Walking Dublin’s South Coast, part i (full episode Tracks & Trails)

Ross Lewis is an Irish Michelin star chef and proprietor of restaurant Chapter One. In this episode he takes to the urban Tracks and Trails, which meander along the coastal line of South Dublin.
Passing the Martello tower in Booterstown, Ross follows the railway line to Blackrock, where he stops to visit Heron and Grey, a small successful restaurant tucked away in Blackrock Market, one of Dublin’s oldest markets. He heads out towards the coast and picks up the seaside walk at Seapoint between Blackrock and Monkstown. Along the way he passes many of the Martello Towers which were originally defence forts built in the 1800’s and many have become meeting points for sea swimming.
Ross walks to Dun Laoghaire and on the way he passes through Glasthule to meet the owner Cavistons, a well-known fish shop founded in the 1940’s when Glasthule was a rural village. After sampling some oysters he travels on through Sandycove and yet another Martello tower which today is a James Joyce museum. Then onto the town of Dalkey passing Bullock Harbour, a very traditional fishing harbour, where boats still set out for their daily catch. Dalkey is one of the oldest towns in South Dublin, here Ross meets David McWilliams an economist, who grew up in Dalkey, who sets Ross straight on whether Dalkey is a town or a village!
Grade
Moderate, the route is marked with Slí markers
Distance
12km
Estimated time
Full day. ( This can be broken up into shorter walks)
Total height climbed
Flat
Highest Point
Sea level
Terrain underfoot
Footpath and road.
Starting point
Martello Tower, Monkstown
Suitable for
Everyone