This realistic Killiney Hill Walking Guide helps you plan your next day trip from Dublin to this seaside town.

Killiney is a town just southeast of Dublin. It is best known for Killiney Hill Park. The Hill has great views of the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea.

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Sights & Places of Interest

A great way to explore Killiney is to take a walk to Killiney Hill Park. You can start from Dalkey DART Station. It is closer to Dublin than Killiney station. Dalkey also has an easier path to the Hill.

You could use this Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey, & Killiney walk for inspiration. But there are options to extend your walk if the weather, time, and fitness level permit.

In this case, you could visit a few additional sights, like Blackrock and Booterstown. If you follow this path, get ready to do a lot of walking. It is one of the longest walks around Dublin.

• The distance totals nearly 10 miles (16 km).
• A total elevation gain is 560 ft (172 m).

This Killiney Hill Walking Guide follows the path of the extended city walk.

Dalkey Island

You can start the walk by taking Ardeevin, Sorrento, and Colienmore Roads to Sorrento Park and Dillon’s Park. It is a leisurely stroll through Dalkey’s residential neighborhoods. There will be minimal elevation gain.

The Dillon’s Park and Sorrento Point have the best views of Dalkey island. This small island has a rocky terrain.

The island is uninhabited now. But it wasn’t always the case. There was a small settlement on the island back in the 19th century.

You could still see the remnants of Martello Tower, Saint Begnets Church, and other structures. This Martello Tower is similar to the one on Portmarnock Beach north of Dublin.

You are exploring Ireland on this walk to Killiney Hill. So, get ready for the weather to change quickly. The visibility could turn for the worse at any point. And it could start to drizzle.

Do not forget your waterproof jacket and boots. This way, you can put the worries about the weather behind you.

Killiney Hill Park

An uphill hike starts from Dillon’s Park. It continues all the way to Killiney Hill Park.

• The path gains 400 ft (122 m) in elevation over the course of 1.2 miles (2 km).
• The Cat’s Ladder Steps are by far the most strenuous part of the city walk.

Viewpoint

Take your time to get to Killiney Hill Park. In fact, you would want to stop to catch your breath. Use these stops to capture the surrounding beauty.

If you are lucky, the sun could come back out by the time you arrive at the Killiney Hill Viewpoint. In this case, the visibility will greatly improve.

You will get incredible views of the Bray Head, Little Sugar Loaf and Great Sugar Loaf Mountains, and Killiney. These views alone make the uphill hike worth the effort.

A view to the west reveals residential neighborhoods. You will see Shankill, Carrickgollogan, and the Wicklow Mountains in the distance.

Obelisk

Do not forget to stop at the Obelisk at Killiney Hill on your way back.

• The Obelisk dates back to 1742.
• It already stood for over 100 years before this area became a public park in 1887.
• It commemorates the victims of the Irish Famine 1740-1741.

Pyramid of Dublin

You will see another noteworthy structure near the Obelisk. It is just a few feet (meters) to the northeast.

Most people would not know that Dublin has a pyramid. Yet here you are, admiring the Pyramid of Dublin. This structure dates back to 1852. As a local legend goes, it is a wishing stone.

Dalkey Hill

Dalkey Hill is part of Killiney Hill Park. This hill is in the northeastern part of the park. It provides clear views of Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, and central Dublin.

See if you can spot the Aviva Stadium and the Poolbeg Stacks in the distance.

The Dublin Mountains with their television transmission masts are also hard to miss.

The rest of the walking paths in Killiney Hill Park go downhill. It makes hiking much easier. You can choose from a few paths.

• One of them leads to Dalkey Avenue.
• The other brings you to Dalkey Quarry.

Dalkey Quarry

Dalkey Quarry played an important role in the history of Irish architecture. In fact, the granite for the pier at Dún Laoghaire came from this quarry.

The quarry has steep rocky walls. It is also right next to a residential neighborhood. These attributes make it quite similar to Twardowski Rocks Park in Krakow, Poland.

Dalkey Quarry is now a popular destination for rock climbers. You can find climbers in many areas around the quarry. But Gargoyle Groove is the main climbing spot.

The quarry is in the northwestern part of the park. It is a short 15-minute walk away from Dalkey DART station.

If you visit Killiney Hill Park on a sunny day, you might not want to end your walk. There are a few options if you decide to continue your exploration.

This Killiney Hill Walking Guide will now bring you to these nearby sights.

Forty Foot

Forty Foot is a nearby attraction you would not want to miss. Take Dalkey Avenue, Ulverton Road, and Sandycove Road to get there.

Forty Foot is a historic bathing pool. It is a swimming spot for the locals, together with the nearby Sandycove Beach and Bullock Harbor.

Dún Laoghaire Harbor

Forty Foot is almost the same distance from Sandycove & Glasthule DART station and Dún Laoghaire Harbor.

If the weather is nice, you could continue to Dún Laoghaire. In the end, wouldn’t you want to see that granite from Dalkey Quarry?!

Jokes aside, Dún Laoghaire has a lot of restaurants. You can stop to grab some food after the long walk through Killiney and Dalkey.

This Dublin suburb is also a perfect example in Irish Gaelic name pronunciation. It is unlikely that you correctly pronounce this name. Dún Laoghaire is actually [Dun Leary].

The Harbor and Pier are the major sights in Dún Laoghaire. The Pier provides great views of the Dublin Bay. You could see Howth peninsula and lots of yachts.

The abundance of yachts is barely a surprise. Dún Laoghaire Harbor is home to the Royal St. George Yacht Club.

If you time your visit to morning or afternoon hours, you could see the yachts from a close distance. Many yachts will be coming back to the harbor around that time.

Once the yachts are at the quay, you could continue with the walk along the coast towards central Dublin.

Blackrock Park

But beware, the rest of the walk is far less exciting than the first leg. You will be walking through a few parks and residential neighborhoods. The path will often go next to the train tracks.

Still, there are reasons to take this walk. Try to explore this area on a foggy afternoon. The Irish weather might pull another trick on you in Blackrock Park.

You could see the afternoon sun coming through the fog. Walking through this fog is certain to give you a surreal feeling.

Booterstown Nature Reserve

Fog and reflections at the Booterstown Nature Reserve could round up your city walk. The Booterstown DART station is a great place to take public transport back to the city.

Continue with our Killiney Hill Walking Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Killiney Hill

It is quite easy to reach Killiney from Dublin via public transport. Do not forget to buy a Leap Card to get savings on every ride with the public transport.

DART: light train is by far the easiest way to reach Killiney from Dublin.

• There is a Killiney DART station.
• But the path to Killiney Hill Park from this station is not very pedestrian friendly.
• Instead, exit at Dalkey DART station.
• A single ride takes under 30 minutes and costs €2.
• Trains run every 10-30 minutes.

Bus: this option is available but is far less convenient.

• Bus #7 brings you to Thomastown in 50-80 minutes depending on traffic.
• You would need to walk another 1.2 miles (2 km) to Killiney Hill Park.
• A single bus ride costs €2.

Car Rental: it is a good choice if you only plan on exploring Killiney Hill Park.

• You could park at the same named lot.
• Other parks do not have designated car parks.
• You will likely need to budget for street parking.

Where to Stay near Killiney Hill

Killiney, Dalkey, and Dún Laoghaire have just a handful of places to stay. Of the three neighborhoods, Dún Laoghaire gives you the most options.

Still, the number of places to stay in Dún Laoghaire pales in comparison to central Dublin. Chances are you will find a better deal if you stay in Dublin and take public transport to Killiney.

This would also allow you to explore Central and North Dublin sights more easily. You can visit the Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol, Howth and Malahide within a short distance.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Killiney Hill Park is a free park. You can also enjoy Dillon’s Park, Forty Foot, Dún Laoghaire Harbor, and Blackrock Park free of charge.

Takeaways: Killiney Hill Walking Guide

Killiney is well worth a visit while in Dublin. Killiney Hill Park provides incredible views of the surrounding mountains and neighborhoods.

• You will see the Wicklow Mountains on a sunny day.
• If you are lucky, you might even see the mountains of Wales.
• Dalkey Quarry is a great rock climbing destination.
• You should also enjoy a harbor and yachts in Dún Laoghaire if time permits.
• Dún Laoghaire is also a great place to grab a bite to eat.

The route between Dún Laoghaire and Booterstown is far less scenic. It is far easier to take a DART train from Dalkey or Dún Laoghaire to central Dublin.

Take a look at our Killiney Hill Walking Video Guide. And visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!