Ramble Portmarnock-Malahide Coastal Walk

Meeting Point: Skerries Train Station

Time:  Meet at 08:40 a.m. departing on 08:52 a.m. train

Walk Starting point:  Insomnia Coffee shop   Walk Starting Time: 10.00 a.m.

Route: Portmarnock-Velvet Strand-Robswall Park-Malahide Demesne-Malahide

Distance: 15 km

Duration: 3 hrs – 3 hrs 30

1) Please ensure that, at the very least, you have walking shoes (no trainers), and depending on the weather forecast – multiple layers including a warm jacket/fleece, hat and gloves, a waterproof jacket and trousers, a flask with a hot drink, sandwiches/snacks, a litre of water and a small rucksack. If you are unsure about your gear check with the leader a few days beforehand as anyone turning up with inadequate gear will not be permitted to walk.

2) It is highly recommended that you do not wear any clothing made from DENIM/CORDUROY/COTTON on the hike.

3) The club is a supporter of the ‘Leave No Trace’ campaign so please ensure that you leave no litter (of any sort) on the hike route.

Leader’s Note:

This is a very pleasant coastal walk from Portrmarnock to Malahide with fine coastal views. We will also be taking in Robswall Park with its elevated site giving commanding views over the Estuary, and out towards Lambay Is, as far as Irelands Eye and Howth. We will finish with a loop of Malahide Demesne, passing by Malahide Castle. There are toilets along the way at Insomnia, Malahide Beach and Malahide Demesne.  Note:- Those who might want to do a shorter walk can skip the loop of Malahide Demesne and opt out of the walk in Malahide Village if they wish. 

We will meet at Skerries Train Station to catch the 08.52 train to Malahide, then the 09.12 DART to Portmarnock arriving 09.15. A short walk from the Station to the Village for a coffee in Insomnia coffee shop before heading off on the walk. Lunch & refreshments at the end of the walk in Fowler’s Malahide for those who wish to relax after it. 

Train times back to Skerries:- 14.07; 15.07; 15.44; 16.09: 16.46 and 17.19. For anybody driving to Portmarnock – DART  times back:- 14.50; 15;10; 15.31; 15.52; 16.10; 16.30; 16.50 and 17.10. 

Covid-19 related: Walkers are advised that they will be asked to confirm that they have no Covid-19 like symptoms and agree to walk at their own risk.  The organisers cannot accept any liability in the event of injury/Covid-19 infection

WhatsApp : for ease of communication a Whats App group will be set up for the group coming on this walk. If you do not wish to be included please let the leader know when registering your interest in the walk. 

Please email or text leader John Coleman by Tuesday 16th Nov. if you intend going on the walk (along with mob. phone number for contact) and indicating whether meeting up in Skerries or Portmarnock.  

Unbelievable but true: Starting at Velvet Strand, aviation history was written. In 1930, the Southern Cross (a three engined Fokker) took off with Captain Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew for the first Atlantic crossing from east to west on the beach at Portmarnock, landing in New Foundland after 33 hours. The globe statue “Eccentric Orbit” on the northern end of the beach commemorates this milestone in aviation history. Two years later, the first solo flight across the Atlantic from east to west also took off at the same location with aviator James Mollison flying a de Havilland Moth and landing in New Brunswick near St. John’s. Portmarnock was again part of international aviation history.