Sutton
Sutton sits on the low neck of land that ties Howth Head to the mainland, about 11km from Dublin and 20 minutes on the DART. It’s a quiet coastal suburb rather than a destination in itself, but it has one very good beach and makes an easy, cheap day out from the city, with the train dropping you a short walk from the sand.
Burrow Beach
Burrow Beach is the reason to come: about 1.2km of golden, dune-backed sand on the north side of the neck, looking across to Ireland’s Eye and, further out, Lambay Island. It’s a Green Flag beach and a fine place for a walk in any season, the tide going a long way out to leave a wide, firm strand.
Two honest warnings, though. First, this is not really a swimming beach – the tides and currents here are strong, swimming isn’t recommended, and lifeguards are only on duty in summer (weekends in June, daily in July and August). Watch for posted swimming bans after heavy rain, when water quality can drop. Second, on a hot summer day it gets packed and occasionally rowdy; locals will tell you to come early in the morning and have it more or less to yourself.
The dunes behind the beach are a protected habitat, so keep to the paths. Parking is the other pinch point: the on-street spaces on Burrow Road are narrow and shouldn’t be blocked, and the most reliable option is the paid car park at Sutton Cross station, about a 15-minute walk away.
The Martello Tower
The stone Martello Tower out at Red Rock was built in 1804, one of a chain thrown up along the coast against a French invasion that never came. It has since been restored as a self-catering holiday home, its three levels running bedrooms below, a living room with a balcony in the middle, and a kitchen and dining room up top to make the most of the 360-degree views over Dublin Bay. It’s booked well ahead, so it’s a place to stay rather than to visit.
Golf and coastal walks
Sutton Golf Club is a 9-hole links course on the neck, compact enough for a half-day round and open to visitors, with a pro shop, practice ground and a bar and restaurant. Nearby Deer Park at Howth adds more golf, plus footgolf and poc fada if you fancy something odder.
For walking, a marked coastal route runs from Howth through Sutton to Baldoyle, and the well-known Howth Head cliff path is a short hop away for bigger sea views. The rocky Red Rock shoreline is a favourite with anglers after flatfish and bass, quieter than the harbour marks, though the rocks want care and proper footwear.
Getting there
The DART is the easy way in: Sutton Station is about 20 minutes from the city centre, and there’s a coffee shop (Sam’s) on the platform, though no toilets. Dublin Bus routes 31 and 31B also serve Sutton Cross, the local shopping crossroads. If you drive, use the paid car park at the station rather than hunting for a space by the beach.
Nearby
- Howth – the fishing village round the head, with the pier, seafood and the full cliff-walk loop.
- St Anne’s Park – walled gardens and walking trails a little way back along the coast.
- Dublin city centre – 20 minutes on the DART, so Sutton works as a seaside base for the city.
Come on the DART, bring a flask, and time a hot day for early morning – an empty Burrow Beach at 8am is a different place from the same beach at 2pm.