Hikes Near Dublin Without a Car

Introduction

Dublin’s public‑transport network makes it surprisingly easy to escape the city for a day of walking. Whether you prefer sea‑cliff paths, forest loops or historic valleys, you can hop on a DART, a bus or a Luas tram and be on a trailhead within an hour. This guide lists the most accessible hikes, practical travel details and tips for families, dog owners and beginners.

Car‑Free Hiking Tips

Plan your timetable – DART services run every 15‑20 minutes on weekdays but are less frequent after 6 pm. Check the latest schedule on the Transport for Ireland (TFI) journey planner.
Buy a Day Ticket – €8‑10 for unlimited DART, bus and Luas travel; a good value if you’re doing more than one walk.
Pack for Irish weather – waterproof jacket, layers and sturdy boots. A paper map is advisable on longer forest routes.
Dogs – Most public trails allow dogs on a leash; check any specific signage at the trailhead.
Kids – Easy routes such as the Green Road Walk in Glendalough, the St Stephen’s Green loop or the Howth Lower Cliff Loop are suitable for families.

Getting Around – Public Transport Overview

Mode	Typical Reach	Frequency	Approx. Cost
DART	Coastal towns (Howth, Bray, Greystones, Dalkey, Killiney) and inland stations (Rathdrum, Wicklow)	Every 15‑20 min (peak)	€1.50‑€4.50 within Dublin, €4‑€6 to Wicklow
Bus Éireann / GoBus	Rural trailheads (Glendalough, Sallins, Hazelhatch)	Every 30‑60 min (varies)	€5‑€12 depending on distance
Luas	City centre to Heuston, Red Line to Tallaght/Sandyford (connects to 44b bus)	Every 10‑15 min	Included in Day Ticket
Local Link (rural buses)	Small villages such as Ashford, Delgany, Bohernabreena	Limited – check timetables	€3‑€6

Key Bus Numbers

44 / 44b – South‑east Dublin to Enniskerry, Ashford, Bohernabreena.
114 – From Blackrock DART station to Lambs Cross (Three Rock Mountain start).
48A / 16 – To Ballinteer for Ticknock and Three Rock Mountain.
161 – To Rockbrook for Belmont Demesne.
49 / 75 – To Firhouse for Bohernabreena Reservoir.
44 – To Knocksink Woods (Enniskerry).

Existing Hikes (expanded)

Glendalough – Wicklow Mountains National Park

Glendalough is a glacial valley famous for its monastic ruins and two clear lakes. The visitor centre opens 9:30 am–5:00 pm (check seasonal hours).

How to get there by public transport

DART to Rathdrum (≈ 1 h 15 min, €5) then Bus 193 to Glendalough (≈ 30 min, €3).
Private St Kevin’s Bus runs direct shuttles from Dublin (≈ 1 h 30 min, €23 return) and Bray (≈ 45 min, €16 return).

Trail highlights

Miners’ Road Walk – Easy, 5 km, lakeside scenery.
Spinc and Glenealo Valley – Hillwalk, 9.5 km, steep ascent with board‑walk sections.
Green Road Walk – Flat 3 km loop, ideal for families.

Tip: Print the official trail map (PDF) before you go.

Howth Cliff Hike

Howth’s headland offers several loop options, all reachable from the Howth DART station (≈ 30 min from Dublin city centre).

Route options

Lower Cliff Loop (Green Route) – 6 km, 1.5‑2 h, easy to moderate.
Bog of Frogs Loop (Purple Route) – 12 km, 2.5‑3 h, the longest and most challenging; good for experienced walkers.

Insider: Finish at Besh O’Hare’s for fresh fish & chips.

Townley Hall Woods

Located near the Boyne River, the Coillte‑managed forest offers a short woodland walk. Access is via Dublin‑Drogheda train then a taxi (≈ €15‑20). The trail can be marshy in winter – waterproof shoes are recommended.

Knocksink Woods – Enniskerry

Take Bus 44 to the Enniskerry stop; the car park is a 15‑minute walk away. The loop is about 30 minutes and works well for a quick nature break.

Dublin Mountains Way

The long‑distance trail starts at Shankill (bus 44) and passes Rathmichael Woods, an old church and a ring‑fort. Several sections are reachable by the 44 and 48A buses.

Boyne River Walk – Slane to Navan

Catch a Bus Éireann service to Slane (County Meath) and follow the 10‑12 km riverside path. The trail is poorly marked in places; a printed map is advisable.

Ticknock Forest

Take the 48A or 16 bus to Ballinteer, then walk 30 minutes to the forest. The popular Fairy‑Castle Loop (≈ 2 km) climbs to Two and Three Rock Mountain with city views.

Devil’s Glen

From Ashford (bus 44) walk 1‑1.5 h into the glen’s waterfalls and mixed woodland. The area is quiet and ideal for a peaceful stroll.

St Anne’s Park & Herbert Park

Both parks are within Dublin city limits and reachable by regular city buses or on foot from the city centre. They provide flat, family‑friendly routes.

Belmont Demesne & Hellfire Club

Take Bus 161 to Rockbrook, a short walk to the back gate of Massey’s Wood, then continue to the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill. The climb is moderate; the summit offers panoramic city views.

Marley Park

Marley Park is accessible by several Dublin Bus routes (e.g., 15, 46A). The park’s woodland loops are suitable for all ages.

Three Rock Mountain & Ticknock

From Ballinteer (bus 48A/16) walk past the Three Rock Bar to the forested slopes of Ticknock and onward to the summit of Three Rock Mountain.

Bray Head to Greystones (Upper Path)

The original coastal path is closed, but the upper ridge walk remains open. Take the DART to Bray, climb to the headland, then follow the ridge south to Greystones. The route is about 4 km and offers sweeping sea views.

Bohernabreena Reservoir

Take Bus 49 or 75 to Firhouse, then walk to the reservoir. The area is a quiet spot for a reflective walk along the water’s edge.

New Dublin‑Area Walks (public‑transport friendly)

Tibradden Woods (County Dublin)

Distance: 2.5 km loop, ≈ 2 h.
Access: Luas Red Line to Sandyford, then Bus 44b to Tibradden.
Highlights: Bronze‑Age burial cairn at the summit and panoramic views of Dublin Bay and Howth.
Suitability: Easy, good for families and dog walkers.

Carrickgollogan (County Dublin)

Distance: 8.7 km, ≈ 2 h.
Access: Start at Cabinteely (bus 44) or take the Luas to Laughanstown and walk from there.
Routes: Lead Mines Way (historic chimney) and Mountain Access Route (viewing rock with city vistas).
Notes: The trail passes the 6th‑century Tully Church and the Scalp gorge.

Killiney Hill Walk

Distance: 2‑3 km, 30‑50 min.
Access: DART to Dalkey, then a short walk up Vico Road.
Highlights: Sweeping views over Dublin Bay, the Baily Lighthouse, and the Irish Sea.
Tip: Combine with the Dalkey Quarry walk for a longer coastal experience.

Bohernabreena Waterworks (Glenasmole Valley)

Built 1883‑1887, the twin reservoirs are surrounded by woodland trails.
Access: Bus 49 or 75 to Firhouse, then a 10‑minute walk.
Routes: Short (≈ 1 km) and long (≈ 3 km) loops; both are flat and suitable for all ages.

Phoenix Park (Dublin City)

Europe’s largest enclosed city park; reachable on foot from the city centre or via Luas to Heuston.
Routes: 8 km perimeter walk, plus shorter family loops.
Features: Deer park, historic Áras Éamon De Valera, and the Papyrus garden.

Grand Canal Towpath

Follow the canal west from Grand Canal Dock; the towpath is flat and well‑marked.
Access: Walk or take the Luas to Heuston; the canal is within walking distance of the city centre.
Ideal for: Easy walks, cycling and picnics.

Additional Car‑Free Walks Worth the Journey

Great South Wall Walk (Dublin Bay)

Distance: 5 km (round‑trip), 2‑3 h.
Access: Dublin Bus 4 or 46A to Sandymount (stop at the start of the promenade). From there follow the paved South Wall path past the Poolbeg Lighthouse.
Tip: Check tide tables – the walk is safest at low tide when the path is clear of water.

Ballinastoe Forest (South‑East Dublin)

Distance: 3‑7 km depending on route, 1‑2 h.
Access: Bus 44 to Kilternan, then a short walk to the forest entry.
Highlights: Dramatic wooded gullies that have featured in TV and film; several loop options.

Lough Tay to Lough Dan (Wicklow, reachable via bus to Glendalough)

Distance: ~10 km, 3‑4 h.
Access: Same transport as Glendalough (DART to Rathdrum + Bus 193). From the Glendalough car‑park, follow signs to the Lough Tay trailhead.
Highlights: Mirror‑like Lough Tay (the “Guinness Lake”) and the remote Lough Dan, with stunning mountain backdrops.

Lough Ouler (Wicklow)

Distance: 8 km loop, 3‑4 h.
Access: Bus 133 from Dublin to Roundwood, then a short local walk to the trailhead.
Highlights: The heart‑shaped Lough Ouler and panoramic ridge views.

Djouce Mountain (Wicklow)

Distance: 8 km loop, 2‑3 h.
Access: Bus 133 to Roundwood, then a 15‑minute walk to the J.B. Malone car‑park (public transport drop‑off point).
Highlights: Open boardwalk to the summit, excellent views of Dublin Bay and the Wicklow coast.

Great Sugarloaf (Wicklow)

Distance: 5 km round‑trip, 1.5‑2 h.
Access: Bus 133 to Roundwood, then a short walk to the Sugarloaf trailhead.
Highlights: Steep but short climb to a 501 m summit with 360° views.

Slievethoul Lugg Walk (South‑West Dublin)

Distance: 2‑5 km, 1‑2 h.
Access: Bus 44 to Saggart, then a short walk to the trailhead.
Highlights: Woodland loops with archaeological sites and gentle elevation gain.

Practical Information Summary

Tickets: A DART/Bus Day Ticket (€8‑10) covers most of the walks listed.
Travel time: Aim for ≤ 2 h each way to keep the day walk under 5 h total.
Seasonality & tides: Coastal routes such as the Great South Wall and Bray‑Greystones upper path require low tide – check a tide table before you set out.
Facilities: Most trailheads have basic toilets and water fountains; larger towns (Howth, Bray, Greystones, Wicklow) offer cafés and pubs for a post‑walk meal.
Accessibility: Most routes are uneven natural terrain; only the Green Road Walk in Glendalough and city‑park loops are fully wheelchair‑friendly.
Dog‑friendly: Leashed dogs are permitted on the majority of trails; the only restrictions are occasional signage in nature reserves.

Enjoy the freedom of exploring Dublin’s surrounding countryside without a car – the public‑transport network is your gateway to Ireland’s best day‑hikes.