Overview
The single most useful thing about the Dublin Coastal Trail is that you never need a car: the whole 40-mile (64 km) route shadows the DART and Irish Rail lines, so you can get off at any village and pick up the next train when you’re done. It runs along the shoreline of the UNESCO-designated Dublin Bay Biosphere, starting at the fishing village of Skerries and working south through eleven historic stops – Skerries, Malahide, Howth, Raheny & North Bull Island, Grand Canal Dock, Sandymount, Salthill & Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire, Sandycove & Glasthule, Dalkey and Killiney.
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. In 2025 it was extended with five new locations – Balbriggan, Donabate, Clontarf/Dollymount, Dublin Port and Blackrock – bringing the total to sixteen stops, though the original eleven-village core still draws the most visitors.
The 2025 additions
- Balbriggan – a fishing town with a working harbour and a weekend market.
- Donabate – home to the Donabate-Portmarnock Greenway and an active sailing community.
- Clontarf/Dollymount – Dollymount Strand and the wooden bridge across to Bull Island.
- Dublin Port – the old heart of Irish maritime trade, now with interpretive signage and a small visitor centre.
- Blackrock – a leafy suburb with a promenade and easy access to the coastal cycle route.
Waymarking signs in six languages – English, Irish, French, German, Spanish and Italian – now mark each of these stops.
What to see and do
| Stop | Highlights | Typical activities |
|---|---|---|
| Skerries | Skerries Mills (working windmills, watermill, café), Martello Tower, north and south beaches | Paddle-boarding with Skerries Watersports, boat trips to Rockabill Lighthouse, ice-cream at Storm in a Teacup, the 5 km St Patrick’s Way & Art Trail, Saturday farmers market at the mills |
| Malahide | Malahide Castle & Gardens (800-year-old estate, Butterfly House, Fairy Trail), Casino Model Railway Museum | Guided castle tours, SUP on the estuary, food-truck lunch at the marina, day-trip to Lambay Island |
| Howth | Howth Cliff Path Loop, Howth Castle, Baily Lighthouse, Ireland’s Eye | Guided hikes with Howth Adventures, boat trips with Ireland’s Eye Ferries, seafood at Beshoffs, cookery classes at Howth Castle, seal and puffin spotting |
| Raheny & North Bull Island | St Anne’s Park, Bull Island National Nature Reserve, Rose Gardens, two links golf courses | Bird-watching (light-bellied brent geese, waders), dune walks, Saturday market at St Anne’s, golf at Royal Dublin |
| Grand Canal Dock | EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum, Jeanie Johnston famine ship, the tech-hub skyline | Museum tours, waterfront walks, shows at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, kayak tours on the Liffey with Surfdock |
| Sandymount | Sandymount Strand, Great South Wall walk, Poolbeg Lighthouse, the Poolbeg Chimneys, Aviva Stadium | Beach strolls, a match at the Aviva, coffee at Arty Baker |
| Salthill & Monkstown | Seapoint Beach, Victorian-Georgian streets, Lobstar bistro | Sea-swimming at Seapoint, the coastal cycle track, browsing the shops in Monkstown |
| Dún Laoghaire | Marina, Dublin Bay Cruises, National Maritime Museum, CoCo Market (Sunday) | Boat cruises to Howth and Dalkey Island, fish-and-chips on the pier |
| Sandycove & Glasthule | James Joyce Tower & Museum (a Martello tower), the Forty Foot, Cavistons | Museum visit (free), a swim at the Forty Foot, dinner on local seafood |
| Dalkey | Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre, Dalkey Book Festival (June), Dalkey Lobster Festival (August) | Living-history tours, literary events, kayaking around Dalkey Island, dinner at Finnegan’s |
| Killiney | Killiney Hill (views to Wales and the Wicklow Mountains), Killiney Beach, Vico Baths, Killiney Golf Club | Hilltop walks, swimming, golf with sea views |
If you only do one stretch, make it Howth: the cliff-path loop and a seafood lunch are the trail at its best. The catch is everyone else knows it too, and the car parks fill by mid-morning at weekends, which is exactly why arriving on the DART pays off.
Wildlife
Bull Island is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve known for its birdlife – gulls, terns and the occasional harbour porpoise off the dunes. Seals turn up regularly around Howth, Ireland’s Eye and Dalkey Island. Early-morning dune walks give the best chance of migratory birds such as light-bellied brent geese.
Practical information
Getting there
- Rail – the DART runs from Connolly through all the southern stops (Malahide to Killiney). Skerries, the northernmost, is on Irish Rail’s mainline service from Connolly. Trains run every 15 minutes at peak times.
- Leap Visitor Card – unlimited travel on DART, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and the Bleeper bike-share scheme. Buy at any DART station or online.
- Bleeper bike share – docks at Malahide, Dún Laoghaire and Killiney, plus newer ones at Donabate and Blackrock after the 2025 extension.
- Ferry – Ireland’s Eye Ferries run from Howth Pier to the island, a good spot for seal-watching.
Opening hours and fees
- The trail itself is open 24 hours, year-round, and free to walk or cycle.
- Individual attractions keep their own hours (EPIC 10am–5pm, last entry 4.30pm; the James Joyce Tower is free, with a suggested €1 donation).
- Most beaches, parks and public spaces are open at any time.
Facilities
- Toilets – at the bigger villages (Malahide, Howth, Dún Laoghaire) and the Grand Canal Dock visitor centre.
- Food and drink – fish-and-chips in Howth through to lobster bistros in Dalkey, with vegetarian and vegan options common.
- Parking – limited free on-street parking in Malahide and Dún Laoghaire; larger car parks (Sandymount, Dalkey) are pay-and-display.
- Accessibility – all DART stations are wheelchair-accessible, and the promenade sections (Sandymount Strand, Seapoint) are level and stroller-friendly. Some cliff paths, including the Howth Cliff Walk, are uneven and can be hard going for those with limited mobility.
Maps and resources
- A downloadable PDF map of all the stops is on Fingal County Council’s website.
- Fáilte Ireland provides a brand toolkit and promotional video for businesses along the trail.
A sample day
A popular run starts on the DART at Connolly, off at Skerries for a morning paddle-board session, then on to Malahide for a castle tour and lunch. A hop to Howth gives you the cliff walk and a seafood lunch, then the afternoon at EPIC in Grand Canal Dock, finishing with a sunset stroll along the Great South Wall at Sandymount before the train back to town.
Festivals
- Dalkey Book Festival – early June, talks and signings at Dalkey Castle.
- Dalkey Lobster Festival – mid-August, lobster dishes, live music and cooking demonstrations.
- Salthill & Monkstown Summer Series – July and August, outdoor concerts and food markets on the promenade.
- St Anne’s Park Saturday Market – weekly, with produce, crafts and street food.
- Skerries Mills Farmers Market – Saturdays, bakery goods and artisan products.
Families and dogs
- Most beaches (Skerries South Strand, Sandymount) allow dogs on leads year-round, but check for summer restrictions.
- St Anne’s Park has a large playground and a dog-run area.
- The flat promenade sections are stroller-friendly; bring a picnic for any of the parkland stops.