Ramble Malahide/Portmarnock

Meeting Point: Skerries Train Station

Time:  Meet at 10.05 a.m. departing on 10:16 a.m. train

Walk Starting point:  Portmarnock Train Station   Walk Starting Time: 10.40 a.m.

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

Distance: 16 km

Duration: 3 hrs 30 – 4 hrs 

This is a RAMBLE.

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 then with a loop of Malahide Demesne, passing by Malahide Castle. There are toilets along the way at Portmarnock, 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 10.16 direct train to Portmarnock, arriving at 10.35. There will be a sandwich ‘pit stop’ half way along the walk. We can go for a coffee afterwards in Malahide for those who wish to relax after it if time permits. 

Train times back to Skerries:- 14.33; 15.35: 16.35 and 17.35. 

For anybody driving to Portmarnock – DART  times back are:- 14.48; 15.28; 15.41; 16.05; 16.41 and 17.05. 

Please text or phone leader John Coleman by Saturday 10th Sept. 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.