Ireland day 1274. Tuesday 25 March 2025- New Visitors Day 3

Today’s summary	Met our friends at the hotel at 10:15 then caught a 102 shortly afterwards down to Sutton. As the tide was low, we walked round the Burrow beach to Howth and then through Howth onto the cliffs. Retraced our steps to Howth for coffee in Insomnia then train and bus back to Malahide. Quick look round the castle demesne then I went to Spanish and the others went to “Townyard” for dinner. I joined them in the Matt Ryan bar in the hotel afterwards for a nightcap
Today’s weather	Dry and overcast in the morning; dry and sunny in the afternoon. Light north westerly wind. Appx 13c

Today’s overview location (The blue mark shows the location of our route)		Close-up location (The blue line shows where we walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Sutton to Howth and Beyond

Commentary

Ireland has really been giving our visitors the red-carpet treatment. With bright sun and blue skies, combined with vivid greens, it’s been looking lovely. It makes you proud to live here!

We packed in another full day of activities today, starting with a 10:15 rendezvous at the the Grand hotel. From there, we crossed the Coast Road and caught a 102 after only a short wait. As always, it was a pleasant and scenic ride down to Sutton, with the Velvet Strand looking fabulous. Once at Sutton, we were just in time for a quick coffee from the hut, then as the tide was out, we decided a coast walk to Howth was in order.

So we duly marched off along the shore round the Sutton Golf Club headland, and onwards to the Burrow beach. There were very few people about, and it was evidently not windy enough (or the tide wasn’t right) for the windsurfers. We seemed to make it round to Howth quite quickly, so once there we found a comfortable seat overlooking the harbour and had a quick Kit-Kat break before walking down the western breakwater to look at the seals. Some extremely scrappy fishing boats were moored there, and one of them appeared to be leaking oil. So although the seals were bobbing about, seemingly unperturbed by the oily sheen, it didn’t look very wholesome.

Down at the end of the pier, we paused for the obligatory selfie then continued our eastward plod right through the town and onto the headland itself. We walked a short way along the clifftop – just far enough to get a good view back to Howth and north up the coast as far as Rockabill – before turning back and returning to the village.

Of course another coffee stop was called for at this point, so we piled into Insomnia for hot drinks and sandwiches. From there, after a suitable refuelling break, we walked over to the station where a Dart came in almost straight away for the journey to Sutton. And lo and behold, a 102 was waiting for us at Sutton, so we were back in Malahide in next-to-no-time.

We disembarked from the bus but instead of heading straight for yet more coffee, we walked down the road a short way and into the castle demesne. It was looking perfect so our quick look round the main gardens and buildings was a joy. We rounded it off by dropping into Avoca to do a bit of window-shopping before returning to the flat.

Back in the flat, more tea was consumed then I headed out to Portmarnock for my Spanish class and the others went to “Townyard” for dinner. After they had eaten and I had hablado español for two hours, I drove down to the Hotel where I met them in the Matt Ryan lounge for a quick nightcap. What a day – 100% excitement filled!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


At Sutton having just arrived on the 102. Funnily enough the coffee shop was open..	On the beach, walking round the Sutton golf club to Burrow beach

Val simply unable to resist the temptation to slot in a bit more exercise	A large-ish fishing vessel in dry dock for an overhaul at Howth

With the team at Howth harbour	Tara Hall – recently refurbished at undoubtedly huge expense (and the house itself sold for €5.5mln). A great looking property with amazing views – but I’m not so sure about the large glass extension on the back

The shoreline between Burrow beach and Howth. I love the clear unconformity between the ancient bedrock and the very much newer glacial till lying on top of it