Beyond Fairview Park on Clontarf Road is a rocky promontory of quartzite and schist, along the slopes of which extends the attractive residential town and holiday resort of Howth. The older part of the town is on the northeast side of the peninsula. Here there is a large fishing and boating harbor, from which a boat can be taken to Ireland's Eye.
The highest point on the Howth peninsula (best reached from the Summit district at its east end) is Ben of Howth (568ft/173m), on which can be seen a burial mound; from the top there are panoramic views.
West of St Mary's Church above Howth harbor is the fifth century Howth Castle, a battlemented stronghold of irregular plan, much restored. In the lovely park (open throughout the year) is an 18th C. French-style garden with 30ft/9m high beech hedges and a profusion of rhododendrons. Nearby are a fine chambered tomb and a ruined 16th C. tower house.
There is an attractive cliff walk along the east and south sides of the Howth Peninsula, passing the Baily Lighthouse (1814), a short distance off the path at the southeastern tip of the peninsula, and St Fintan's Chapel (ninth century). The view over the expanse of Dublin Bay to Dún Laoghaire is magnificent.
Above Howth harbor are the ruins of St Mary's Church (14th-15th C.: National Monument), with two aisles of different length. In the south aisle can be seen the handsome tomb of the Lawrence family (c. 1740).
Read More
Read Less
Howth Cliff Walk, Howth
Howth, Dublin
