Nothing beats going to the beach on a (rare) sunny day in Ireland! 😜
The Nature Reserve:
North Bull Island is a national nature reserve and bird sanctuary on the Northside of Dublin. While walking or driving on the causeway you'll see intertidal mud and sandflats. The island supports 8,000 wildfowl and 26,000 waders, 180 different bird species, and 300 species of plants at various times of the year, according to Dublin City Council. Bird watchers and walkers alike are welcome to explore as there are trails leading to the island and away towards Kilbarrack.
The Beach:
Dollymount, often known as "Dollyer" to Dubliners, is the beach on North Bull Island. The beach strand runs approximately 5km long which is perfect for a light walk or nice beach run. With the Dublin Mountain silhouette in the background, it is truly a peaceful place to relax! The water is rather shallow due to the numerous sandbars, and swimming is permitted and safe.
How to get there: Bus: Dublin Bus 130, H2, H3, and 6 are all direct routes to North Bull Island. It is about 30 minutes by bus and an additional 30 minutes (around 2km) by foot to the island. Train: DART (train service) from Dublin City to Raheny Station. There is a 2.5 km walk to the causeway which is the main access route onto the island. Car: Head towards Bull Bridge (aka Wooden Bridge) or the causeway. On the causeway, parking is permitted, however on the beach, parking is currently limited to a small space near to the Bull Wall.