The best hiking routes in County Dublin

County Dublin offers a stark choice between flat coastal paths along the Irish Sea and the rising granite slopes of the Wicklow Mountains National Park in the south. The lowlands are dominated by paved promenades, sandy beaches, and gravel tracks that follow the curve of Dublin Bay. In contrast, heading inland means climbing onto wide ridges where the soil thins out and the terrain shifts to dark peat, heather, and exposed granite boulders.

For those seeking height and open ground, the northern tip of the Wicklow Mountains National Park extends into the county, offering rougher tracks underfoot and a landscape of blanket bog. Here, the paths are often wet and muddy, requiring sturdy boots to navigate the peat hags and heather. If you prefer level ground and firmer footing, the coastal walks around Howth Head or the Bull Island salt marshes provide gravel paths and sandy stretches without any steep climbing.

In August, the upland sections of the Wicklow Mountains National Park turn a deep purple as the heather blooms, contrasting with the grey granite outcrops. This is a working landscape of forestry plantations and water catchments, meaning you will often walk alongside coniferous treelines or stone-walled reservoirs rather than pristine wilderness. It is a region of moderate hills and coastal flats, lacking any truly alpine peaks or deep, isolated gorges.