Walk about the Neighbourhood: Howth

Living just footsteps away from mountains, ocean, forest and farmland while on Vancouver Island, we gave ourselves the challenge of at least one hike a month. We strode our way through a good list of hikes* as well as enchanting neighbourhood strolls  (links below for the walk about series), and have been encouraged to make our Canadian tradition Irish.

Our first hike of this season, from a selection chosen by one of our researchers, was the Howth Cliff Loop Walk.

Starting off from East Pier in Howth village we looked enviously at swimmers in the mid-October summer’s sunshine and it wasn’t long before we wished we’d worn shorts and left our jackets behind.

Pausing, looking back to the Martello Tower and East Pier, farther out to Ireland’s Eye.

Heading out on Balscadden Road: on a blue-skied October Saturday, of course we weren’t the only ones walking the Howth Cliff Path.

Just watch your step.

Not all of Ireland is green again after the long dry summer, but rust is a beautiful contrast with ocean blue.

There is always one smartie-pants in the bunch who winnows through the trail mix.

The Baily Lighthouse: once upon a time, we told our children, we viewed the lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Part of me still regrets that it was out of our budget, and there were a few impracticalities. But the view: Sugarloaf, the Wicklow Mountains, (and what we can’t see here) the Pigeon House and Dublin Bay.

Checking out the vista before heading on up to the Summit.

Ancient Celtic art of bottle tossing.

Taking the high road: north along the Upper Cliff Road.

And back through the village and home.

 

*Ammonite Falls, Jack Point and Biggs Park, Extension Ridge and the Abyss, Mount Benson, and Morrell Sanctuary were some of our walks/hikes.

 

The original Kennedy Street neighbourhood walk is here, and then another Nanaimo trek here. We took our bikes to Newcastle Island; you can read about that here.

In Dublin, one of our favourite walking places is the Phoenix Park.