Weekends are the best opportunity for busy students to escape the hustle and grind of university life. A long, or short, hike through some of Ireland’s idyllic countryside can rejuvenate your mind and refresh your body.
With that in mind, we’ve listed six of the best hiking routes you can try on the next long weekend. Most of these aren’t too far from Dublin city centre and can be easily accessed using public transportation.
Glendalough
Perhaps one of the most famous and popular day trips from Dublin is to Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. Literally translated as “valley of the two lakes”, Glendalough provides spectacular sights and enthralling scenery for its many visitors. Enjoy the scenic walks through oak forests, along lake-shore, or up steep mountain trail to reach panoramic views looking out over the valley.
Situated in the beautiful surroundings of the Wicklow National Park, Glendalough offers many picturesque walking routes of various difficulties, with the shortest distance being a few kilometers and the longest 11 kilometers.
Consider picking up a Trail Guide from the Visitors Centre when you arrive for only 50c (access to Google Maps – or any internet – can be a bit patchy up in the mountains…)!
Getting there: There are no public trains or buses that run directly to Glendalough unfortunately. However, St Kevin’s Bus Services run a daily route from St Stephen’s Green to Glendalough Visitors Centre for €20 return. Check them out here.
Bray to Greystones
Beloved of hard-core hikers and foodies alike, the popular Bray to Greystones trail has it all – stunning sea views, plenty of public transport options, a well-marked, accessible route, and a renowned vegan café at the end.
Running south from the large seaside town of Bray to Greystones village, the 7km coastal path is well-marked from start to finish (pretty impossible to get lost – just keep the sea on one side and the land on the other!) and should take around 2h30 to complete.
The walk climbs to clifftops overlooking the Irish Sea and finishes in the fishing village Greystones, where you can reward yourself after all your hard work with a meal in The Happy Pear Cafe. Keep an eye out for its eclectic owners while you’re there (hint: they’re a pair of identical twins).
If you want to switch the route around, and finish in Bray, there’s plenty of great places to eat and drink there before hopping on the Dart back to Dublin.
Getting there: From Trinity, you can hop on a Dart south from Pearse Station to Bray/Greystones (they’re one stop apart!) or, if you want to get there quicker, you can search for a commuter train to Bray that will skip some of the Dart stations along the way. For more details, take a look at the Irish Rail website.
Killiney Hill and Dalkey Hill
A hidden gem in South County Dublin, Killiney and Dalkey Hill provide visitors with a plethora of trails to explore and spectacular 360º views of Dublin, Wicklow, and even Wales on a clear day. The two hills make up Killiney Hill Park, which is situated between the quaint villages of Dalkey and Killiney.
The looped hill walk of Killiney and Dalkey Hill will take you about an hour to complete, and is suitable for even the most novice of walkers/hikers. Some points of interest along the way include an abandoned quarry, the peak of Dalkey Hill which overlooks Dublin city in its entirety to the north, and the Obelisk on Dalkey Hill which provides fantastic views of Bray and Wicklow to the south.
There’s a quite a few entrances to the park and loads of other trails and paths to meander around while you explore the hills.
Fun fact about Killiney Hill: it was higher in the past but earth and material were removed from the summit to build Dún Laoghaire pier.
Getting there: The easiest way to get to Killiney Hill Park is to hop on the southbound Dart to Bray/Greystones from Pearse Street. You then have two options where to hop off and begin your adventure.
Alighting at the Dalkey Dart stop, you will arrive in the heart of the village. From there, you can go for a stroll down Sorrento Road to the tip of Dalkey and see Dalkey Island, and then walk down Vico Road along the coast for some scenery until you reach an entrance on your right.
The other option is to go one step further and alight at the Killiney Dart station, walk along the coast until you turn left onto Strathmore Road and Vico Road where you will pass the famous residences of Bono and Enya before reaching a park entrance. See the Irish Rail website for Dart times.
Powerscourt House and Gardens
A waterfall, a Japanese garden, a palatial country house, fantastic shops and cafes, a pet cemetery – all this and more are to be discovered at Powerscourt Estate, located just south of Dublin in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains.
Ranked by Lonely Planet among the top 10 Houses and Gardens to visit in the world, Powerscourt offers lots of fun and varied activities that make a really fantastic day out.
With student entry rates for the gardens and waterfall, as well as a Dublin Bus route that will drop you a stone’s throw away from the entrance to the estate, you should be able to cover your entrance fee and bus ticket for roughly €20, and still have a few coins to spare for lunch!
Getting there: The 44 Dublin Bus route departs from Merrion Square/Clare Street (just outside of Trinity’s back gate at the Lloyd Institute) and drops you in Enniskerry village, which is a short stroll from the entrance to Powerscourt grounds. You can find the route timetable here.
Howth Cliff Walk
Howth Head is a 15km peninsula located north of Dublin city centre that is home to the busy little town of Howth. When you hop off the Dart you’ll arrive in the heart of the coastal town and to reach the entrance to the Cliff Walk follow the green arrows along the promenade.
The Cliff Walk itself is 6km long and winds around the peninsula head to the Howth Lighthouse with some truly breathtaking views along the way.
Depending on your pace, footwear, and the winds along the way, the walk can take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours. Treat yourself to a lovely fresh cod and chips from the famous Leo Burdocks before hopping on the Dart back home.
Getting there: Head on the northbound Dart toward Howth from Pearse Station. Howth is the very last stop on the train, make sure not to get off at Howth Junction and Donaghmede (a very common mistake).
To get to the entrance to the Cliff Walk, follow the green arrows along the promenade through the town of Howth.
At the end of the promenade, turn right onto Balscadden Road and follow that up the hill and around until the end of the road where you’ll see an path entrance.
Sugar Loaf Mountain
For stellar views of Dublin city, and a low-commitment mountain hike, summiting the Sugar Loaf is surely your best bet. Located just south of Dublin City, you can’t miss the Sugar Loaf with its unique conical shape, but this mountain hike is actually easier than it looks. At the top, you will be able to enjoy unrivalled panoramic vistas of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea. The final stretch to the top is a bit rocky, so be prepared for a bit of a scramble! Bring a packed lunch, as there won’t be too many places to grab a bite to eat at the summit!
Getting there: The Sugar Loaf is a bit easier to get to if you are driving directly to the visitors car park, but it’s still accessible via public transport if you hop on the frequent 145 Dublin Bus route towards Ballywaltrim (Kildare St./Dawson St. stop if leaving from campus). Get off at Kilmacanogue Village, follow the sign to the GAA pitch up Quill Road.
Follow the trail up from the GAA pitch, once at the top you can double back on the same way you came or follow the loop around the other side. Either way it will take about 3 hours to complete.
So there you have it, six great options for hiking this weekend! And if you’re somehow not completely shattered after all of them, then check out our guide to the Top Five Best Hikes Around Dublin.
