Dublin County offers some of the most diverse hiking experiences in Leinster, with trails that span from coastal paths overlooking the Irish Sea to rugged mountain routes in the Dublin Mountains. Unlike many other Leinster counties, Dublin uniquely combines urban proximity with wild landscapes - you can be standing on a mountain summit with panoramic views just 30 minutes from the city center.
Most Popular Dublin Hiking Trails
| Trail | Distance | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Ticknock & Three Rock (Fairy Castle Loop) | 5.5km loop | Forest shelter opening to views over Dublin Bay |
| Howth Cliff Path Loop | 7.8km loop | Coastal circuit of the Howth Peninsula |
| Dublin Mountains Way | 41.1km | Waymarked Shankill–Tallaght traverse, usually walked in sections |
| Tibradden Mountain Trail | 2.4km | Forest climb to a summit cairn and burial site |
Looking for something shorter, easier or in another county? Filter every waymarked trail in Dublin and the rest of Leinster by distance and difficulty.
Ticknock Forest & Three Rock Mountain
Coillte’s Fairy Castle Loop is a 5.5km moderate walk taking in the views over Dublin from Three Rock Mountain and Fairy Castle, using sections of the Dublin Mountains Way and Wicklow Way before returning via the old rifle range to the car park. The forest section provides shelter on windy days before opening up to exposed mountain terrain.
Visitor Information: Best visited on clear weekday mornings to avoid weekend crowds. Coillte allows about 1.5 hours for the loop. The parking lot fills quickly on weekends, so arrive before 10am.
Unlike the more manicured Powerscourt trails in Wicklow, Ticknock maintains a wilder feel while still being accessible. Check out Dublin Mountains Partnership for trail maps and updates.
Howth Cliff Path Loop
Howth Cliff via Wikipedia Public Domain
This dramatic coastal trail circles the Howth Peninsula with stunning views across Dublin Bay. Visit Dublin lists the Cliff Path Loop at 7.8km and about 2 hours, with views of Ireland’s Eye and along rugged sea cliffs.
Visitor Information: Visit on weekdays to avoid crowds. Allow extra time for stops, and you can shorten it at several points. Bring layers as the exposed cliffs get very windy.
While Killiney Hill in south Dublin also offers sea views, Howth’s dramatic cliffs and heather-covered slopes provide a much more dramatic hiking experience.
Hellfire Club
This walk combines spooky history with a proper climb. The ruin at the top of Montpelier Hill was built as a shooting lodge around 1725 by the Speaker of the Irish House of Parliament, and picked up its name and its legends later. Coillte’s Montpelier Loop (4km, about 1 hour, moderate) goes up to the ruin and the views over Dublin Bay, while the Forest Loop (5.5km, about 1.5 hours) takes in the whole forest.
Visitor Information: The car park is on the R115 to Kilakee, about 6.5km south of Rathfarnham. Best visited in morning light for photography.
Carrickgollogan & Lead Mines
The summit of Carrickgollogan, a hill in County Dublin, Ireland via Wikipedia Public Domain
This shorter hike packs in fascinating industrial heritage along with excellent views. The trail passes the historic lead mines chimney before climbing to Carrickgollogan hill for panoramic views across south Dublin.
Visitor Information: Visit Dublin lists the Lead Mines Way at 2.3km and about 40 minutes. Coillte Outdoors manages this site and provides excellent information.
Dublin Mountains Way
For serious hikers, this 41.1km waymarked trail traverses the Dublin Mountains from Shankill to Tallaght. While most people tackle it in sections, completing the entire route gives you bragging rights few Dubliners can claim.
Visitor Information: Sport Ireland notes that some of the Way follows local roads, so plan your sections around those. Spring and autumn offer the best conditions as summer can be surprisingly hot on exposed sections, while winter brings snow to higher elevations.
Hidden Dublin Hiking Gems
Seahan Mountain Circuit
Seahan is a quieter summit than its better-known neighbours, and the AllTrails Seahan and Corrig loop links the two tops. Expect wet, boggy ground and navigate with a map, as the higher ground is open and exposed.
Tibradden Wood
Tibradden Mountain via Wikipedia Public Domain
Coillte’s Tibradden Mountain Trail (2.4km, about 2 hours, moderate) starts as a gentle stroll through the forest and then climbs to the summit. At the top is an open cairn and kist burial site, a registered National Monument; a burial urn taken from it is in the National Museum in Dublin. The Dublin Mountains Way also runs through the wood.
Event Calendar
Spring Events
Howth Maritime & Seafood Festival (May in 2026)
Combine your coastal hike with this celebration of Howth’s seafaring tradition. In 2026 it ran on 22 to 24 May, having moved from its traditional September slot.
Summer Events
Marlay Park Summer Concert Series (July-August)
Marlay Park is the start of the Wicklow Way, and in summer it also hosts big outdoor concerts, so a walk in the Dublin Mountains can end with a gig.
Autumn Events
Dublin Mountains Festival, Féile na Sléibhte (early October)
The Dublin Mountains Partnership promotes a festival in the first ten days of October. Check dublinmountains.ie for this year’s programme.
Family-Friendly Hiking Options
Barnaslingan Wood “Scalp” Trail
Coillte has two short loops here. The Pine Loop Trail (0.9km, about 20 minutes, easy) has a picnic bench halfway, and the Scalp Lookout Trail (1.5km, about 45 minutes, moderate) adds a detour out to the Scalp lookout, a view that feels a long way from Dublin.
Age Suitability: The Pine Loop suits small children; the lookout trail is better for older ones.
Local Business Highlight
The Blue Light Pub
The Blue Light Pub via Facebook
A pub in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, and a handy stop for a pint after a walk in the hills.
Hiking in County Dublin
County Dublin’s hiking trails offer an incredible diversity of experiences within a surprisingly compact area. From coastal paths with wheeling seabirds to mountain summits with panoramic views, Dublin’s trails connect modern hikers with thousands of years of human history in the landscape.
What makes Dublin’s hiking scene truly special is how these wild spaces exist right alongside one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. You can stand on a mountain summit in the morning and enjoy world-class museums by afternoon - a combination few European capitals can match.
Now, check out our guide about the best hiking spots in County Carlow.
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Beyond the trails, see our full guide to things to do in Dublin.