Howth Cliff Walk

Howth is a quartzite headland at the northern arm of Dublin Bay, joined to the mainland by a low neck, and four colour-coded looped walks run around it from the village - the shortest about six kilometres, the longest around twelve. The paths follow the cliff edge past the Baily Lighthouse, sitting on a low promontory below the walker's eye level, and around the exposed eastern side where fulmars, guillemots and kittiwakes nest on the ledges in spring and early summer. Gorse covers much of the headland and flowers yellow from late winter. The village at the start is a working fishing harbour with a seafood trade, and the whole thing is thirty minutes from the city centre on the DART, which is why it is the standard Dublin day out and why the paths are busy on any fine weekend. Sections cross unfenced cliff and the ground is slippery after rain.

What you actually see

• The four looped routes - colour-coded, from about six to twelve kilometres.
• The Baily Lighthouse - on its promontory below the cliff path.
• The seabird cliffs - fulmars, guillemots and kittiwakes in spring.
• The harbour - a working fishing port at the start and finish.

When to go

April to September; seabirds nest from April into July, and the gorse flowers from late winter. Weekends are crowded - go on a weekday or early.

Honest expectations

Unfenced cliff edge on much of the route, and slippery after rain. Gorse fires have closed sections in dry summers. The village car park fills; the DART is the sensible way in.

Nearby

Ireland's Eye is offshore; Dublin city is thirty minutes by train.