From Irishtown Nature Park on the Poolbeg peninsula out along the Great South Wall, an 18th-century sea wall that runs more than 4 km into Dublin Bay, past the Half Moon swimming club to the red Poolbeg Lighthouse at the mouth of the Liffey. The roundhead at the lighthouse reopened in March 2026 after storm repairs.
Best time: Calm, dry day; the wall is exposed with no shelter. Go out and back the same way.
The route, stop by stop
- 1Irishtown Nature Park
Park on the Poolbeg peninsula near the start of the wall. 15 min
- 2Pigeon House Harbour
Old harbour by the former Pigeon House generating station. 5 min
- 3Great South Wall
The sea wall itself, the world's longest when built in the 18th century. 30 min
- 4Half Moon Swimming and Water Polo Club
Swimming club building on the wall. 5 min
- 5Great South Wall and Poolbeg Lighthouse
Lighthouse first lit in 1767 and rebuilt in its present form in 1820; turn back here and return the same way (about 4 km). 15 min
More walks in Dublin
- Medieval Dublin: Dublin Castle to St Patrick's Cathedral
- Georgian Dublin: Merrion Square to the Grand Canal
- North inner city and 1916: GPO to King's Inns
- The Liberties and the distilleries
- Smithfield, Stoneybatter and the Phoenix Park
- Grand Canal towpath: Portobello to Grand Canal Dock
- Docklands: Custom House to Samuel Beckett Bridge
- Howth cliff path and summit (Tramline Loop)
- Sandycove to Killiney Hill: Forty Foot, Dalkey and the Vico