howth Archives - Take a Hike

Howth Lower Cliff Loop Walk

The following is the Howth Lower Cliff Loop Walk taken from the fingaldublin.ie. There are three other loops, Tramline Loop, Black Linn Loop and Bog of Frogs Loop.

1. Starting from the DART Station follow the green arrow onto the promenade along the harbour. You are also following blue, red and purple arrows which are for other longer loops. At the end of the prom, veer right onto Balscadden Road and ascend to reach Kilrock car park from where you join the well trodden cliff path.

2. Follow the cliff path for approximately 3km before turning right (leaving the longer purple loop) and ascending towards The Summit car park.

3. From the car park your loop swings right and begins the return journey along a sandy pathway parallel to and above the cliff path. At the end of the sandy pathway, the loop joins Thormanby Road where you turn left and, almost immediately turn right onto Dungriffin Road.

4. After 200m along Dungriffin Road you will turn right and rejoin the blue and red loops on the tramline walkway to descend into the village directly opposite the railway station.

Descriptions
Ascent : 130m
Distance : 6km
Estimated Time : 1hrs 30mins – 2hrs 30mins
Grade : Easy
Trailhead : Howth Village
Terrain : Laneways, clifftop paths
Minimum Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid
Theme : Coastal

Howth Tramline Loop Walk

The following is the Howth Tramline Loop Walk taken from fingaldublin.ie.

1. Starting from the DART Station follow the blue arrow onto the promenade along the harbour. You are also following green, red and purple arrows which are for other loops. At the end of the prom, veer right onto Balscadden Road and ascend to reach Kilrock car park from where you join the well trodden cliff path.
2. Follow the cliff path for approximately 3km before turning right (leaving the longer purple loop) and ascending to reach The Summit car park.
3. Exit the car park through the height restriction barrier and join Bailey Green Road. Follow this road downhill to reach a junction of roads at The Summit Stores and pub.
4. Directly across from the bottom of Bailey Green Road, the entrance to the old tramline is marked by stone bollards. Cross Thormanby Road and join the tramline pathway. Follow the pathway downhill to exit directly opposite the DART Station – picking up the green, red and purple loops along the way.

Description

Ascent: 130m

Distance : 7km

Estimated Time : 1hr 30mins – 2hrs

Grade : Easy

Trailhead : Howth Village

Minimum Gear : Walking shoes, raingear and fluid

Terrain : Laneways and clifftop paths

Theme : Coastal

Howth Black Linn Loop Walk

The following is the Howth Black Linn Loop Walk taken from fingaldublin.ie.

1. Starting from the DART Station follow the red arrow onto the promenade along the harbour. You are also following green, blue and purple arrows for other loops. At the end of the prom, veer right onto Balscadden Road and ascend to reach Kilrock car park from where you join the well trodden cliff path.
2. Follow the cliff path for approximately 3km before turning right (leaving the longer purple loop) and ascending to reach The Summit car park.
3. Exit the car park through the height restriction barrier and join Bailey Green Road. Follow this road downhill to reach a junction of roads at The Summit Stores and pub. Turn left here.
4. Follow the tarred road past The Summit Stores and, after approximately 100m, turn right onto a grassy pathway. At the end, cross Carrickbrack Road to join another pathway whcih ascends ‘Tweedy’s Hill’. Joining Windgate Road at the top of the short climb, turn right and travel for approximately 200m to reach the entrance to the hillside at a gateway on your left.
5. You now follow a series of paths across an open hilltop section known locally as ‘Black Linn’, where it picks up the purple loop before descending through the grounds of the local GAA Club, and eventually reaching the Balkill Park estate.
6. Entering Balkill Park, you pick up the green and blue loops as you join the tramline pathway. Follow the pathway downhill to exit directly opposite the DART Station – picking up the green, red and purple loops along the way.

Descriptions
Ascent : 160m
Distance : 8km
Estimated Time : 2hrs – 3hrs
Grade : Moderate
Trailhead : Howth Village
Terrain : Laneways and clifftop paths
Minimum Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid
Theme : Coastal

Howth Bog of Frogs Walk

The following is the Howth Bog of Frogs Walk taken from fingaldublin.ie.

1. Starting from the DART Station follow the purple arrow onto the promenade along the harbour. You are also following green, blue and red arrows for other shorter loops. At the end of the prom, veer right onto Balscadden Road and ascend to reach Kilrock car park from where you join the well trodden cliff path.

2. Follow the cliff path for approximately 3km before the green, blue and red loops turn right and ascend to The Summit car park. You continue straight on here to reach the access road for the Bailey Lighthouse. Cross the road and join the second section of cliff path.
3. Continue to follow the cliff path for another 3km to pass safety handrails at Red Rock. Shortly afterwards, the loop swings right and uphill onto a grassy track. After 500m you cross the busy Carrickbrack Road and enter a hillside section.
4. The track takes you around the shoulder of Sheilmartin Hill to enter a golf course. Cross the course carefully – using the line of white rocks as your line of travel. On the opposite side enter the Bog of the Frogs area.
5. You now follow a track through the Bog of the Frogs and onto open hilltop on the shoulder of the Ben of Howth where you pick up the red loop before descending through the grounds of the local GAA Club, and eventually reaching the Balkill Park estate.
6. Entering Balkill Park, you pick up the green and blue loops as you join the tramline pathway. Follow the pathway downhill to exit directly opposite the DART Station – picking up the green, red and purple loops along the way.

Descriptions
Ascent : 240m
Distance : 10km
Estimated Time : 2hrs 30mins – 3hrs 30mins
Grade : Hard
Trailhead : Howth Village
Terrain : Laneways, clifftop paths and hill tracks
Minimum Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid
Theme : Coastal