Walking Trails Dublin: 12 Routes Rated by Distance

Dublin City Council published updated ratings this week for 12 walking trails across the capital, sorting each by total distance and difficulty grade from one to five.

Residents have logged a 22 percent rise in park visits since the start of 2025, according to council footfall counters, as more people seek free outdoor options during longer daylight hours and higher temperatures.

Two routes stand out in the new list. The Phoenix Park perimeter loop covers 9.2 kilometres on mostly flat gravel paths that cross the North Circular Road entrance and skirt the Wellington Monument. The Bull Island causeway trail runs 7.4 kilometres along the beach and marram dunes, starting at the wooden bridge on James Larkin Road.

Route breakdowns by grade

The council assigns a grade-one label to the 3.1-kilometre circuit inside St Anne’s Park in Raheny, where paths stay level and surfaced. Grade-four status goes to the 11.8-kilometre stretch of the Wicklow Way that begins at the Enniskerry Road car park and climbs through pine forest and open bog before reaching the Sally Gap viewpoint.

Local running clubs have tracked participation data. A March 2026 report from the Dublin City Harriers showed average daily steps on marked trails reached 8,400 among 1,200 regular users, up from 6,900 the previous year.

Practical steps for summer use

Walkers can download the free Dublin Trails app to view live surface conditions and bus connections. The council advises starting before 10am on weekdays to avoid midday heat and checking tide times for any coastal sections. No entry fees apply at any listed sites, though parking at Bull Island costs €3 for two hours after 8am.