A stone's throw away from Dublin

Take the DART to this pretty seaside village, famous for its Martello Tower, built in 1804 as a defence against an invasion by Napoleon. Today it’s the James Joyce Museum. On Culture Night, September 16, the museum will stay open until 10pm. On the seafront, you’ll find the Forty Foot swimming spot, from where a hardy corps swim daily in the bracing waters. Also worth noting is the white Avant Garde-style house designed by 20th-century architect Michael Scott. Those visiting Fitzgerald's on a Wednesday will find the Martello volunteers reading the works of Joyce. You can join in if you like. Needless to say, Bloomsday, June 16 every year, is well celebrated here.

Sandycove

Further up the coast, by DART or bike, the pretty resort of Dalkey boasts a 10th-century church and two Norman castles. It’s a lovely walk to 6th-century Coliemore Harbour, where you can take a short boat trip (€8) to uninhabited Dalkey Island. Take a picnic, or hit the Tramyard Kitchen on Castle Street, or Corner Note café. A coastal walk brings you to Killiney beach, which has been compared to the Bay of Naples (presumably on a sunny day), and might explain some of the street names of Vico, Sorrento and Capri.  

Dalkey

In 'Ulysses', Joyce’s Leopold Bloom proposed to Molly in this little fishing town. She said ‘yes’ seven times; that’s how good Howth is. There’s a Cliff Path Loop for walkers which starts at the DART station, as well as Howth Castle, the National Transport Museum, and the Baily Lighthouse, as well as a regular little weekend market for organic food, freshly baked goods, clothes and antiques. Visit House – once home to Captain Bligh – an upmarket café/brasserie serving local foodstuffs for excellent breakfast, lunch or dinner. House has been in the 'Top 100 restaurants in Ireland' for five consecutive years, and features jazz on the first Wednesday of the month. Don’t miss the ginger cake.

Howth Market: Open 10am-6pm Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays.

Howth

Guinness is still made using water that flows from the Wicklow Mountains. Visitors can reach the largest continuous upland area in Ireland, within half an hour to drive through the National Park, or take easy, moderate and difficult mountain walks for spectacular views of mountain blanket bogs. If you’re on your way to Sally Gap, be sure to pop in to Johnnie Fox's, Ireland’s highest pub, and famous for its eclectic decor, food and nightly hoolies. Over the years Johnnie’s has welcomed a host of high-profile actors, presidents and even Royals (there’s a helipad out back, but lowlier visitors can get a return shuttle bus ticket from Dublin for €10, through the Johnnie Fox website). 

Wicklow

There’s nothing ‘new’ about Newgrange in County Meath. The original prehistoric monument was built between 3000 BC and 2500 BC, during the Neolithic period, making it older than Stonehenge and the pyramids. The huge circular mound lying on a bend on the River Boyne covers an underground stone passageway and interior chambers and, while there is no firm agreement on its purpose, it clearly had spiritual significance as the passage and chamber are aligned with the rising sun, and during the winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year, light floods the chamber. Tickets must be booked through the Visitor Centre, and visitors can also enter a free lottery that might gain them entry to the chamber during the winter solstice.

Newgrange