There is a hidden beach on Dublin's Howth Head that is waiting for you to discover it. Red Rock Beach is a must-visit spot this summer.
The Howth Head Cliff Walk is arguably the most scenic and refreshing walk to do in Dublin. Starting at Howth Village, with plenty of options to fuel yourself with coffee and delicious food there, making your way up to the summit is a somewhat steep incline. But once your on the track, you are making your way to one of the most tranquil swims you can do in Dublin.
How to get there is rather simple. Make your way towards Baily Lighthouse and once you have passed that, the key here is to keep an eye out for a small easy-to-miss dirt track to your left.
Read more: Visitors to Howth can walk in the famous footprints of King George IV
Once you follow that, you are on your way. The whole walk to the beach from Howth takes around two hours with plenty of opportunities along the way to stop and rest.
You are going to pass a series of beaches below you, many of which involve almost scaling down the cliff to get to. Although they are beautiful and you will probably see people relaxing on them, these are not the beaches you want to go to.
You are going to continue on the walk on narrow paths through bushes and along the cliff's dramatic edge, slowly descending as you come closer to sea level.
Soon enough, the trail will lead you to Red Rock Beach, a beautifully peaceful hidden beach that offers up a great opportunity to swim.
It is a rather rocky beach that is best described as rugged. The inlet of water almost seems man-made as it is perfectly encompassed by large rocks either side, ideal for sitting before or after your swim.
The water can be quite full of seaweed when first getting in, and the decline to deep water doesn't take long. Caution is advised when stepping in as there can be uneven rocks. Once you brave the chilly Irish Sea and you are fully immersed, it makes for one of the best swims you will have in Dublin, made all the better by the stunning walk you did beforehand.
Red Rock Beach offers a unique vantage point, offering views of almost the whole of Dublin. You can see landmarks such as Poolbeg, Dollymount Beach and even the Aviva Stadium if it's a very clear day.
The beach is also easily accessible from Sutton and only takes about 20 to 30 minutes to reach from Sutton DART Station.
The phrase 'hidden gem' is thrown around quite freely nowadays, but this is an attraction that truly deserves the title.
Read more: The beautiful hidden Dublin city centre park you may not even know existed
Read more: Dublin duo launch 'perfect pint tour' for Guinness fans in the capital
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
