January is done and dusted, finally, and as the darker days recede and spring arrives it is time to get reacquainted with the stunning coastal walks, luscious green countryside and many ancient sites of historic beauty that we are spoiled with having on our doorstep in Ireland.
Lots of us live and work in a city. After a long winter, we can feel confined by the routine of commuting to and from work and the hours spent hunched at our desks. The drudgery of going to the office in the dark and leaving when it’s darker is draining. What suffers is our motivation to go for a walk in the evenings or for a day trip on weekends.
Thankfully, with the spring here, that’s all changing, and we can help kick-start your outdoorsy spring with these recommendations.
Each week we gain fifteen or so more minutes of daylight. And let’s face it, by February people have packed in their new January diet and exercise craze and are willing to admit that the resolutions they set on the first of the month were a little ambitious and perhaps it’s time to pivot back towards normality.
Now that’s not to say your normality can’t be filled with adventure. Below we have a list of day trips that incorporate copious amounts of fresh air and as much exercise as you feel comfortable with now that it’s February.
You won’t need a car, as you can get to all these places via public transport and by using the new Transport For Ireland journey planner app; it is hassle free and will provide you with the quickest route.
Bray to Greystones Walk
This 7 km walk from Bray to Greystones snakes along the scenic east coast between the towns with the dart for company. From the once vibrant but now sleepier Bray seafront, you follow a path that winds around the cliff and through a couple of fields until you come out in Greystones Harbour.
Trendy walkers will head straight for the other side of the village where you’ll find The Happy Pear. This pair of Vegan-rockstar twins - who run the vegetarian café and food market - have somehow managed to make kale, quinoa and 5 am swims cool.
The place is always bustling, and you’re likely to find the dastardly duo there with beaming smiles while they sign their cookbooks for a queue of swooning fans. It’s a good place to recharge before getting the Dart back.
Accessible via DART.
Newgrange & the Boyne Valley
This 5,000-year-old ancient burial mound is recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage site. A monolithic monument dating from 3,000 BC, it is an astounding feat of human engineering that will surprise you no matter how many times you’ve visited the passage tomb or looked at the pre-historic drawings and depictions of life that decorate the walls.
Of course, it is famous for the winter solstice. On December 21st, the shortest day of the year, the passage is perfectly aligned for sunrise, which, if conditions are right, enters and illuminates all the way into the internal chamber. This celestial event attracts crowds that queue and camp overnight to witness it.
With a newly developed visitors centre, which details the tumultuous history of the Boyne Valley, from ancient settlements to historic battles, the whole area has an integral place in Ireland’s history and is worth revisiting.
Accessible via Bus Eíreann.
Luggala Valley & The Wicklow Way
Everybody knows Glendalough: the two adjoining lakes flanked and framed by a sheer glacial valley, which provides a perfectly framed vista for tourists and their Instagrams. But that is also its problem, everyone knows it.
Whereas if you go just a valley over in Wicklow to the Luggala Valley, you get a similar natural beauty but also that peace and quiet we crave when heading for the outdoors. The estate is a breathtaking 5,000 acres of forest and lakeside walks, and it boasts a rich and storied past.
This was the place you used to hear about with a wink and a nod from locals in Johnny Foxes. But Luggala is no longer a Wicklow secret. This year there has been a book written about it by Paul Howard and also, just days ago, the Luggala estate went on sale for €28 million.
Luggala has been in the Guinness family since the 1930’s, with parties playing host to Rolling Stones, writers, artists and every form of an aristocrat. The current owner, Guinness heir Garech Browne, has sadly had to put it up for sale.
Why should the public care? Garech has always allowed the 5,000 acres to be roamed by visitors and walkers – that access could be lost in a private sale. You should go before things change at Luggala.
Accessible via Bus Eíreann *
(*and a short hop in a taxi, but it’s worth it)
Howth
Getting off the dart at Howth, you’ll hopefully be greeted by the food market down in the harbour where you could catch a glimpse of local chef Donal Skeehan, who usually has a stall there.
Here you have any number of walks to choose from. One of the best routes is up around the summit and towards the Bailey Lighthouse, which has cliff views all the way out to Lambay Island, or, if you’re feeling it, you could organise the hop over to Ireland’s Eye and visit Martello Tower for a bit of a Joycean adventure.
Find out what’s the best way of getting to these locations by downloading Transport For Ireland’s new journey planner app, you can get it here. Handy to use, it provides you with real-time info and updates on all transport options allowing you to plan your trips in advance.
