Many Dublin suburbs and neighbourhoods have gained infamy in the last few years, with locations such as Howth and Dun Laoghaire enticing both locals and tourists alike. Just this year, in fact, Time Out magazine named The Liberties one of the “Coolest Neighbourhoods” in the world. Indeed the scenic views and cultural experiences these locations offer just a short DART ride away from the city centre are hard to beat. But one small Dublin town is yet to gain the global attention that other suburbs have seen in recent years: Donabate. Located on a peninsula in the east coast of county Dublin, Donabate is the perfect location for a Dublin day trip, though unfortunately is not located along the DART line. You’ll need to take the Drogheda or Dundalk commuter train to get to this coastal oasis.
Newbridge House & Grounds
Just a five minute walk from the train station, Newbridge House is situated in the midst of one of the most historic parts of the village, with castle ruins there dating back to the mid-15th century. The House grounds and the surrounding park are a great place to spend a quiet afternoon, ideal for a picturesque walk. If you want to get some more context as to the history of the surrounding area, the House staff offer a variety of tours of the House, gardens and the farm on the land. If you’re visiting in the summer, be sure to time your trip around the Flavours of Fingal County Fair, which sees upwards of 65,000 visitors from all across Dublin each year. The fair includes all the hallmarks of your standard county fair, including livestock competitions, but also offers a sample of food from local businesses all across Fingal.
Donabate Beach
Venturing further into the village, head to Donabate Beach, which is about a twenty minute’s walk from the train station. This is where you’ll feel the full benefit of the town’s coastal location, with stunning views as far as the eye can see. The natural beauty of Donabate is really its best feature, and there’s nowhere else in the area that this is more evident than at the beach and along the surrounding cliffs. According to local legend (and fingal.ie) the Fingal coastline was often used by smugglers sneaking goods into the country from abroad, and the Donabate coastline is no different. Most of the illegal goods came into the neighbouring village of Portrane, where three old smugglers’ caves can still be located. According to the Irish Times, “smugglers used to follow local seals to discover deep caverns where they could store their loot”. Soak up this local history while breathing in the crisp ocean air as you make your way to the Donabate-Portrane Cliff Walk.
Donabate-Portrane Cliff Walk
On the cliff walk you can encounter similar breathtaking views you get from more popular cliff walks, like the one found in Howth, without needing to peek around the heads of an American tour group. Just under eight kilometres in length, this is the perfect walk to clear the cobwebs on a cold winter’s day. On the walk, you’ll pass some of the town’s most famous local monuments, including a Martello Tower, and, if you can believe it, even more incredible views across the sea. This is my favourite recommendation out of this whole list, purely for the peace of mind you feel after completing a loop of the cliff. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks is enough to soothe even the most agitated mind.
Dinner Options
After all that walking, you’ll want somewhere to have a fulfilling meal in the evening. While the village doesn’t boast the widest selection of cuisine, you’re sure to have a relaxing evening in Pasta Castello, an Italian restaurant along the main street. My family has celebrated many momentous family occasions within the walls of this restaurant, and I would invite you to do the same during your visit. If you’re visiting on a Sunday, pop over to Keeling’s Pub for a traditional Irish carvery. Keeling’s offers a variety of evening entertainments throughout the week, with a pub quiz hosted there every Thursday night. If you’re visiting earlier in the day, grab a coffee from Triangle Coffee Shop on the main street or Cuppacabana right outside the train station.
As you get the train back into the city centre, look out the window at the world passing by, past the fields and the estuary towards the more built up areas of the city. This is the view I see every day on my way into college, a view that never gets old despite having seen it hundreds of times. A lot of my recommendations centre around things to see, but that is because the village really is so full of so much natural beauty, which I try not to take for granted despite being surrounded by it all the time. I hope you will visit Donabate and experience them for yourself.
