Walk the Great South Wall - Dublin

Ireland’s “Lockdown 2.0” has me trading in my stilettos for sneakers and embracing the great outdoors, as indoor activities have ceased once again. Unless they include being cooped up in the house finding another series to binge on Netflix, the lack of indoor activities has led to several outdoor excursions that yours truly may not have participated in otherwise. A recent adventure took me and my sneakers out to the Great South Wall in Dublin.

A Little History Lesson.

The Great South Wall is one of the oldest and longest sea walls in Europe. Construction on the stone pier began in 1761 and completed in 1795. Jutting four kilometers (2.4 miles) out of Dublin Harbor. The walk leads you to the Poolbeg Lighthouse, opening out to Dublin Bay. Fun Wikipedia fact, the lighthouse, built-in 1767, used to operate by candlepower.

So, Where is This Wall?

The easiest way to get to the Great South Wall is by car. Let your GPS do the driving as the streets are not clearly marked. You will drive through winding roads flanked by industrial complexes; don’t worry, you are not lost. The road will eventually bend, and you will see the sea. There is a small parking lot located at the mouth of the pier walk with about 20 spaces. It is the only parking lot on the road, so you can’t miss it. If the lot is full, turn around and park along the street. There is no public transport out to the Great South Wall, but you can take bus 1 or 47 to the Tritonville Road Stop (393). It will take you about 30 minutes to walk from the bus stop to the start of the Great South Wall.

What You’ll See, Besides the Sea.

This historic sea wall now feels more like a bustling promenade as walkers, runners, and swimmers enjoy the 180-degree views featuring Howth, Dublin Harbor, Dublin City, and the Wicklow Mountains (on a clear day). You can watch as massive ferry and transport ships come in and out of the harbor. At the end of this rainbow walk, the real pot of gold is the beautiful bright red (and Instagram-worthy) Poolbeg Lighthouse, opening out to the Irish Sea.

(*Travel Tip: If you fancy a dip in the Irish Sea, a favorite pastime of locals, the Great South Wall offers changing areas and a jumping-off point about two kilometers (1.2 miles) into the walk.)

Total Walk Time.

The walk is eight kilometers (4.9 miles) roundtrip and can take anywhere from 40 – 60 minutes, depending on the weather. I would not recommend an umbrella as the ocean’s winds could turn it inside out, defeating the purpose.

How to Dress.

As with any activity in Ireland, dress in layers and waterproof gear. The weather gods were smiling on us during our sea stroll, as it was a partly cloudy morning with no wind or rain. We arrived around 10:00 am, and the early morning light was casting purple shadows along the seafoam green waters. One surprising thing I have learned since moving to Ireland is the color of the ocean. While I am used to the cloudy brown color of the Pacific Ocean in Seattle and have seen the dark, murky green color of the Atlantic Ocean from the Jersey Shore – Ireland’s water is a beautiful blue-green color, almost a turquoise and jade mix. The morning of my walk, those beautiful colors were on parade, flanked by the dark black jagged boulders lining the sea wall and the grey clouds hanging in the sky.

So, you want to bring a baby?

This stone sea wall is NOT STROLLER FRIENDLY! I learned the hard way that this walk is like a cobblestone street and made for a very bumpy ride for baby. We ended up carrying her the entire time. If you are bringing a baby along, you will need a carrier. Not even a jogging stroller is appropriate for the cracks, crannies, and craters you will find along the walk.