Overview
The most useful thing about the Dublin Coastal Trail is that you can do it without a car. It is not one continuous path: it brings together separate outings in seaside towns and neighbourhoods around Dublin Bay, from Skerries in the north to Killiney in the south, and you pick a stop for a harbour stroll, a coastal walk or a museum visit, then take the train back to the city. Skerries is on the commuter line, while Howth, Malahide and the south-coast stops use the DART branches, so plan each leg with the timetable in hand.
Background
Fáilte Ireland launched the trail in 2022 with Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and Iarnród Éireann, to draw visitors to the coastal settlements minutes from the capital and ease the strain on the city centre. The stops sit along the shoreline of the UNESCO-designated Dublin Bay Biosphere. Later additions to the trail include Balbriggan, Donabate, Clontarf/Dollymount, Dublin Port and Blackrock, so the Visit Dublin guide is the place to check the current list of stops.
The 2025 additions
- Balbriggan – a fishing town with a working harbour.
- Donabate – home to the Donabate-Portmarnock Greenway and a sailing community.
- Clontarf/Dollymount – Dollymount Strand and the wooden bridge across to Bull Island.
- Dublin Port – the old heart of Irish maritime trade.
- Blackrock – a leafy suburb with a seafront promenade.
What to see and do
Each stop is its own outing, so you can pick one for a short visit or string several together over a full day. Opening times and prices for individual attractions change, so check the operator before you go.
| Stop | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Skerries | Skerries Mills, the Martello Tower, north and south beaches, and the harbour and seafront, a walk from the station |
| Malahide | Malahide Castle & Gardens, the Casino Model Railway Museum, the estuary |
| Howth | The harbour, Howth Cliff Path Loop, Howth Castle, Baily Lighthouse, Ireland’s Eye; for a cliff walk, follow current signs, check conditions and stay back from the edge |
| Raheny & North Bull Island | St Anne’s Park, Bull Island nature reserve, rose gardens, dune walks and birdwatching |
| Grand Canal Dock | EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum, the Jeanie Johnston famine ship, waterfront walks |
| Sandymount | Sandymount Strand, the Great South Wall walk, Poolbeg Lighthouse and the Poolbeg Chimneys |
| Salthill & Monkstown | Seapoint, Victorian-Georgian streets, the shops of Monkstown |
| Dún Laoghaire | The harbour and pier, the National Maritime Museum, cruises on Dublin Bay |
| Sandycove & Glasthule | The James Joyce Tower & Museum in a Martello tower, the Forty Foot |
| Dalkey | The village streets, Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre, Dalkey Island |
| Killiney | Killiney Hill with views toward the Wicklow Mountains, Killiney Beach |
If you only do one stretch, Howth is a good choice for the cliff path and the harbour. It is popular, so arriving by train beats looking for a car park.
Wildlife
Bull Island is part of the UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere and is known for its birdlife, including gulls, terns and light-bellied brent geese in winter. Seals are seen around Howth, Ireland’s Eye and Dalkey Island. Early-morning dune walks give the best chance of migratory birds.
Practical information
Getting there
Use Iarnród Éireann’s route timetables for the train you need. Howth and Malahide use different branches and Skerries is on the commuter line. For a second stop, allow time to change trains and check the last service back. Check station access with the operator if you need step-free travel.
Opening hours and fees
- The shoreline, beaches and public spaces at each stop can be visited without a ticket, but the stops are not a single signed route.
- Individual attractions keep their own hours and prices. Check EPIC and the James Joyce Tower before you go.
- Some cliff paths, including the Howth Cliff Walk, are uneven and can be hard going for those with limited mobility.
A sample day
A popular run starts on the train from Connolly, off at Skerries for the seafront and harbour, then on to Malahide for the castle. A hop to Howth gives you the harbour and a cliff walk, then an afternoon at EPIC in Grand Canal Dock, finishing with a sunset stroll along the Great South Wall at Sandymount. Check train times between each leg, and the last service back to town.
Festivals
Local events have included the Dalkey Book Festival and the Dalkey Lobster Festival. Dates and formats change each year, so check local listings before you travel.
Families and dogs
- Check signs for dog rules on each beach and park, as summer restrictions can apply.
- Bring a picnic for any of the parkland stops.