Through personal reflections, lived experiences, and honest insights, ACD student and Resident Blogger, Gabriel Dos Santos, shares stories that help future students imagine not just attending college abroad- but truly belonging here.
Dublin is known for its lively pubs, friendly people, and rich culture. It’s a city where
history meets good music, good stories, and great pints. But beyond the busy streets
and buzzing nightlife, there’s another side of Dublin that deserves attention. In this post,
I’ll share some of the most beautiful scenic spots you can easily visit from the city using
public transport.
3- Bray (Bray Head Looped Walk)
This is one of my favorite places in the world. It was awarded by Time Out Magazine
as one of the most underrated places in the world. It’s a great destination
year-round, but it truly comes alive in the summer, when festivals like Bray’s BBQ
Festival and the Bray Air Show fill the town with energy.
For me, Bray is more than just a fun place to visit. It’s the perfect blend of natural
beauty and small-town charm.
My favorite thing to do there is to start the day on the boardwalk. I love walking
around and seeing brave people jump in the cold water. From there, I head to the
beginning of the hike called Bray Head.9
You can’t really say you’ve seen Bray if you haven’t climbed Bray Head. This is the
perfect morning activity if you’re trying to have a panoramic view of the ocean, the
cliffs, Bray, and even Dublin. The summit where the cross is located is where you
should go. It’s only an hour long and it’s very easy.
The secret to this hike is to start where the road ends (south) and where there’s a
metal barrier. Walk past this, and when you come to a fork, turn right, heading uphill.
Then, you’ll reach a bridge over the railway track, before arriving at the Bray Head
Car Park on Raheen Park. And this is where you have to pay extra attention: If you
go in the left path, you’ll actually be doing a different trail (which has been closed for
over three years). If you want to climb Bray Head, you should keep heading straight
on, with the trail climbing up some stairs. Once you’ve reached the top of the stairs,
you’ll find yourself on a well-worn dirt path that winds up to the top of Bray Head.
Once you reach the summit, you’ll see why Bray is so beautiful.
2- Howth
Howth is an Irish village on the Howth Peninsula, east of central Dublin, and it is to
this day my second favorite cliff walk in Dublin.10
There are four long versions of this Howth walk, each of which kicks off at the DART
station in Howth Village, and one shorter walk (#5) that starts from Howth Summit.
1. The Black Linn loop
2. The Bog of Frogs loop
3. The Howth Cliff Path loop
4. The Tramline Loop
5. The Howth Summit Walk
The level of difficulty varies. I noticed that this walk (compared to Bray Head)
requires a more moderate level of fitness as well as more time. The Red Route is
8km/2.5 hours. The Purple Route is 12 km/3 hours. The Green Route is 6 km/2
hours). The Blue Route is 7 km/2 hours). The Howth Summit Walk takes around 1.5
hours.
Be very careful when walking near the edge of the cliffs, and make sure you do this
hike when it’s not very wet. The first time I did it, I ended up making the mistake of
going after a rainy day, and the trail was just too muddy and slippery. Also, this was
where I felt the wind was the strongest, so make sure you’re wearing a good jacket
as the wind gets super cold.11
Bonus: I’m sure after you finish this hike you’ll feel a bit hungry. So, don’t forget to try
Ireland’s typical fish and chips from one of their local restaurants in Howth village.
There are just so many good options to choose from in the village.
1- Wicklow Head — Glen Beach Cliff Walk
Now, my favorite cliff walk is located in Wicklow town.
Most tourists usually think of the Wicklow Mountains and the famous Guinness Lake
when they hear about Wicklow. However, a more accessible gem—especially for
those using public transport—is the scenic cliff walk in Wicklow Town, which begins
at Glen Beach. You can easily reach it by taking bus 133 from Dublin to Wicklow; the
service runs every hour, with the last bus departing at midnight.
This walk begins at Glen Beach on the outskirts of Wicklow town and goes on south
to Lime-Kiln Bay and towards the Lighthouse road before doubling back again in a
loop. It is a total distance of about four kilometers.
This walk has some climbs and runs very close to exposed cliff edges where walking
in a single file is required, so you’ll need to be very careful. I’d consider it moderate,
and I would certainly say it’s fine to do it by yourself as I’ve done it several times.12
As you walk, you’ll be able to see so much wildlife. It’s very common to see grey
seals swimming along the rocky shore. This area is part of Wicklow Head Special
Protection Area (SPA), and the green is simply unique. If you’ve ever heard of the
“different” green of Ireland, here is where you’ll be able to find it.
So, Bray Head, Howth, and Wicklow Head are just a few options to connect you to
nature when you want to get away from city life.