Howth Cliffs: Local Guide to Hidden South-Facing Paths

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/41

Duration5h

GroupUp to 13

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Walk the cliffs only locals know, with a guide who picks the route by tide and weather.

You hike the south-facing cliffs of Howth Peninsula with a local guide who knows the hidden paths, visit secret beaches and caves, spot the old goat herds, and finish with views of Dublin Bay and the Wicklow mountains. Scones and tea are included at the start, and the pace is steady enough for moderate fitness levels, though the terrain is uneven and sometimes wet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Howth Safari Hiking Tour Highlights

Meet at House restaurant for scones and tea
Walk around Shielmartin Hill base
Climb Shielmartin Hill for bay views
Hike south facing cliffs spotting goats
Visit hidden beaches along the coast
Rest at Red Rock and view ships
Ascend cliff paths by Baily Lighthouse
Reach Summit for panoramic views
Descend tramline steps to Howth Harbour

The Experience

"You can walk Howth a hundred times and never see what we show you," your guide will tell you at the start, and by the time you're standing on the cliff path above Dublin Bay with the Baily Lighthouse cutting the horizon, you'll understand exactly what they mean. The Howth Safari hiking tour starts with freshly baked scones and tea at the House restaurant on Main Street, then heads straight into the kind of coastal walk most Dublin visitors never find. The route loops around Shielmartin Hill on the south-facing side — the sunny side, the side with the views — and that's the difference between a standard Howth walk and this one.

From the heathland you climb toward the cliff path that only the local guides know well enough to navigate safely. The trail takes you past the old Irish goat herds that still roam the peninsula, then down to hidden beaches and into smugglers caves carved into the rock. The whole thing moves at a steady pace — you're not racing — but there's enough elevation and uneven ground that you'll feel like you've actually hiked by the end. The caves are real, the beaches are genuinely tucked away, and the panoramic views of Dublin Bay shift every few hundred meters. Around Red Rock you pause to watch ships heading toward Dublin port, then the path climbs again toward the Baily Lighthouse, where the Wicklow mountains come into view on clear days.

The hike finishes at the Summit, where you can grab refreshments at the Summit Inn or head back down via the old tramline steps if you'd rather end at Howth Harbour. The whole thing takes a few hours, and the trails are soft underfoot — sometimes wet — so proper hiking boots matter more than speed. Weather doesn't stop it; the route just shifts depending on tides and conditions. You're 30 minutes from Dublin city centre, but it feels like you've left the country entirely.

What’s included

Your day includes a local guide for the entire hike, freshly baked scones with tea or coffee at the House restaurant before you start, and access to all the trails, hidden beaches, and caves along the route.
The guide navigates the south-facing cliff paths, shares knowledge of the landscape and history, and adjusts the route based on tides and weather.
You finish at either the Summit with optional refreshments, or back at Howth Harbour via the old tramline steps.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Howth Adventures

Is this one for you?Right for hikers with moderate fitness who want the real Howth — the cliffs and hidden beaches a casual visitor misses — without figuring out the route alone. Expect soft, uneven terrain and sometimes wet conditions; that's what keeps the crowds away and the views to yourself.