Hooked on Howth & Ireland’s Eye

Take a trip out to North County Dublin and the hilly headland at the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, where lies the small fishing village of Howth, boasting award-winning seafood restaurants, jaw dropping scenery, quaint shops and majestic cliff walks.

Get hooked on Howth.

You can either travel by car; take the DART from Dublin City Centre to Howth or you might decide to cruise into Howth by boat with Dublin Bay Cruises which offer departures from either Dublin City or from Dun Laoghaire in South County Dublin.

The charming seaside village of Howth in North County Dublin is intrinsically linked to sailing. Seafood, takes centre stage in the majority of pubs and restaurants of Howth, but as you leap onto the pier in Howth, you’ll find a selection of restaurants to suit all tastes from tapas to pub grub to fine dining to the “old-school” brown bag of salty fish and chips (fries).

You could take yourself off for lobster and chips at the King Sitric (near the East Pier) or if seafood isn’t your thing, the Abbey Tavern, where many music and comedy legends started their careers performing, has plenty of hearty Irish dishes to whet your appetite.

Sail around Ireland’s Eye & the glistening water of Dublin Bay.

Take a beautiful boat trip around Ireland’s Eye – it might be compact but it still packs a punch and will put a glisten in your eye. Listen to onboard commentary on the 1 hour boat trip around the island with Irelands Eye Ferries, where you will hear about the the Martello Tower, the chirping seabirds soaring around the cliffs and sea stacks, and the local wildlife including a colony of seals.

Around 700 AD three monks, sons of Nessan, a prince of the Royal House of Leinster, founded a monastery on Ireland’s Eye. According to tradition it’s here that the holy manuscript known as the Garland of Howth, now preserved in Trinity College, was created. In the early 19th century, at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, a Martello Tower was built on the island to defend against attacks from France. Ireland’s Eye, now a Special Area of Conservation, has a rugged coast with a free standing rock formation known as ‘The Stack’.

Don’t forget your binoculars as it’s a great area for bird watching with large numbers of guillemots, terns, gannets, razorbills, cormorants and puffins nesting around the shore. And you might spot a seal swimming about.

Hikes of Howth.

Howth offers the most amazing natural environments for adventure and the great outdoors. From the harbour to Howth Head, there’s something for every level of walker around Howth. Look out for signs displaying the directions for 4 walking routes in Howth, which open up the views of Dublin Bay from the Tramline Loop to the popular Cliff Path loop. Follow the trails and Howth cliff path to the Baily Lighthouse, overlooking Dublin Bay and across to Dalkey Island, and the Wicklow mountains.

Explore the Bog of Frogs Loop for scenic views of the cliffs and Lambay Island or for something a bit gentler, take a stroll down the pier to take in the views of Ireland’s Eye from dry land.

If you’d like to make the most of a local guide, Shane’s Howth Adventures offer a variety of touring options to explore this beautiful landscape of Howth. Walk, hike or take an electric bike tour through time along the secret routes, trails and Howth cliff paths.

You can also explore the amazing coastline by sea with the sea kayaking specialists,  Shearwater Sea Kayaking. From Try Sea Kayak Half and Full Days, Intro Summer Evenings to Skills Days, Northern Exposure Days, West Coast Expeditions to Advanced Canoe Ireland Training and Assessment, they have something for everyone.

Howth Market.

Howth Market is open at weekends and Bank Holidays, and is home to an array of Irish crafts, delicate handmade jewellery, and vintage antiques and gifts. While you’re there, be sure to sample the wide selection of organic foods on offer, like olives, cheeses, nuts and of course, delicious chocolate, crepes and cupcakes. Or if you’re feeling peckish after your hike around Howth, grab a burger, pizza slice, or mouthwatering prawns, calamari or the fresh catch of the day.

One visit here and you’ll be hooked. 

From the Sea and the cities to the Valleys and the Mountains, get in touch with us to plan your next visit to Dublin and Howth. With stunning scenery, great hospitality and a sense of immense pride, the entire island of Ireland is a special place to visit any time of the year. We are lookin forward to helping you plan your next Irish adventure here. One visit here and you’ll be hooked!

When planning a trip to Ireland take a look at some of our private chauffeur drive vacations and our self drive packages on our website for additional suggestions of places to visit.

Or if you feel it’s just too difficult to plan anything at present, then our “Gift of Ireland” gift certificates make perfect sense. You have the freedom of choice to decide what to do & plenty of time to plan as the gift certificate won’t expire for 5 years from the date of purchase.

We would love to hear from you – Click here to complete our contact form or you can send us an email – newyork@jeremyd50.sg-host.com – and don’t forget to keep in touch with us on facebook.

Begin your next adventure with us here in Ireland….

Note: Featured image at the top of the blog is of Howth Cliff Walk, Howth Head, Co. Dublin © Cahir Davitt & Davitt Photography.