A Nature Lovers Guide to Dublin
Being born and bred in Dublin, I like to sometimes escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and luckily within Dublin (and just on the outskirts) we have beautiful places where you can relax, disconnect from reality and reconnect with nature, and most importantly, yourself.
BRAY
The view from the top of Bray head is incredible. A view of the sea, coastal town and the surrounding fields. The hike up can take 40minutes - 1 hour, my tip here is to embrace the nature trail on your way and enjoy the journey rather than rushing to the top. There are no prizes for how fast you are. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy a well earned rest whilst you take in the breath taking views. When finished, you can head back down to the Bray Promenade where you can enjoy best fish and chips from one of the chippers (highly recommend, for us raised in Dublin this is the ultimate bray day out) or you can opt for finer dining in one of the many restaurants. Feeling up for dessert after dinner? I recommend 'Ginos' for a crepe or ice cream , perhaps followed by some games in the arcades.
GREYSTONES
Previously, there was a fantastic cliff walk from Bray - Greystones (&vice versa) but unfortunately due to landslides, this is currently closed. However, if you're closeby in Bray - it is just one stop extra from Bray to Greystones. This is a quaint little coastal town , so if you're close by the area - it'd be a shame to not explore! Here you can enjoy the views from the Marina, visit the stoney beach (recommend swimming shoes if going for a dip) and/ or enjoy some food and drink in the village.
DUN LAOGHAIRE
The perfect place to catch a sunset along here with an icecream (I recommend from scrumdiddles) , followed by a beautiful walk along the Pier from the promenade to the lighthouse. Finish your evening with some drinks in one of the many local bars/ restaurants - however, if you're looking for a rooftop view, Wetherspoons is the place for you.
If you follow the path from the dart station, past the piers, you will find an area called 'The Forty Foot' ,where many people come for a swim - no matter the weather! You can also find a small cove here to relax and take in the views.
HOWTH
Howth Cliff Walk is one of the most beautiful sites Dublin has to offer. Enjoy the breath taking views whilst you walk along the cliff (it will loop you back to Howth village)
Before beginning the hike, on your way to the starting point you will pass some apartments where beside these apartments you will see a gate. Although this gate reads 'Private land' or something along those lines, you can visit this secret beach. It is a stoney beach, so swimming shoes are advised , but this place is utter tranquility. When you are in Howth village, you will find a pier which you can walk out to the lighthouse with a likelihood of spotting some seals - Yes, seals the animal in the water!
BLESSINGTON - Avon Ri
Nestled away in the Wicklow mountains you will find this area of zen with spectacular views. There is a green walkway here for you to take in the scenery, with the chance of spotting some cows or sheep along the way! At the Avon Ri resort you can find some options for food and drink from burgers to pizzas etc. There are also events held here from time to time, I suggest checking their instagram or website to stay up to date with this information.
These would be my top 5 places to escape from the hustle and bustle. So often, we lead busy lifes but it is important to take time to disconnect from the world - and reconnect with ourselves. Often when travelling to Ireland I feel tourism focuses on places where there is money to be made - naturally, however as a local these are some 'free activities' I enjoy that don't break the bank and are beautiful locations which I would love others to be able to explore and enjoy also.
Any questions, please ask me I'm happy to help! Whether it be more information on alternative transport options, more locations etc. :)
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