A Guide To The Bray Head Walk: A Handy Climb With Stunning Views

The brilliant Bray Head Walk, not to be confused with the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk, is one of my favourite walks in Wicklow. The Bray Head hike is a solid trail that allows you to get out into the wild and soak up some mighty coastal views without having to exert yourself too much. There are two trails here – the up-and-down hike to the top (takes around 1-hour) and the Bray Head Loop walk (takes roughly 1.5 hours).

Some quick need to knows about the Bray Head Walk

As the walk up to Bray Head Cross is one of the more popular things to do in Bray, it’s pretty straightforward, however, there are a few need-to-knows.

1. Location

Bray Head is just outside the centre of the seaside town of Bray, a short drive south of Dublin. The head juts out partially into the Irish Sea, and the view from the top offers incredible panoramas, taking in blue seas, the urban sprawl of Dublin, and the Wicklow Mountains.

2. There are two trails

You can either hike up to Bray Head Cross and then make the return journey to the bottom (this takes 1 hour) or you can do the Bray Head Loop walk (takes around 1.5 hours).

3. Difficulty level

It can be a bit of a slog going up the hill, but the views from the top are well worth the sweat! Generally speaking, the walk is rated as moderate, and most people with reasonable fitness levels should be okay with it.

4. Bray Head car park

The best place to park to enjoy this hike is at the Cliff Walk Car Park at Raheen Park (here on Google Maps). It’s just outside of Bray town centre. Make sure to check if you need to pay.

The Bray Head Walk: An overview of the trail

In this guide, we’ll discuss the Bray Head hike that leads you to the top and back down again along with the Bray Head Loop Walk. Please do keep in mind that part of this trail has no real path so decent walking shoes are needed.

Kicking off the walk

If you’re staying in Bray, you can start the walk by strolling along Bray Seafront, heading south (with Bray Beach on your left). Soon enough the road ends and you’ll come across a metal barrier. Walk past this, and when you come to a fork, veer right, heading uphill. Soon enough, you’ll reach a bridge over the railway track, before arriving at the Bray Head Car Park at Raheen Park. Follow the path out of the car park, and it’ll soon split. 

Starting the ascent

You want to look for the red arrows. Avoid the left path from the car park, which is the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk. Instead, you need to head straight on, with the trail climbing up some stairs. Once you’ve reached the top of the stairs, you’ll find yourself on a well-worn dirt path that winds up to the top of Bray Head. Along the way, you’ll pass through fairy tale thickets of trees and open, grassy plains, before reaching a rocky scramble to the top.

Reaching the top

In poor weather, the conditions can get a little rough, and the scramble can be a little slippery, but for the most part it’s easy enough to manage. Just be sure to dress properly and wear decent boots. Once you reach the top, you’ll see the stone Bray Head Cross, from which you can enjoy spectacular views. If time is short, your best bet is to head back down the way you came. However, if you’d like to extend the walk, you can follow the path south from Bray Head Cross.

Continuing on to the Bray Head Loop walk

To turn the Bray Head Hill walk into a loop, keep following the path south, heading downhill. You’ll then have have 2 options. The first is to follow the main path as it veers right, which will take you to Windgates, and eventually the main road from Bray to Greystones (R761). Follow this North, past Bray Golf Club, and eventually turn right onto Newcourt Road, which will lead you back to the sea front.

Things to do after finishing the Bray Head hike

One of the beauties of walking up to Bray Head Cross is that, when you finish, you’re a short spin away from many other great places to visit in Wicklow. Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Bray Head (plus places to eat and where to grab a post-adventure pint!).

1. Food in the town

Bray is home to a number of superb restaurants, cafes, and pubs, each offering an array of dishes to tempt and delight after a good walk. The Ocean Bar and Grill Restaurant is a great choice for a sumptuous fish supper, but you’ll find plenty more on their fine-dining menu. See our Bray restaurants guide for more.

2. The Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk (update: currently closed off)

The pleasant Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk runs parallel to the cliffs that lie between the two towns, and lies just under Bray Head. Starting at the same car park as the previous walk, it’s easy to do both in one day. Just be advised, you’ll need to walk back the same way or take a bus back to Bray from Greystones, as it’s a linear rather than a looped trail.

3. Powerscourt Waterfall

Crashing down 121 metres, Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest in Ireland, and it’s just over 10 km from Bray. It’s easy to reach, with a dedicated car park, nice walking trails, and absolutely stunning scenery. Also a haven for wildlife, such as red squirrels and Sika Deer, this incredible waterfall at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains makes for a magnificent day out.

4. Walks, walks and more walks

Known as the ‘garden of Ireland’, County Wicklow offers a veritable treasure trove of walks to enjoy, many of which sit within the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Here are some of our favourites:

• Glendalough walks
• Devil’s Glen 
• Djouce Woods
• Djouce Mountain
• Lough Ouler
• Lugnaquilla