Greystones to Bray Cliff Path

 On Friday last I walked the Greystones to Bray cliff path for the first time in a year. This is a highly accessible route by public transport and only requires a reasonable level of fitness - ie you need to be ok to walk for about 90 minutes to 2 hours and there are a couple of sets of steps in the middle which are quite deep and not kind to dodgy knees. It is mostly flat, with a low gradient slope at each end. The walk is approximately 7k but if you are travelling by DART there is a little extra walking at each end. The train takes under an hour from Dublin city centre and 40 mins back from Bray.

 

Many consider it the Bray to Greystones path, but I prefer to start in Greystones, further South, for a number of reasons.  Walking northwards means the sun isn't in your face. More importantly, the DART (Dublin coastal & city centre train) back to the city is more frequent from Bray so I don't even bother checking train times home in the early evening, whereas from Greystones you are better off knowing when to turn up at the station. The path is closer to the coast at Bray so the view as you finish is much more breathtaking. Lastly, you have a greater choice of watering holes and eateries close together on the bustling seafront at Bray. (One of these days I will do Bray to Greystones and back again!!)

part of the new harbour at Greystones, June 2013 (own photo)

My friends and I like to take a little detour at the start of this walk, turning left (South) outside the dart station in Greystones instead of right, grabbing a coffee to go and walking a few yards to the beach for a quick picnic. Then we walk back along the beach and ascend some steps at the North end of the strand onto a paved coastal walk that takes you to the new harbour and marina, which seems to be almost finished now.

Keep following the natural line of the pavement (sidewalk) as it curves to the left until you are directly across the road from a pub and to your right you will catch the new access to the cliff path, running alongside a fish n chip cafe.  This is a new start since last year and very even underfoot. The beginning of the route has a fence on one side and doesn't yet afford a clear view of the sea for several minutes. However at this time of year at least, the pathway is a riot of colour, lined with pink, red and yellow wildflowers. I made a mental note to check if I have beads or buttons to match these hues so I can use them as inspiration for some summer jewellery.

path to the cliffs at Greytones (own photo)

looking back at Greystones, a short way into the hike

Shortly, the path opens out into lush green land with a view of the low hill, Bray Head, straight ahead of you. Look behind you and you can catch a glimpse of Greystones strand. The way gets gradually steeper as it winds higher towards the side of the cliff. At some points the path narrows and is lined with nettles and brambles, so shorts are not a great idea!

this photo was taken in early 2012,the first time I did this walk

July 2013

Eventually you reach the cliff side with refreshing views of the open sea and the winding rail track below. This older section of path is still fairly even, though some parts are narrower and rockier.  At no point are you teetering at the cliff edge as you are at points in Howth, at the other end of the same DART line. (Future post yet to come.)

(own photo)

View looking backwards or what you see from the Bray side

 (own photo)

tunnel eyes (0wn photo)

My favourite section is when the path turns a corner and you see the tunnel 'eyes' watching you. The outer train tunnel is the original one but the track was moved a little more inland following an accident in 1869. Read  more about these tunnels in my previous post HERE.

Closer to Bray there are a couple of exits off and upwards where you can gain access to Bray Head if you want  a steeper challenge and a longer walk. This hill is not very high, but many find it very steep, especially on the way down. (I bent back and broke a toenail rather painfully on the way down last year and chickened out of climbing it again.) The cliff path ends up next to the Bray access and car park for the the hill walk and the road winds down to the seafront where you can find refreshments.

View of Bray from the top of Bray Head (own photo) 2012

It took us a little over 2 hours from when we landed on the beach with a couple of pit stops for a quick bite to eat and several photo stops. Walking at an easy pace without lunch stops should take perhaps 90 minutes. If you are driving, you can park at Greystones Harbour or Bray seafront and take the Dart back to your starting point.

Now I'm off to find some beads to match those flowers......

Caught My Eye 18. The Hills Have Eyes

Caught My Eye  is a series of blog posts showing scenes I found interesting, odd, curious or beautiful. I am not a photographer, so please do not expect top quality photography :-). But please enjoy a glimpse of the world through my eyes.......or in this case, perhaps someone else's.....

The Hills Have Eyes (own photo)

Who's looking at you? Seems the hills really do have eyes.  Yesterday I walked the cliff path from Greystones to Bray and took a pic of one of my favourite sights along this route, the train tunnel 'eyes' watching from below. Spooky, eh?

Greystones to Bray Cliff path view of Train Tunnels (own photo)

The outer 'eye' is the old coastline train tunnel which was in use up until a tragic accident occurred in the 19th century. A new tunnel was built after that, but you can read the story for yourself here:

photo of the sign along the route

old photo on the sign along the path

I will be back with more information and scenes from this cliff walk to add it to my blog section Inspiring Walks.

Inspirations. Dollymount Strand

Lately I've been very lacking in creative inspiration and I put it down to the fact that I've been unable to walk much on my foot since plantar fasciitis struck last Autumn. However, I've slowly been able to get back into my walking boots with a combination of physio and other means.

So I decided to brave it and go for a decent walk with my Etsy friend, Mo of Huggleknits, and combine it with a catch up about Etsy business.  We chose to revisit a Dublin city beach I hadn't been to in almost a decade, Dollymount Strand, just North of the city centre. It is much closer than I'd ever realised and it is easily accessible by bus.

Catch the bus on Lower Abbey Street. (Dublin, Google Maps)

Take the 130 bus from Lwr Abbey St. The fare is currently €2.40 and in bad, Saturday afternoon traffic it took about 30 mins. Coming back around 7pm took just 2o mins. Once past Fairview, the Clontarf road affords beautiful views of Dublin Bay and Harbour. There is a coastal promenade in Clontarf which is popular with walkers all year round. It stretches from Fairview Park to the Bull wall at Dollymount so alternatively, you could get off at any point and follow this paved walkway.

Dollymount bridge, May 2013, Amo'r

However, the busstop for Dollymount strand is immediately after the landmark wooden bridge. The bridge takes you to North Bull island and its sandy beach. Cars use the bridge to access the car park, but there is a wide pedestrian section on both sides so it is perfectly safe for walkers. 

 

The island is a relatively new land formation that grew from a small sand bank over the past 200 years. The South Wall and the Bull Wall were built to stop silting in the Liffey and as a result, tidal currents deposited layer upon layer of sand creating this unusual sanctuary so close to the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Dollymount strand  Looking Northwards to Howth, May 2013, Amo'r

The flat, sandy beach stretches about 5km (over 3 miles) long and affords a comfortable, scenic walk at any time of year, with breathtaking, expansive views of Dublin bay.  You can see ships entering and leaving Dublin Docks just to the South. Beyond the curve of coastline, the Wicklow mountains are clearly visible on the horizon. To the North you can see the Sutton side of the Howth peninsula.

When I was a kid we used to go to Dollymount strand for walks in Winter and Spring. We never swam in the sea as, if my memory serves me well, it was not the cleanest of beaches then. Today it is super clean and known for its ecological uniqueness.  The island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve boasting a bird and wild life sanctuary at the Northern end.  There is plenty of space to walk, run, fly a kite or just chill.

The fresh air did the trick and I've got a number of design ideas floating in my head (if you'll excuse the unintended pun please.)


For more inspiring walks around or close to Dublin, click HERE
To catch a glimpse of a curious bathing area at Dollymount click HERE

Some sea pottery, sea glass and sea themed items from my Etsy store:

   

 

 

Inspirations. The National Botanic Gardens, Dublin

It's been a while since I've posted about any inspiring rambles or hiking trails around Dublin. That would be because I haven't been on one in months! I've had the misfortune to suffer a bad case of Plantar Fasciitis that has hobbled me for at least the winter, but I'm working on getting back on my feet, so to speak, by mid Spring.

However, I am not letting it coop me up entirely and still manage to get out in the fresh air even though I can't walk very far. I need to get close to nature to breathe and generate some creativity.

A couple of weeks ago I met up with Mo of Huggleknits and Heli of Heli Creations for one of our 'inspirational' days out. We took the number 9 bus from O'Connell Street, northwards to one of my favourite places in the city, the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland

Tap by Alan Corrigan & Finbar O'Neill

We thought it would help us tap into new creative energies (sorry, couldn't resist that pun if you paid me). The tap was part of the exhibition 'Sculpture in Context' held in the gardens in October. 

a glass house at the Botanic Gardens

 It was a stunning October day, perfect for taking photos...if only I were any good at taking them! 

 Though the gardens were still very green, they were also awash with seasonal golds, coppers, rusts and reds.

Inspired by the warm tones, the next day I was lured away from silver and instead, made this rich, autumnal brown sea glass and copper wire pendant, 'Sunset in Dublin.'  ...

Cork Red Marble pendant

...and this warm, Cork Red marble pendant, Love & Truth. I've been working on various other pieces and ideas inspired by our visit. In the meantime,  here are few more photos from the day:

spooky Halloween tree?

The wild Irish garden section looked like an impressionist painting. 

 

click here to see inspiring walks and Irish scenery 

Inspirations. Bohernabreena Reservoir

Hiking, trail walking, rambling, hill. walking...whatever you prefer to call it, it's something I've been doing a lot of this past year. I'm very lucky to live in Dublin, which has many great walks within easy reach of the city providing a wide variety of scenery. I've trundled up hills, across cliffs and around lakes in the past few months, getting creative inspiration from nature as I try to get fit.

The smaller reservoir at Bohernabreena

 I find the fresh air, exercise and closeness to nature very refreshing. The beautiful Irish landscapes fire my creativity. Water, whether it be from sea, lake, river or canal, particularly inspires many of my designs.

 A couple of weeks ago I explored the Bohernabreena Reservoirs with a friend. I haven't been there since I was about twelve. I hadn't realised just how close the lakes are to the city so will go back again and again.

 To get there from the city centre, I took the 49 bus to the Old Mill Pub, Tallaght.  There I met up with a friend who led me on a 10 minute walk up the Kiltipper Road to, most unexpectedly, the Kiltipper Woods Care Centre (nursing home)! It turns out though, the centre's coffee shop, Cafe Woods, is open to walkers and passers-by so it's a handy little pitt stop.

The trail starts from here with a path that takes you straight through Kiltipper Park and out on to the Bohernabreena Road, almost opposite the car park for the Bohernabreena Waterworks at Glenasmole Valley. Turn right when you come out of the park and walk just a hundred yards or so and you will see the entrance. (If you're not used to country roads, take care to walk against the traffic as far in off the road as you can as there is no path. The road is not as quiet as it seems.)

The path takes you up to a smaller reservoir first and then on to the larger reservoir. The brown tinge of the water is caused by peaty soil. This is commonly found in rivers and lakes where there is bogland.

We took the tree-lined path to the left of the larger reservoir to follow the loop all the way around. Once you get to the upper end of the lake, you pass through a gate, turn right and walk a few yards to another gate. Here, you pick up the return path leading past both reservoirs and all the way back to the car park.

The river Dodder runs alongside this path. The peaty water is a striking chestnut brown colour and looks like a river of Guinness! It also reminds me of the colour of bronzite, an artificially weathered stone that looks like metal.

Bronzite pendant from my Fondelifair shop inspired by similar peaty waters of Lough Dan. 

Some jaspers can also be a rich, chestnut brown, like the stone in this brown jasper necklace found in my Etsy shop. After this walk, I made a friend a pair of earrings using similar stones. I have a small disc of bronzite that I want to fashion into a pendant, or perhaps a keyring, next.

Inspirations II. Ticknock Forest & Hill walk

 

 View of Dublin Bay from Ticknock, April 2012

I took a few days off over the Easter break to spend time with my sister, who is home from abroad for a couple of weeks. I feel like I've just been far away myself. It's always good for the soul to catch up with loved ones and have a laugh. It's also great to take a couple of days off, away from work routine and even, dare I say it, from crafting. Like everything, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And a break certainly refreshes creativity.

courtesy of Google Maps

We didn't have the glorious sunshine of previous weeks, but at least it was fairly dry so we managed to get in a hike in the Dublin mountains - which, I've humorously been reminded by my dear Spanish friends, are not mountains at all! Well, yes, there's a reason we call it hill walking I guess. But as I am not long back in my hiking boots after several years absence, the Dublin Mountains feel plenty high to me! In fact, when I first hit the steep forest path, my lungs wanted to kill me then and there.

Rest stop, Ticknock

When we were kids, Ticknock was one of my Dad's favourite places to bring us for a Sunday walk. It's still one of my most loved places in and around Dublin. It's handy to South Dublin, with a choice of easy to moderate trails and offers diverse terrain through shady forest paths, up rough and rocky hillsides (my fave) and over wild and open moorland.

'Fairycastle' Cairn, Two Rock Mountain

Moorland trail leading in the direction of Three Rock Summit

Rolling hills

There are several trails branching off the main forest path. last Wednesday we chose the rocky path up to Fairy castle, atop Two Rock Mountain and did part of the loop, descending before we hit Three Rock mountain, as we thought we felt rain and it was already a bit marshy after recent showers.

Turns out it didn't rain, though we did see some spectacular rain pockets over the city below. Sorry about my photography - I'm so used to using macro for shooting my jewellery up close, that I haven't a clue how to capture distant scenery yet. But I've had fun editing my worst photos to try get something out of them:

Close Encounters on the Moorland?

Even the traditional, post-hike pint by the fireside in nearby The Blue Light pub, inspired me to get arty.  Now, it's time I logged off and used all this inspiration to do some actual crafting......I'll be back with the results before long.

click here to see photos of previous walks and the jewellery they inspired