Howth - Black Linn Loop
Walking Trail · Dublin
Howth - Black Linn Loop is an 8.1 km moderate waymarked loop in Dublin, starting near Howth Village.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Howth Railway Station, near Howth Village.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.38882, -6.07422
- Irish Grid reference
- O 28157 39332
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 50
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
Starting at the DART (train) station in Howth village and following red arrows this walk takes the path along the cliffs climbing to €˜The Summit' and returning around the Ben of Howth and along the old tramline. The views of Lambay Island and Ireland's Eye as well as Dublin Bay are spectacular. The cliffs are great for birds and grey seals may also be seen.
Before you go
Terrain may be rough in parts, walking boots are recommended.
- Waymarking
- Red arrow on white background
Who manages it
Fingal County Council (with Howth SAAO Committee)
Dublin Discover Ireland Center Suffolk Street. Suffolk Street Dublin 2 Dublin City Centre Dublin Republic of Ireland. Tel. 1850 230 330
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Howth - Bog of Frogs Loop 0 m away · 12.1 km trail
- Howth - Cliff Path Loop 0 m away · 7.8 km trail
- Howth - Tramline Loop 0 m away · 7 km trail
- Royal Canal Way 12 km away · 146.3 km trail
- Dublin Mountains Way 18 km away · 41.1 km trail
- Wicklow Way 18 km away · 128.1 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Howth - Black Linn Loop?
8.1 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 160 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Howth - Black Linn Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Howth - Black Linn Loop start?
Starts at Howth Railway Station, near Howth Village. The trailhead is at 53.38882, -6.07422 (Irish Grid O 28157 39332).
Who manages the Howth - Black Linn Loop?
Fingal County Council (with Howth SAAO Committee). They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Dublin
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.