Bull Island
Bull Island
4.5
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Just north of Dublin Harbour, this is a great place to birdwatch and admire the beautiful sealine view.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
47 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
12
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
0
ServalKat
Dublin, Ireland71 contributions
Feb 2012
On 130 bus route. Several walks possible. Nearest the city with a view towards the port, you can walk across a wooden bridge and all the way out onto a pathway (The Bull Wall) with bathing shelters on either side where you have the sea on one side and the beach on the other. This path ends with a statue on a large tripod like structure. When you get here you are out beyond the tideline so you can look directly towards Howth Head or back towards the city. This is a bracing walk but completely on footpaths and very flat. Alternatively, you can walk along the beach from beyond the Royal Dublin Golf Club.
If you access the Island from the Causeway which is opposite Watermill Road (a short distance from the entrance to St Annes Park towards Howth) You can view migratory birds in winter on the mud flats very easily. There are also footpaths along here. There is an interpretive centre to the right of the roundabout behind the beach. From this roundabout you can walk up the beach or along the dunes behind Saint Anne's Golf Club. There are fewer people on the dunes or up towards the top of the beach. It is also possible to drive out here and park either on the beach or on the causeway. This is a good place to walk at any time of the year, but can get busy if there is a sunny day in the summer!
If you access the Island from the Causeway which is opposite Watermill Road (a short distance from the entrance to St Annes Park towards Howth) You can view migratory birds in winter on the mud flats very easily. There are also footpaths along here. There is an interpretive centre to the right of the roundabout behind the beach. From this roundabout you can walk up the beach or along the dunes behind Saint Anne's Golf Club. There are fewer people on the dunes or up towards the top of the beach. It is also possible to drive out here and park either on the beach or on the causeway. This is a good place to walk at any time of the year, but can get busy if there is a sunny day in the summer!
Written February 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diarmuidog
293 contributions
Oct 2016 • Solo
I've visited Bull Island many times over a long number of years. It is one of THE great public amenities in Dublin - and it's free! Great place to stroll, either aling the strand or along the North Bull Wall ffrom the wooden bridge. Dollymount strand is quite flat, so it might be quite a walk out into the sea for anything other than a paddle!
Approximately 6km long and a one km wide it's essentially the result of man's intervention in Dublin Bay. In fact the conditions that created it were as a result of a survey undertaken by none other than Capt William Bligh (yes, of of the Bounty fame!) in 1801, which resulted in the building of the North Bull Wall, in order to stop the shipping channels in the bay silting up.
The island has been much enhanced in recent years. It's no longer possible for cars to drive the length of Dollymount strand (thankfully!), conservation work has been undertaken, there are (hot!) public showers and an interpretative centre (although I've never seen the centre open!).. Lots of wildlife, both in the sand dunes and in the fantastic lagoon between the "mainland" and the island.
As you come out from the city the first entrance is via the wooden bridge - an interesting experience in its own right! the other entrance is a few KM's further up the road towards Howth, at the junction of Clontarf Road, Watermill Road and the Causeway Road. It is really worth going this far, if only to see the most wonderful tree sculpture (see photos) recently completed at the junction by English tree artist Tommy Craggs. A really beautiful piece of work!
Approximately 6km long and a one km wide it's essentially the result of man's intervention in Dublin Bay. In fact the conditions that created it were as a result of a survey undertaken by none other than Capt William Bligh (yes, of of the Bounty fame!) in 1801, which resulted in the building of the North Bull Wall, in order to stop the shipping channels in the bay silting up.
The island has been much enhanced in recent years. It's no longer possible for cars to drive the length of Dollymount strand (thankfully!), conservation work has been undertaken, there are (hot!) public showers and an interpretative centre (although I've never seen the centre open!).. Lots of wildlife, both in the sand dunes and in the fantastic lagoon between the "mainland" and the island.
As you come out from the city the first entrance is via the wooden bridge - an interesting experience in its own right! the other entrance is a few KM's further up the road towards Howth, at the junction of Clontarf Road, Watermill Road and the Causeway Road. It is really worth going this far, if only to see the most wonderful tree sculpture (see photos) recently completed at the junction by English tree artist Tommy Craggs. A really beautiful piece of work!
Written October 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Seamus O
Dublin, Ireland270 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
This is a great place to get some fresh air and enjoy a beach that is located in a capital city. It is convenient to the city centre. There is a lovely coffee shop at the entrance to the beach. Always popular with locals it gets busy at weekends especially in the summer. Always space for tourists. Well worth a visit. You can take a swim if you are brave enough.
Written August 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bibcay
Gateshead, UK4,301 contributions
Aug 2019
Please make this a nature reserve. The birds are absolutely amazing and quite rare too. The views are great.
Written August 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seansheehan15
Dublin, Ireland6 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
The beach walk here is amazing especially when the tide is out, if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle and tourist trail, this is the place to go, I visit this place on most weekends!
Written June 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
socheallaigh
Dublin14 contributions
May 2014 • Solo
Bull Island is almost on my doorstep and is a great place to visit at any time of year.
However the interpretive centre hardly ever seems to be open. I've certainly never managed to see inside.
John
However the interpretive centre hardly ever seems to be open. I've certainly never managed to see inside.
John
Written May 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan M
46 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Great place to see the brent geese and various smaller water birds that I cannot identify. The mist made them harder to see than usual. What I enjoyed was walking on the beach. It was nearly deserted. It is a large expanse of beautiful, soft sand. There were both shells and birds. You can see dun laoghaire across the water. Awesome time, despite the mist, fog, and a few raindrops.
Written November 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viktorija S
Eindhoven, The Netherlands17 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
Very beautiful location for a nice Sunday hike! Easy to park. Hot coffe/Chocolate available. Not too busy in case you want some privacy :)
Written October 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joyce S
Horsham, UK54 contributions
Mar 2018 • Solo
Long sandy beach with lots of shells everywhere, I walked all the way too the end and saw seals on a sand bar (probably too far for young children to walk, but the sand is hard enough for a buggy. Great place for children to run, dig and paddle when the tide is in. Good place to walk a dog and lots of joggers out. Lovely views of the Wicklow mountains and Howth Head.
Written March 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gour_dim
Kyrenia815 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Catch the 130 bus from Abbey Street and get off when you see the wooden bridge! Beautiful place to take long walks! Make sure you wear a coat as it is mostly windy and bring a plastic bag if you are with your kids and collect shells from the beach:) If you are in love or need a place to think then its the perfect place to take a walk... (please dont get any wrong ideas and jump off the rocks..)
Written November 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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