Howth sucked the breath out of my mouth when I first climbed over the summit to see the panoramic view of its peninsula. Located less than 30 minutes outside Dublin, it is a haven for nature lovers. Check out my video of the sweeping coastal walk here. The placid grey sea stretched for miles below me. The last rays of the fiery setting sun jabbed the sky, a boxer punching its taut surface. The green terrain rolled precipitously down until it vanishes into the sea.
Giant slabs of grey rock punctuated the surface. I felt so small battling the wind. But then a group of hikers climbed up the mountain path. An Aussie Shepherd led the group, bolting ahead to reach the top. Laughing out loud, I thought of my golden retriever back home. How he would love to romp and run along these grassy paths.
But the cliff path loop would take nearly two hours. I had reached the outskirts of Howth, a spectacular seaside village located near cosmopolitan Ireland. But it is a world apart from the medieval castle , Temple Bar, tenement museums , and historic Liberties neighborhood. I recommend you start at Howth Summit to appreciate the geography of this town perched near the Irish Sea. The Vikings named the village Hofuth. The Old Norse word means promontory. Today the Irish name of the village is Howth.
If arriving by bus, you must get out and climb the road to reach the summit. Your seaside is view is hidden until you top the crest. I followed the path of rock slabs to begin my initial descent. Far below, the village crouched. The miniature houses and stores reminded me of a Lego village.
But I discovered the Irish Sea is my biggest distraction on this hike. Sea foam delighted me, little fairies of light dancing on the water at sunset. The clouds billowed and rolled across the sky. This panorama of mountains, water, and sky stretched to infinity. I struggled to focus on one object, choosing the fire orb of the soon-to-be-setting sun. It was only pm. I could commune with the wild sea. About 8, people live in Howth but the population balloons as soon as warm weather arrives.
