Howth Safari Hiking Tour - PRIVATE

About This Tour

The Howth Safari is the same route whether you book it privately or in a small group - the same south-facing cliffs, the same hidden beaches, the same goat herd wandering the coastal trails of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere. The difference is that when you book privately, it’s just your group, and the guide adapts entirely around you.

That matters on a route like this. The 5-hour circuit through Howth takes you through ancient woodland, across the heathers of Shielmartin Hill, along cliffs that most visitors to the peninsula never reach, past sea stacks, smugglers caves and some of the least-visited beaches on this stretch of coast. Tides and weather shape the route on any given day, and a private guide can be far more flexible about where to linger and what to skip. If someone in the group wants to spend extra time at Red Rock watching ships move toward Dublin Port, that’s fine. It’s your day.

The tour kicks off at The House Restaurant on Main Street with freshly baked scones, tea and coffee - a proper way to start before you head out onto the trails. The maximum group size for a private booking is 13.

What’s Included

• Private local guide
• Freshly baked scones, tea or coffee

What’s Not Included

• Transportation

Itinerary

1. Meet your guide at The House Restaurant, 4 Main Street, Howth - scones, tea and coffee to start. (30 min)
2. Head along the path around the base of Shielmartin Hill toward the first views of Dublin Bay on the sunny side. (20 min)
3. Cross the heathland and climb through the heathers of Shielmartin Hill to the cliff path. (30 min)
4. The south-facing cliffs - the core of the Safari route - overlooking Dublin Bay, with the old Irish goat herds, hidden beaches and smugglers caves along this stretch. (30 min)
5. Spend time at some of the least-visited beaches on the peninsula. (30 min)
6. Rest at Red Rock with views of ships heading toward Dublin Port, sea stacks and coastal geology, then ascend gently along the cliff path past the Baily Lighthouse. (30 min)
7. Option to descend to Howth Harbour via the disused tramlines back to the village and waterfront, as an alternative to the Summit.
8. Reach the Summit for views of the Baily Lighthouse, Dublin Bay and the Wicklow Mountains - refreshments available here if you want to end the day with a sit-down. (30 min)

Meeting point: The House Restaurant, Main Street, Howth - meet at 10:00am

Routes vary depending on tides and weather conditions.

Good to Know

• Private tour for your group only - no strangers added
• Group size is capped at 13
• Conducted in English
• Service animals welcome
• Howth DART station is nearby - public transport from Dublin city centre takes around 30 minutes
• A moderate level of fitness is needed for the route
• Trails are unpaved and can be soft and wet; proper footwear is essential
• Children must be accompanied by an adult

Local Tips

Private means flexible - use that. The guide can shape the day around your group’s pace, curiosity and energy level. If someone has read about the smugglers caves and wants extra time there, say so at the start. If the group is moving quickly, you might get to parts of the route that aren’t always included. That conversation at The House Restaurant over scones is where to have it.

Red Rock is the geological highlight of the route. The sea stacks and exposed rock formations here are distinct from the rest of the cliff path - your guide can explain what you’re looking at. It’s also one of the calmer spots to stop, with ships visible moving in and out of Dublin Port to the south.

The Baily Lighthouse is one of the best viewpoints on the east coast. You pass by it rather than entering, but the approach from the cliff path gives you a perspective on it that’s hard to get from anywhere else. Clear days offer views south toward the Wicklow Mountains from this point.

The disused tramline descent is an interesting piece of local history. If your group takes that route back to the village instead of the Summit, your guide can tell you about what the old Howth tram line connected and when it ran. It’s a different kind of local knowledge that makes the descent more than just a walk back.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Howth - the fishing village and peninsula where the entire tour takes place, with a working harbour and seafood on the pier.
• Malahide - a well-kept coastal village a short drive north, with a castle estate, marina, and a good village centre.
• Portmarnock - between Howth and Malahide, a quieter stretch of coast with a long beach and a low-key atmosphere.