Hikes Near Dublin: 18 Mighty Trails To Tackle Under 1.5 Hours Away

There are a handful of mighty hikes in Dublin and there are endless captivating trails a short spin away.

If you’re drawn to crashing waves against towering cliffs, the whisper of ancient forests, or sweeping views from misty mountain peaks, the landscapes around Dublin offer unforgettable escapes.

This guide has 3 sections:

• Section 1: Hikes in Dublin (e.g. Tibradden)
• Section 2: Hikes near Dublin under a 1.5-hour drive (e.g. Djouce)
• Section 3: Hike day trips (trails up to 2 hours away)

The best hikes in Dublin

The first section of the guide looks at the best spots to go hiking in Dublin, with a mix of long and short walks on offer.

Unsurprisingly enough, many of these trails are the much loved Dublin Mountains walks, but there are several others, like the Howth Cliff Walk, that follow flatter tracks.

1. The Howth Cliff Walk

The picturesque little village of Howth is one of the more popular places to go hiking in Dublin, thanks to it’s peach of a coastline and its trails that take you up Howth Head.

The Howth Cliff Walk can be tackled via 3 or 4 different trails, each of which varies in length (1.5 to 3.5 hours) and difficulty.

If you’re after a long walk, try the Bog of Frogs loop from Howth DART station. This is a 12km ramble that takes in the areas best sights.

If you’re looking for shorter hikes in Dublin, park at Howth Summit and try the trail discussed here. It’s doable for most fitness levels.

2. Ticknock

The Ticknock walk is a moderate, 1.5 to 2.5 hour walk that takes you along forest tracks and up to Two and Three Rock Mountain where you’ll be treated to glorious views out over the city.

The Fairy Castle Loop is the most trodden trail at Ticknock, and a moderate level of fitness is needed, as there’s a lot of incline to conquer before you reach the top.

As this is one of the most popular Dublin hikes, it gets insanely busy at the weekend, which makes parking a nightmare, so try and arrive early.

3. The Hellfire Club

The Hellfire Club is another of the more popular places to go hiking in Dublin, and the result is a packed out car park at the weekends, so aim to arrive before 9am.

There are two routes to tackle on Montpelier Hill and they vary in length (1 – 1.5 hours) and difficulty.

However, the trails are well-maintained and it’s a very doable walk for most.

Each trail climaxes when the old (and supposedly haunted) hunting lodge comes into view, along with the panoramic view out over Dublin City.

4. Killiney Hill

There are several different versions of the Killiney Hill walk, depending on how much of a challenge you fancy.

The short trail starts from the main car park and takes around 30 minutes.

The long trail starts from the same place but follows a wide loop, taking 50 minutes.

If you’re taking the bus/train to Dalkey, you’ll walk in from the village, along the Vico Road and up the hill, which takes a good 2 hours.

5. Bohernabreena

One of the best hikes around Dublin is the Bohernabreena Walk.

The Bohernabreena Waterworks in Glenasmole Valley, built between 1883-1887, consist of two reservoirs supplying water to south Dublin, surrounded by scenic walks and fed by the Liffey and Dodder rivers.

There’s a long and a short version of the trail with a car park at either end.

I did the short trail in recent weeks and it was a very easy-going ramble alongside the water via tree-lined paths.

6. Tibradden Woods

The Tibradden Woods Walk is one of the handier hikes in Dublin, and there’s a well-maintained trail here that stretches for around 2.5km.

When I did this last, it took us just under 2 hours to complete it at a fairly leisurely pace.

One of the most interesting sections of the trail can be found at the summit.

Here, you’ll find a prehistoric burial cairn that’s believed to date back to the bronze age. From the summit, you’ll also be treated to stunning views of Dublin Bay all the way across to Howth.

7. Carrickgollogan

Carrickgollogan is one of the most overlooked hikes in Dublin, and it’s located a stone’s throw from both Ticknock and Tibradden.

This is a short enough walk and it should take you between 30 and 40 minutes to complete it, depending on pace. There are two trails to try here.

The Lead Mines Way is a loop that takes in the historic (and unmistakable!) Lead Mines chimney.

The Mountain Access Route takes you to the Viewing Rock where you’ll get some epic panoramas of County Dublin and beyond.

Fancy a handier stroll? See my guide to the finest walks in Dublin!

The best hikes near Dublin (under a 1.5-hour drive away)

Now that I have what I think are the best hikes in Dublin out of the way, it’s time to see what trails can be reached a short drive from the capital.

Below, you’ll find a mix of long and tricky hikes near Dublin along with some reasonably handy forest trails that are well worth tackling.

1. Djouce Mountain

The Djouce Mountain walk is a beaut. And the great thing about it, aside from the views, that is, is how straightforward the trail is.

You kick-start it from JB Malone car Park and you simply follow the boardwalk.

The trail stretches for around 8km and should take you between 2 and 3 hours to complete (with stops).

If you arrive at the summit of Djouce on a clear day, you’ll be able to soak up views from Dublin City and Bray to Arklow and beyond. This is one of the most popular hikes around Dublin for good reason.

2. The Great Sugarloaf

I’ve been doing The Great Sugarloaf walk since I was a kid and, 35 years later, it still never fails to impress… unless you arrive at the top and it’s misted over, that is!

Standing at 501m above sea level, the Great Sugarloaf is the perfect place for a casual early-morning climb.

On a clear day, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of Dublin, the Wicklow Mountains, and the Irish Sea from its summit.

It should only take you around an hour to get up and back down. Just be careful not to leave any valuables in the car – I’ve heard to numerous break-ins here.

3. Bray Head

In previous years, it was the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk that attracted many visitors to Bray. However, the trail remains closed due to safety concerns.

However, there’s another trail in the town that’s arguably one of the finest walks in Wicklow.

The Bray Head hike has a long loop (1.5 hours) and a short liner climb (1-hour) to choose from.

Each takes you to the summit where you’ll be treated to magnificent views.

4. Ballinastoe Forest

Ballinastoe Forest is one of those places that tends to go viral online every couple of weeks, due to the fact that it looks like a scene from Lord of the Rings.

There’s a fine little stroll here that can be a little bit tricky to follow, depending on your entry point to the woods (there are two main entry points).

There are several different walks of varying lengths at Ballinastoe, and they range from 30 minutes to 3.5 hours+ in length.

This is another of the more popular hikes near Dublin, which means parking at the weekend can be tricky.

5. Lough Tay to Lough Dan

There’s a lovely stroll from Lough Tay to Lough Dan that’ll treat you to brilliant views from start to finish.

The walk takes around three hours and climaxes with a mighty view out over Lough Dan.

This is a nice alternative to the walks in Glendalough and you’re likely to only encounter a tiny fraction of the people that you would on the likes of the Spinc Loop.

However, the trail can be tricky to follow in places and we’ve heard reports of one of the gates being closed at times in recent months, so keep that in mind.

6. Lough Ouler

If you fancy grabbing a look at Ireland’s heart-shaped lake, get yourself up Tonlagee Mountain in Wicklow this weekend.

I did this hike recently and it took around 3 hours from start to finish (note: there are longer hikes around Tonlagee!).

I parked at Turlough Hill car park and followed the trail directly across the road to the top.

The climb from the car park to the summit is very steep, but it’s worth it for the views of the lake.

7. Glendalough

Many of the more popular hikes near Dublin are located within Glendalough. Arguably the most popular of these trails is the Spinc Loop.

This walk will take you along the Spinc ridge overlooking Glendalough, offering endless panoramic views over Glendalough and the surrounding hills and mountains.

You’ll return past the Glenealo River via a couple of gorgeous waterfalls into the Upper Lough. There is a well-marked trail to follow for the entire walk, so you’ll have no hassle finding your way around.

The last two times that I’ve done this walk/hike it’s taken 3.5 hours. That includes several stops along the way.

8. Loughcrew Cairns

The next hike is a mini one. You’ll find Loughcrew Cairns in Meath and, interestingly enough, the cairns here are far older than Newgrange (they date back to 4000 bc).

Now, although this is the highest hill in the county, it’s just 276 meters high, which means that you’ll reach the top in around 10 to 15 minutes.

Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of the lush green countryside that surrounds the hill.

This is arguably one of the most overlooked hikes near Dublin.

9. Lugnaquilla

If you’re a seasoned climber and you’re in search of hikes near Dublin that offer a decent challenge, look no further than Lugnaquilla in Wicklow.

At 925m, this is the highest mountain in Ireland outside of Kerry.

The hike on ‘Lug’ can take anywhere between 4 to 6 hours to complete and can be very challenging in places.

On a clear day, you’ll be able to enjoy views of the Sugar Loaf, a good chunk of the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains and the glorious Irish sea.

The best hikes around Dublin (2-hours and under)

The final section of this guide to the best hikes near Dublin looks at the tracks and trails that can be reached in under 1.5 hours.

Below, you’ll find everywhere from Slieve Gullion and Loughcrew Cairns to Lough Ouler and much more. Dive on in!

1. The Mournes

There are countless trails around the Mourne Mountains that are reached in less than 2 hours from Dublin.

My favourites are:

• Kilbroney Park: Hike to see Cloughmore Stone and Kodak Corner
• Tollymore Forest: Pictured above
• Silent Valley Mountain Park: A very hidden gem

2. The Slieve Blooms

The Slieve Bloom Mountains are Ireland’s ancient heart, their trails winding through lush forests, heather-clad hills, and cascading waterfalls.

Roam where Fionn Mac Cumhaill once walked, surrounded by cascading waterfalls, sweeping views, and the timeless beauty of this storied landscape.

The Glenbarrow Eco Walk is arguably the stand-out trail here.

This is a 8.5 km/3 hour loop through forests, waterfalls, and historic ruins, showcasing Glenbarrow’s natural beauty and rich heritage.

3. Slieve Gullion

You’ll find Slieve Gullion mountain in south County Armagh.

It’s here that, on a clear day, you’ll be treated to views like the one in the photo above – patchwork-like green fields as far as the eye can see.

There’s a 15.2km circular route up Slieve Guillion that’ll take you through gorgeous woodland, along steep paths and across peaty grounds (decent footwear is essential!).

This is a brilliant but tough walk that can take the guts of 4 hours when you factor in time for stops and there’s a lot of incline walking needed to reach the top.

4. Cuilcagh

One of the best hikes near Dublin is Cuilcagh in Fermanagh.

Nicknamed ‘The Stairway to Heaven’, the 11km/6.8 mile Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail is a steep, moderate hike that’s made tough at times due to how exposed the trail is.

Even on good days the wind adds a chill factor here.

There is also 450 steps at the end of the flat section of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk.