Balbriggan: Beach, Harbour and Lighthouse

Balbriggan offers several points of interest for a stay: a sandy beach near Main Street, a fishing harbour that is still in operation, and a lighthouse dating from 1769. There is also a fortified historic house and a digital heritage trail. If you’re looking for a hotel in Balbriggan, consider which aspects of the town matter most for your trip: the coast and harbour, its history, or its connection to the Dublin Coastal Trail.

Beach and getting around

Balbriggan Beach is a sandy beach near Main Street. It is a five-minute walk from Balbriggan station to the beach; the walking time may vary slightly depending on the route. These two specific details can help you find your way: the beach is near Main Street, and the walk from the station takes five minutes. If you use this time to plan your journey, allow for a small variation if you take a different route.

Harbour and lighthouse

Balbriggan Lighthouse was built in 1769 and is Ireland’s second-oldest operational lighthouse. Its construction date and continued operation come together in a single structure: it is both a historic landmark and a working lighthouse. At the fishing harbour, which is also still in operation, visitors can watch the trawlers. The harbour and lighthouse thus show two different aspects of Balbriggan’s maritime character: active fishing and a structure with a long history.

Historic heritage and heritage trail

Bremore Castle is a reconstructed fortified house in Balbriggan. It is protected both as an archaeological monument and as a protected structure. As restoration work and public access may change, check the current access arrangements before visiting.

There is also a digital way to explore the town’s history: a heritage trail for Balbriggan was launched on the Dublin Discovery Trails app in August 2023. As the app’s availability should be checked again, it’s worth checking the app before planning the trail. This allows you to consider the digital tour as a possible addition to your travel plans without assuming it is currently available.

Balbriggan and the Dublin Coastal Trail

Balbriggan is the northern starting point of the Dublin Coastal Trail. This gives the town a clear connection to a coastal route, alongside its beach, harbour and historic buildings. When choosing a hotel, it may help to decide first whether you want to focus your stay mainly on Balbriggan’s own attractions or on the destination’s coastal character.

Coastal variety in County Fingal

In County Fingal, the coastline stretches for 88 kilometres from Sutton to Balbriggan. The county’s coastal features include three protected estuaries, salt marshes and 13 larger beaches. This regional perspective complements Balbriggan’s specific coastal setting without equating the different coastal towns.

The beaches in County Fingal vary in length and character: Velvet Strand in Portmarnock is five kilometres long and sandy. Balcarrick Beach is a 3.4-kilometre-long sandy beach with dunes and rock pools. Skerries South Strand is two kilometres long and has a promenade and a coastal path. These details offer a regional comparison of the coastline; they do not describe Balbriggan Beach.

Howth offers another scale for walks in County Fingal: the Howth Cliff Path has four loop routes ranging from six to ten kilometres. The Howth Cliff Path Loop starts at Howth DART station, follows the cliffs to “The Summit”, then returns along a path running parallel to the outward route. Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island can be seen from the cliff paths. The cliffs along the marked trails on Howth Head are important bird habitats; grey seals can also be spotted there. Trail markings and conditions may change, so it’s worth checking the latest conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Gormanston, Tyrrelstown, Ward, Sutton, Santry, Swords, Rush, Na Sceirí.

For the broader travel overview: County Fingal.