lighthouse. It is the spot where most travelers decide to return to Howth.

That was our original intention as well. But we enjoyed this hike so much that we decided to continue on the Bog of Frogs trail path.

Doldrum Bay

This trail rapidly loses elevation around the lighthouse. In addition to easier hiking, it offers a closer view of Howth beaches and cliffs. The Doldrum Bay features a sequence of small coves and beaches.

After the Telegraph Cable, the trail becomes less challenging. It turns into a walk rather than a hike. Fascinating views of the Dublin Bay and City are the only selling points of this part of the trail.

At this trail intersection, we had an option to return to Howth or continue straight to Sutton. Sutton is one DART station closer to Dublin. And it was the option we went with. But hiking back to Howth could have also been a viable alternative.

Continue with our Howth, Ireland Guide to learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Howth

There are several ways to get to Howth from Central Dublin. For public transport consider getting a Leap Card.

For a €5 deposit the card provides savings on every bus, tram, or light rail ride. Fares are accurate at the time of writing.

• DART: light rail takes you directly from the city center to Howth. The northbound DART trains run every 10-30 minutes and bring you to Howth in about 25 minutes. A single ride on a Leap card costs €2.
• Bus: H3 bus could bring you to Howth in 30-50 minutes depending on traffic. A single ride on a Leap card costs €1.3 to €2 depending on distance.
• Car Rental: an option if you plan on exploring sights outside of Dublin and its vicinity. You can park at the Harbour Public Car Park, Summit Car Park, or Carrickbrack Road Car Park free of charge.

Where to Stay

Howth and Sutton have a few hotels. But unless you plan on spending your entire trip in Howth, you are better off staying in central Dublin. The city gives you more choices.

And choice usually leads to better deals. If you have a car or do not mind a walk to the station, Portmarnock could be another area to look into.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

It is free to hike the Howth Cliff Walk, Bog of Frogs, and other Howth trails.

Takeaways: Howth

Howth Cliff Walk is a nice day hike in close proximity to Dublin. If you travel by public transport, you would need to hike for about 30 minutes before reaching the trailhead. Enjoy nice views of the cliffs, beaches, and the lighthouse.

Consider following the Bog of Frogs trail if you have time and strength. Howth is a better end point for the hike than Sutton. A delicious seafood meal at Howth Pier could serve as a reward for a good hike.

Take a look at our Howth, Ireland Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!