The Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse walk is a favorite local place to walk in Dublin. It’s a walk we frequently did when we were living our expat life in Ireland.
Read on for a description and photos of our hikes to Poolbeg Lighthouse from Sandymount Beach.
Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk Distance
You may be wondering: how far is it from Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse? About 5 km (approximately 3 miles) one way.
How long does it take to do the Poolbeg Lighthouse walk from Sandymount Beach? About an hour one way.
Poolbeg Lighthouse Facts
- Poolbeg Lighthouse was built in 1768.
- The lighthouse operated with candles as a light source for nearly 20 years.
- Poolbeg Lighthouse is one of a formation of 3 Dublin lighthouses protecting Dublin Bay.
- Poolbeg Lighthouse sits at the end of Great South Wall in Dublin.
- Great South Wall was the longest in the world when it was built in the 18th century.
Starting Our Walk at Dublin’s Sandymount Strand
We started our walk on the beach at Sandymount Strand looking toward the twin towers of Dublin’s Poolbeg Power Station. From Sandymount Strand, we hiked through the brush.
We approached the Irishtown Nature Park and faced a fork in the trail.
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Dublin’s Poolbeg Smokestacks
The Poolbeg smoke stacks loomed closer.
We saw a number of people taking a shortcut across the sand at low tide on the walk between Sandymount Strand and Poolbeg Towers, but we chose to stick to the trail: safety first!
Walking Dublin’s Great South Wall
We soon approached the starting point of the Great South Wall that juts out into Dublin Bay. Great South Wall was built in the early 1700s and has amazingly withstood the tests of time.
Make sure to wear sturdy shoes for this hike. The cobbled Great South Wall is uneven and it’s easy to trip if you don’t watch your footing.
Also, be mindful of the tides when you plan the timing for your Poolbeg Lighthouse walk. At high tide at certain times of year, the Great South Wall is at least partially under water.
Container ships emerged from Dublin Port.
Much smaller vessels also shared the channel.
We could see Poolbeg Lighthouse standing proud at the end of the wall.
Reaching the Goal of Our Hike: Poolbeg Lighthouse!
We continued walking and finally made it to the end of the Great South Wall – a bit wind-blown but definitely enjoying the Autumn sunshine.
We looked up and admired the bright red facade of the Poolbeg Lighthouse.
| SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: If you are keen to go on a fun day trip from Dublin, I’d like to recommend Ireland’s Eye. This small island off the coast of Howth is uninhabited and a fantastic spot for hikes and birdwatching. |
Retracing Our Steps from Poolbeg Lighthouse to Dublin Port
We retraced our steps and hiked back toward the Poolbeg Power Station. We decided to walk along the road to Ringsend rather than take the trail all the way back to Sandymount Beach. We spotted an old stone structure and garden along the way.
We saw containers piled high.
The road was a bit desolate; not nearly as scenic as the trail between Sandymount Strand and the Poolbeg Lighthouse.
Post-walk Pints in Ringsend
We walked into Ringsend Park, a lovely green space.
After nearly 10 miles of walking, we decided to stop for a well-deserved break at The Bath pub.
We tried two bottled craft brews: Goose Island India Pale Ale and O’Hara Irish Pale Ale.
We sipped our beer in the light-filled pub – very refreshing compared to the usual dark interiors of most Dublin pubs. I suppose the decor was, well, bath-colored. There were even some bath related knick-knacks in the cubby holes near the door.
More on Poolbeg Lighthouse Walk Planning
Our hike from Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg Lighthouse in Dublin was longer than we expected but it was invigorating on a brisk fall day.
I recommend either calling a taxi with Free Now App or walking back from Poolbeg Lighthouse via Sandymount Strand for more scenic views along the way.
We definitely recommend the Poolbeg Lighthouse walk from Sandymount Beach as a top walk in Dublin. The route is ideal for a half-day excursion.
Don’t forget to check the tides when planning your walk. This will determine if you can take the shortcut across Sandymount Strand and will also help avoid disappointment or even danger. You don’t want to risk getting cut-off at the Poolbeg Lighthouse at high tide.
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