You will really get to appreciate the beautiful scenery Ireland has to offer and work up an appetite for a hearty dinner later in the evening.

Phoenix Park, Dublin by William Murphy

Start with a day exploring Phoenix Park, just 4 kilometres from Dublin city centre. An 11 kilometre perimeter surrounds 1,750 acres of land and it is one of the largest city parks in Europe. It is also home to a herd of fallow deer and other types of wildlife. It is open 24 hours a day and is full of interesting sights, buildings and monuments, amongst a beautiful landscape. The residence of the President of Ireland, Aras an Uachtarain, is located in the park, as is Dublin Zoo.

Start to head further out of the city with a bracing beach walk from Malahide to Portmarnock. It is one of a series of iWalks, free podcasts audio guides that will educate and entertain you as you pass through areas of interest. Malahide to Portmarnock is a stunning walk along the northern coastline of Dublin Bay. Along the way, you can enjoy views of Lambay Island, Howth and Ireland’s Eye. The longest option is a 7km route.

If you are interested in a more challenging hike, then take a day to walk the Bog of Frogs Loop, a 10 kilometre walk with a 250 metre ascent that is graded as ‘hard’. The start of the Loop is located in Howth village, 15 kilometres north east of Dublin city centre. You can easily take the DART or a bus to the start of the route at Howth.

The Bog of Frogs Loop is well signposted with a purple arrow and takes in some spectacular views and attractions, including Lambay Island, Howth Castle, Martello Tower, Ireland’s Eye and Baily Lighthouse. Ireland’s Eye has a bird sanctuary and you can see a wide variety of birds, such as guillemots, fulmars, razorbills and gannets.

Howth Castle, Ireland by Erzsèbet

Perhaps you would like to try a long distance hike, or maybe tackle a section of the Grand Canal Way, a 114 kilometre long distance trail which begins as Lucan Road Bridge and finishes at Shannon Harbour. If you want to do the whole route, it can be finished in four to five days and as it passes through towns and villages, walkers have plenty of accommodation options each night. As public transport links are good, it is also easy to start and stop along different parts of the route. The Grand Canal Way was designed to connect Dublin with the west, through the midland area and the River Shannon. The area has been largely unaffected by development and agriculture and so is a tantalising glimpse into the past and a haven for plants and wildlife that used to be a common sight throughout Ireland.

Don’t confuse the Grand Canal Way with the Royal Canal Way, another long distance trail, 77 kilometres long, that runs almost parallel with the Grand Canal Way. It was originally constructed to connect Dublin with the Upper River Shannon and was finished in 1817. The route covers grass towpath, gravel and occasional tarmacked canal side roads to the village of Abbeyshrule in County Longford.

Again, it is easy to find accommodation along sections of the route and excellent public transport links make it easy to walk a section and return to your starting point. These are just a few of the walking and hiking options available to you from a Dublin base. You can head off on a long distance trail for a week or take short day trips and return to the city at night to enjoy the craic!

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Powerscourt Gardens is dominated by a large lake with a fountain and lots of water lilies. There is even a cemetery of the favorite animals of local family. From here you have a great view of the impressive mountain Great Sugar Loaf.

Powerscourt House and Gardens are located approx. 20km from Dublin city centre.

Opening hours and fees:

Gardens
Daily: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Gardens close at dusk in Winter
Closed December 25th & 26th

Ballroom & Garden Rooms
Sundays 9:30am – 1:30pm All Year
Mondays 9:30am – 1:30pm May to September

Entrance Fees
Adults €6.00, Student/OAP €5.50
Child (U16) €3.50, Child (U5) Free

Waterfall
Opening Times
Jan/Feb/Nov/Dec 10.30am – 4.00pm
Mar/Apr/Sept/Oct 10.30am – 5.30pm
May/Jun/July/Aug 9.30am – 7.00pm
Closed 2 weeks prior to Christmas

Entrance Fees
Adults €5.00, Student/OAP €4.50
Child (U16) €3.50, Children (U2) Free

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