First-time visitors who want an efficient orientation before exploring alone.
city tours IrelandMe tour notes
Dublin Coastal Hike, Pints & Puppies Adventure
Hike Howth's coastal cliffs with a local guide and their dog - Viking abbey ruins, the Baily Lighthouse, 360-degree sea views and a complimentary pint at the end. From €47.
From €47 starting price · live price may vary
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Duration3-4 hours
PriceFrom €47
Rating5.0 from 652 reviews
BookingSecurely via Viator
The IrelandMe take
What stands out about this one
Our practical read of the published itinerary, traveller feedback and local context—not the operator’s sales description.
Howth is 30 minutes from Dublin city on the DART, and this is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a morning or afternoon there. You'll hike the coastal cliffs with a local guide and their dog — covering paths that most day-trippers never find — while hearing the stories of the Vikings and Normans who shaped this headland, the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey (founded in 1042), and the sea views that have drawn writers and artists here for centuries.
The route takes in Howth Lighthouse, the Martello Tower, the Baily Lighthouse, the Cliff Path Loop and the summit with its 360-degree views over Dublin Bay. Your guide makes a video memento of your journey through Howth that you can share with family and friends. A private tour option is available if you'd prefer to have the guide to yourselves. Groups are capped at 15.
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
One practical detail
Take the DART — it drops you at the door. The meeting point is literally outside the train station at Howth, and the DART runs directly there from the city centre in about 30 minutes. It's cheaper and easier than driving, and you don't need to find parking on a busy headland.
How the experience works
The tour wraps up at the Bloody Stream, a proper local pub tucked right beneath the railway station, where a complimentary pint rounds things off nicely.
What the price covers
- Local guide
- Video memento of your journey through Howth to share with family and friends
- Alcoholic beverages (complimentary pint at the end)
- Private tour option available
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
The published itinerary
Use this to judge the pace and where your time actually goes. Operators can adjust stop order for traffic, weather or opening times.
- Howth Train (DART) Station - Meet just outside the Bloody Stream Pub and get your bearings in the village. (10 min)
- Hidden Howth - Your guide shows you the paths and spots that locals know and visitors rarely find. (5 min)
- Howth Lighthouse - A piece of maritime history at the edge of the Irish Sea. (5 min)
- St. Mary's Abbey ruins - The remains of an abbey founded in 1042, with views over the village and harbour. (20 min)
- Martello Tower - A 19th-century fortification with sweeping views of Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea. (10 min)
- Howth Cliffs walk - The main stretch: walking the cliff edge with the sea below. (60 min)
- Baily Lighthouse - One of the most dramatic spots on the headland, perched right on the cliff edge. (15 min)
- Cliff Path Loop - The loop back along the coastline. (45 min)
- Howth Summit - 360-degree views across Dublin Bay, the city and the rolling hills. (15 min)
- Bloody Stream pub - Back at the start for your complimentary pint. (45 min)
Meeting point: Howth Train (DART) Station, just outside the Bloody Stream Pub.
Local tips that make the day better
St. Mary's Abbey is older than most visitors realise. Founded in 1042, it predates the Norman arrival in Ireland and sits quietly above the harbour with views that make it one of the more atmospheric ruins in the Dublin region. Your guide's stories about the abbey and its Viking connections set up the wider history of the headland well.
The cliff walk section is the heart of the tour. The hour on the cliff path is genuinely dramatic — you're on the edge of the headland with the Irish Sea directly below, and on a clear day the horizon extends far further than you'd expect. The Baily Lighthouse, perched right at the cliff edge, is one of those views that stays with you.
The Bloody Stream is a real local pub. It's tucked under the railway station at Howth village, and the pint you get at the end isn't a tourist formality — it's a genuinely good pub with a local atmosphere. If you want to sit on for a second round after the tour, you're in the right place.
The video memento is a nice touch. Your guide films moments from the walk and puts together a short video you can share. It's not a professionally produced highlight reel, but it's a good reminder of where you walked — the cliffs, the lighthouse, the summit — and better than the usual phone photos people end up with.
Good to know before booking
- Moderate level of physical fitness required
- Not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Service animals are welcome
- Public transport — DART — stops right at the meeting point
- Group size is capped at 15
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included
- Tour conducted in English
Make more of the area
- Howth — the village at the foot of the headland, with a DART station, fresh seafood restaurants and a working fishing harbour
- Malahide — a coastal village 20 minutes north by road, with a medieval castle and botanical gardens worth a separate visit
- Clontarf — the seafront suburb between Howth and the city, with a long promenade along Dublin Bay
Questions before you book
How long is Dublin Coastal Hike, Pints & Puppies Adventure?
The published duration is 3-4 hours. Allow extra time to reach the meeting point and for your onward plans.
How much does Dublin Coastal Hike, Pints & Puppies Adventure cost?
The listed starting price is From €47. Live prices can change by date, group size and availability.
What should I know before booking?
The published itinerary is the deciding factor here. Check the current meeting point and stop timings before committing.
Ready to decide?
Check the live times before building the rest of your day.
From €47 · 3-4 hours Check dates & prices ↗
