Discover Alone
“Stop. That’s the spot.”
Howth is where the peninsula bites into Dublin Bay with a vengeance. It’s been settled since prehistoric times, so it’s seen some things. The story goes the Vikings called it Hǫfuð, which is a bit dramatic for a village, but they were into that. You’ve got Howth Castle, the oldest occupied building in Ireland, sitting there looking smug. It’s not just history, though; it’s a busy fishing port and a suburb with more money than sense. You get wild heathland, cliff paths, and a quarry that looks like a giant’s sinkhole. It’s the northern boundary of the bay, and it’s got Ireland’s Eye right there, looking lonely. Come on up. Bring a coat. The wind here has opinions and it’s not shy about sharing them.
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
Then Tom went looking for the oddest places around it.
Stop 2 · Hop back in the car, 5 minutes
Portal tomb
“It’s slumped over, poor thing.”
Howth Demesne (Portal tomb) has a doorstone that fell over, so now it’s just a stone room with bad posture. The roof is massive and probably judging your golf game. Give it a pat on the shoulder, it’s had a long life.
The tomb is ituated by a pathway under tree cover at the edge of Deer Park golf course at the foot of Muck Rock on the north side of Howth Head. There is an entrance in SE to a single chamber (L 2.6m; Wth 1.1m). This is indicated by two portals (H 2.75m and…
From the National Monuments Service (Archaeological Survey of Ireland) record DU015-032Photo: Wingbat, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Stop 3 · 5 minutes down the road
Burrow Beach
“Sand? More like dunes, lads.”
Burrow Beach in County Dublin was so confusing that the Vikings sailed straight past it and got lost finding a pub instead. They thought it was a mirage because they couldn't believe how much sand was piled up there. Bring a coin for luck and keep it in your pocket.
Burrow Beach is recorded as a beach / strand in County Dublin.
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) w27541309Photo: Sebb, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Stop 4 · A 5-minute spin away
Dollymount Strand
“Parallel parking on the beach?”
Dollymount Strand in County Dublin ended up here because it got lost on the way to the Atlantic and just decided to stay. It’s where half of Dublin learns to drive, so expect some terrible parallel parking on the sand. Stop the car, it's worth the hazard lights.
Recorded as: Beach / strand.
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors) w16137892Photo: Susan Pike, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Stop 5 · Hop back in the car, 10 minutes
Saint Marnock's
“Fancy entrance. Let’s go in.”
Saint Marnock's was built for the Jameson family in 1847 and later became a hotel. It’s got a projecting entrance hall that says 'come in, we’re fancy.' Take the long way round, it deserves the effort.
Detached four-bay two-storey over basement country house, built 1847. Remodelled, c.1895, with projecting two-storey entrance hall and projecting single-bay single-storey bay to left-hand side.Country house built for Jameson family and was bought by Irish…
From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 11351004Photo: Jonjobaker, CC BY-SA 4.0
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The whole day on one map
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