Aaand just like that, it’s Easter. How did that happen? With the warmer weather expected to last the weekend (hooray!), today I’d like to share a few of my favourite Dublin day trip ideas. Perhaps you might find some inspiration for your own weekend here…
Warning – They all contain mentions of FOOD, glorious FOOD! And not the particularly healthy sort, either. But hey, it’s the weekend and we all deserve a treat from time to time 😉
A walk on Bull Island + Coffees and Toasties from Happy Out
I love taking the scenic route out to Clontarf and Bull Island in the car. There’s nothing like a fresh sea breeze whipping at your face while you walk along the sea shore and watch the waves rolling in effortlessly and endlessly. If you go around lunchtime, I highly recommend the coffees and toasties from the ship-container café called Happy Out.
Lunch at Bunsen in Dublin City Centre + A walk in St Stephen’s Green
Ah. Bunsen. Have you been? I think there are a three of them now, sprinkled generously across the city centre (and they have locations in Cork and Belfast too). When only a burger will do, this is the place to get it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Walk it off in St Stephen’s Green after and then lie on the grass to watch the ducks.
A walk at Pine Forest + Lunch at The Hazel House
You’ll definitely need a car to get to Pine Forest (Tibradden Wood, 6 kms south of Rathfarnham) and the Hazel House, but boy oh boy, it’s a lovely outing. Pine Forest is a walking trail (2.5 km/2 hr/Moderate) in the midst of beautiful woods of Scots pine, Japanese larch, European larch, Sitka spruce, oak and beech trees. Heather, furze, gorse and bilberry grow in abundance and you may even see deer, foxes and badgers. Once you’ve worked up a hunger, pop back into the car and down the road to The Hazel House for your lunch. The Hazel House was recently damaged by a fire but it is open again – this spot is a real gem.
Fish & Chips at Howth
If it’s fish and chips you’re in the mood for this long weekend, I think some of the best can be found at Beshoff’s in Howth. It’ll be packed this weekend but even the queue will be worth it when you sit outdoors in the sun with a picnic blanket and your prize of fish and chips. Walk it off afterwards down the pier to the lighthouse and see how many seals you can spot.
I hope I might have inspired you with an idea for the long weekend. These are some of my favourite trips to do in and around Dublin with my family – I’d love to hear yours! Please let me know in the comments what you’ll be up to, or indeed, where you love to eat out in Dublin on the weekend.
By Happy Magazine Editor, Holly Kennedy.
