Located just 4 miles from the City Centre, Dollymount Beach on the Bull Island is a 5 kilometres long stretch of sandy beach and dunes and is one of the best beaches in Dublin for families. It's popular with walkers all year round, and is great for picnics and bathing during the summer months, particularly when the tide is out. The famous Wooden Bridge links Clontarf to Bull Island.

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The perfect end to a walk along Dollymount Strand, regardless of the weather, is a stop off in Happy Out for some toasted sandwiches, Tayto crips and hot chocoloate. Our favourite part of the trip!

Ideal for a family picnic or a brisk walk in the fresh air, Killiney Beach is a long stony beach with stunning views of Bray Head, Dalkey Island and Sorrento Terrace. It's perfect for swimming and bathing with all the family. 

The beach is accessed from the car park via an A Grade walkway and ramps and handrails also exist at other areas.

Sandycove Beach is a lovely small inlet with fine sand, made famous by the Martello Tower where the writer James Joyce once stayed for a week and now hosts a small Joycean museum, which is open in summer time. Sandycove beach is very popular with families, as the water to shallow enough to paddle and is perfect for picnics and bathing. But get there early to nab a good spot as it's packed on a hot summers day. The beach also is home to the famous Forty Foot, where you'll find brave swimmers having a dip all year round.

Portmarnock Beach, or best known as The Velvet Strand due to the beautiful smooth sand, is a wide strand of sandy beach located in Portmarnock, North of Dublin city.

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It's very popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers, and equally loved by families for swimming.

Stretching along the Strand Road, the Promenade is a popular walking place and with outstanding views over Sandymount Strand to Poolbeg, Irishtown Nature Park and Dun Laoghaire.

It's perfect for a stroll when the tide is out, while collecting seashells with the little ones or picnics during the summer months. There are better beaches for swimming but it's perfect for paddling.

Dalkey Island is an uninhabited island, located south of Dublin, in the pictureqsue village of Dalkey. Pack a picnic and take a boat to the island in the summer months, just ask one of the local fishermen at Coliemore or Bulloch Harbour. 

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Visit the ancient 11th century church and marvel at the construction of the Martello Towers. Walk the paths where the Vikings, and picnic with the roaming rabbits and goats! It's a perfect summer's day out with the kids and they'll love the boat journey to the island. 

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