Hiking the Coastal Trails of Howth

One of my most memorable trips as a flight attendant was in December 2018, when I flew with some of my friends to Dublin, Ireland. I've always loved exploring small villages, so I suggested to my crew that we take a day trip outside of Dublin to the small town of Howth.

I told them there is a beautiful hiking trail called the Bogs of Frog Loop. They were game, so as soon as we arrived in Dublin. We all took a two-hour nap, showered, met up, and hopped on the DART from the city center to this gorgeous gem of the Emerald Isle.

This place was super quiet, with few tourists. It reminds me of a cross between San Diego and the pier of San Francisco.

Howth has a picturesque harbor for fishing and sailing and some great hiking trails up on the cliffs of Howth Head.

Seafood takes center stage in this small fishing village's many bars and restaurants.

I liked the local businesses at the Howth Market: the bread stand looks fantastic, the guy that sells cheeses and chorizo at a reasonable price, and there were a lot of delicious-looking candies and pastries!

We also ventured to a couple of pubs there. On our way up to the cliffs, we stopped by a pub called the Cock Tavern. It's a funny name, but they have friendly bartenders.

They love Americans, and even a Texas flag hangs from the ceiling. According to what I heard, they were changing the name.

We wandered through small streets and took pictures along the way. We even took a photo that looks like a band album cover. Fun!

The Howth Cliff is a moderate hike with the most picturesque sea views.

We brought wine, cheese, and crackers and had a little picnic on the hill. The weather was perfect for hiking, so we had a pleasant time.