Venturing down a woodland trail puts things into perspective. Trees join limbs before the sky and…read moresunshine filters down in golden patches. Bees land on wild flowers and the sound of birdsong is powerful. All of a sudden, the softest blanket of purple haze shimmers before me. A shock of bluebells huddle together, their heads downcast. The astonishing splendour of nature has awoken me and I feel like telling the bluebells to look up. Look up and appreciate the beauty around you. The magnificence of yourselves.

Went for a lovely walk here recently. It's a bit out of my way but I wouldn't mind coming back,…read moreespecially in Spring when the bluebells and wild garlic are in full bloom. Seemingly there are walks to the extend of 10km and well sign posted. Some of the ways we walked are lovely small. Just pure nature. A nice suurounding to unwind.

The plan was to go to Glendalough for a hike, but at the last minute we decided to climb the Sugar…read moreLoaf instead and we were so glad we did. It was a clear cool day, with blue skies. Perfect for a climb of the Sugar Loaf. When the incline became steeper, we had to unzip our raincoats. Close to the top it becomes a bit of a scramble, with loose scree under foot. So you need to be sure you can cope with these conditions before attempting the last part of the climb. But if you can make, it will be worth it, the views were smashing. The clear conditions of this day probably made for near perfect views, although we couldn't quite see Wales :) One other thing to note was the drop in temperature when we neared the top, so we zipped up our jackets and put on our woolly hats again. The car park at the foot of it had ample space when we arrived at midday, but by the time we got back it was full. Maybe a early start is advised, but that said cars were coming and going all the same.

The sugar loaf mountains are absolutely beautiful, it just so happened we got a perfect day for it…read more The climb up the mountain isn't very tough and there was lots of different ages of people doing it, from small children to older people. The view from the top is breathtaking!! I'd recommend wearing comfortable gym clothes and good runners. OHHH and don't forget your water!!

The Poolbeg Chimneys are part of Dublin's fabric…read more No longer in use, it was decided to not demolish them. Forever will they be part of the Dublin skyline. I use them sometimes to get my bearings as to where the hell I am, if I am somewhere in Dublin I am not familiar with. Between these stacks, the spire and the new Lansdowne Road it's easy to figure out.... Not that I'm normally lost mind you. Definitely a fan, they are even more impressive up close, so get down to Poolbeg if you are interested in checking them out. And while you're there, hike the Great South Wall (when conditions are safe of course, which they normally are) and see the Poolbeg lighthouse at the end of it. There's also the beach and Irishtown Nature Reserve. So lots to see while you are there. Defintely worth a look.

I find it strange that I'm writing a review here of what is essentially an electricity generating…read morestation, but really I'm talking about two of the most familiar sites in Dublin. No I don't mean raucous hens in Temple Bar or signs saying Guinness, I'm talking about The Poolbeg Chimneys, or as an uncle of mine used to call them: 'The Ringsend Hornpipes!' If you're not a Dub you won't be familiar with their name, but you'll have seen them for sure. You can't miss em', from plane or ferry these twin thin 270 metre chimneys have dominated Dublin Bay ever since they were constructed in the late 1960's. Like two red & white candy-striped sticks bellowing out often sinister looking smoke clouds, they kind of stand guard. If I was an invading Viking now I'd turn tale back immediately at the frightening twin spectacle of these! Of course a lot of people have always hated them, The generating station here on the 'Poolbeg Peninsula' at Ringsend is still helping to power Dublins substantial electrical needs but not for much longer. 2010 is supposed to be the last gasp of smoke for the pair of them. I remember the first time I saw them coming on the ferry from Liverpool, I was only about 4, and they reminded me of some pillar like wooden soldier skittles that I had, so I never took them as looking intimidating. Ever since they've welcomed me to Dublin many times, and I've bid a sad goodbye to them as often, particularly by sea which is my preferred choice of departure, and I'll be up on decks if I'm allowed to, gazing back as we clear the poolbeg lighthouse until they're quite lost, before heading down below to the bar to drown me sorrow at departing! Now they've plans to light them up at night with around 20,000 special strobe bulbs, creating in the words of Irish sculptor Patrick O'Reilly, a twinkling, tinsel-like effect! Quite honestly coming from someone who doesn't like tall buildings and views future enthusiasm for highrise in Dub with dismay, these two can stay please, and lets not become as 'sky-crazed' as London for example has become. There's enough 'Stiffy's on the Liffey, and 'liberty-taking-Hall' high stuff already! These big fellas may be set to become Dublins kind of unlikely Eiffel Tower, or for me as it is very often, more like a pair of sore-eyeful towers!

My return to Knocksink Wood really surprised me, it's not the same place I remember…read more To find it, as you drive down into Enniskerry via the Monastery Road, you will see the wooden sign by the entrance. If on a Dublin bus, I would say its the second stop after you pass the stop at the closed down Texaco garage. About a mile in off the road is a car park and an education centre. This was all new to me and both great additions to the woods. We didn't go into the centre, so cannot comment on that. I should have though and I will next time I am back. The trails that are marked out are very even and safe, for anyone who prefers a safe stroll. There appears to have been some work done to make these paths quite safe, especially a long parts of the river bank. For the more adventurous there are some paths that deviate from the main foot paths, but prepare to get a bit muddy. The Glencullen river runs through the woods and this is really the highlight of the woods. The view and sound of the river is a tonic. Of all the dogs being brought for a walk here, there was many of them enjoying a dip in the river. In fact the whole woods is perfect for dog walking. They all seemed to be really enjoying their walkies. It was a Sunday afternoon in March and by the time we were leaving, at about 15:30, the car park was getting very busy. I look forward to going back for another walk in the woods.

A very nice woodland walk - quite short and easy without and major hills. The Glencullen river…read moreruns along side with a couple of little waterfalls and bridges. Very well signposted and with a big car park

A lovely place. Great scenery on top with nice rocks. You can see the whole Dublin…read more Coming here mostly with a road bike. A good challenge to get up there. You may park at the bottom and walk up. Be prepared to sweat a little bit. There're at least two ways. I tried the other one and it was all gravel. No good for road bike. But nice walking experience.

Ticknock has up to 10 km of mountain and forest walks catering to seasoned hikers, mountain bikers,…read moreskateboarders, mountain runners, Sunday strollers and everyone in between with fantastic views from Dublin City to Bray Head. The forest has an extensive network of forest trails managed by Coillte and Ticknock is part of the Dublin Mountains Partnership which aims to improve the recreational use of the Dublin Mountains. The area comprises Two Rock, Three Rock, Kilmashogue and Tibradden Mountains. There are two trails specific to just Ticknock with the addition of the Wicklow Way Trail. The first trail 'Mountain Access Route' starts and finishes at the Ticknock Forest carpark. It meanders through the woodland paths before going straight up to the summit of Two Rock at Fairy Castle. This trail comes back down the same way. It's an 800m walk which takes about 20 mins. It's marked by Coillte and the Dublin Mountain Partnership as moderate and it seems to be used by runners a lot for training, as well as the occasional skateboarder on the lower part of the trail where it is tarmacadamed (I know this isn't a word, but you get what I mean!). I tend not to do this trail as it's a bit too short. The ground is partially forest walk, partially forest road and partially uneven mountain trails. It's a nice short, steep walk to the great views from Fairy Castle. The second trail 'The Fairy Castle Loop' starts and finishes at the same point but covers 5.5km and takes an estimated 1hr 45mins although as we took the wrong path for a little while on Sunday it took us closer to two hours, but hey, it was a lovely sunny day so no harm done The trail is also considered moderate. It's grand, a little uneven in places and some parts are a little on the steep side, but if you have any level of fitness you should be fine. This trail loops past Fairy Castle at the summit and passes Three Rock on the way back down (or up if you go in the opposite direction). Another thing to note is that the Dublin/Wicklow Way also runs through this part of the mountains, and so there are often other walkers coming from further afield. You can also extend your walk by heading along the Wicklow Way to either Tibradden Wood and joining the 'Tibradden Mountain Trail' or to Kilmashogue Forest which is another lovely walk. The Coillte and Dublin Mountains Partnership websites both have handy downloadable free maps which I would recommend taking if you're unsure of the trails and you don't want to bring an OSI map with you. The trails are well marked in places but not at every possible diverging fork. There is quite a lot of parking available at Ticknock as it is a very well used part of the mountains. Apparently the 44B is the closest public transport but I've had a look and it seems the closest stop might be at Lamb Doyle's.

Just 20 minutes from Dublin, you can easily get to a lot of way-marked walks through the mountains…read moreoffering gorgeous views of the city and coastline. Carrickgollogan offers some of the best vantage points, for the perfect photo op and a comfortable hike through the woods. Carrickgollogan is easy to get to from the city on the N11 but be wanted there are some tight country roads before reaching the car park. The only negative about this spot is the car park closes at 4pm so make it an early start - the walk is approx 2km but there's lots of detours to take so it's easy to spend a few hours wandering around. If you think you're going to be later than 4pm, you can park in front of the car park on the side of the road but it's pretty tight so not recommended if you drive a wide car.

Even though we did not actually go onto the island itself, the ferry boat tour around the Eye of…read moreIreland was still such a beautiful experience. Being out on the ocean and seeing the island from the water gave us incredible views of the rugged coastline and dramatic seaside cliffs. One of the highlights was getting to see puffins and the many different seabirds that live on and around the island. Watching them fly around the cliffs and rest along the rocks made the experience feel so peaceful and special. The scenery was absolutely stunning and felt like something out of a postcard. The entire boat ride was relaxing, scenic, and a wonderful way to experience the natural beauty of the area. I would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Howth, especially if you enjoy wildlife, ocean views, and beautiful coastal landscapes.

My review of Ireland's Eye is a little biased considering the weather I got while here. So it's a…read moresmall Island just a few minutes by boat from Howth harbour (so easily accessible from the city by DART). The Island has a nice beach, 7th century castle, Martello tower (climb up the rope to get inside!) and small cliffs that are popular with rock climbers. It's a perfect spot for a picnic and day out in the sun, you will not believe you are still in Dublin. OK, so lets talk about the ultimate way to see this island! On those rare calm days, don your wetsuit, grab a SUP (Stand Up Paddle board) and venture out from Howth harbour. Ok, so most of us can't just do that, but if a calm spell is coming contact the guys in Puremagic (Clontarf Rd). They are a super friendly group and they organise SUP lessons and SUParis around the Island. I went out on a SUP with Puremagic on a Friday evening and it was one of the most amazing things I've done in my 27 years in Dublin. As you approach the Island you will see curious seals starting to pop there heads out of the water. Before you know it you'll be surrounded by over 20 of them, some continued to follow us around the island. The side of the Island facing away from the coast is beautiful cliff face with large nesting bird colones. As I passed peacefully on my SUP just meters from the cliff face I could see thousands of birds flying, diving and skimming along the water. My favorite bird was the razorbill, they seem to struggle flying out of the water and spent most of the time skimming along on there belly, they looked like a cross between a penguin and a flying bird. There are also a few small caves along the cliff that a pretty cool to venture into. There is a sandy beach on the Island and when the tide is in there are a few spots from the rocks that provide a good spot for a bit of diving. So I've rambled, but I can not recommend SUPari around the Island more, so if you get the chance, DO IT!

Ben of Howth is a hill on Howth Head that has the most breathtaking view of the sea, Ireland's eye…read moreand the neighbouring golf course. It's 171 metres high and on a sunny summer's day, I can think of no better place to drive to. There isn't much to do here, only hike and enjoy the sights. Yellow rhododendrons and purple heather grow on the hillside which makes the place idyllic. This is a great spot for first time visitors to Ireland. It makes the country seem rugged, wild and beautiful.

On a clear morning, we hike up to the Ben of Howth. From there, if you bring your binoculars (or,…read morelike me, are particularly keen-sighted) you can see Wales to the East and the Isle of Man to the NNE. Just scan the horizon slowly, as if you were looking out for Viking raiders. If you'd ever met any Viking raiders, you'd be up there now trembling in your moccasins. Scan slowly and you'll see tiny bumps on the horizon. Amazing. That's Wales. You have most of the Irish Sea covered. Then it's just a short stroll down the hill (exit by the quarry entrance) and you're having breakfast down in the Village (that's where the big church is, and it's an Assumption (joke).

This is just such a gorgeous spot! On sunny days, it actually feels like somewhere far away from…read moreIreland. You could nearly be on the coast of France or Spain! It's a bit of a walk down but so worth it. Bring a little picnic and chiiiilllllll time. Now all we need is a little bitta sun...

Beautiful beach . . . a bit of a hike down all the millions of steps but always worthwhile.read more

My husband and I had a fabulous time biking! The views were breath taking and our tour guy was so…read moremuch fun. I would highly recommend!!

From the owner: We provide high quality bike rental, guided tours and lessons.read more