Route Description
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Introduction
This is a scenic 3 hour paddle that takes you to the tip of of Howth Head and Island's Eye.
Conditions
The sea conditions can change rapidly. Be careful when going around the head.
Hazards and warnings
Experience is required to understand the currents, tides and sea conditions.
Detailed description
This is an interesting and scenic paddle. The Irish Sea Kayaking Association regularly do this route (after work in the summer or on Saturdays in the winter).
I would recommend going with someone who has experience of this paddle as the tides and wind coming around Hoeth Head can be treacherous. I was caught off guard and ended up swimming! Try the ISKA bulletin board to get dates and times that they are doing the trip: www.irishseakayakingassociation.org
They welcome visitors and beginners and have some spare kayaks and gear.
The route starts in the picturesque Howth Harbour. It hugs the harbour wall and headland on the way out. The scenery is superb, with good birdlife on the cliffs. The coastline is quite rugged and offers some interesting side trips through channels.
The paddle normally turns back towards Island's Eye as you get to the head as conditions become a lot more tricky past the head. From here, you head out into the open seas towards Island's Eye. This part of the trip is more about endurance and reaching the island than anything else.
Island's Eye is a small uninhabited island with lots of birdlife. There is a beautiful beach on the southside of the island. The southside also offers some calmer waters and gives paddlers the opportunity to take a break. The view towards the village of Howth and Howth Head is outstanding. If you do the trip after work during the week, it will be dusk by the time you reach this point and the village lights will be coming on.
The last part of the paddle is a dash from Island's Eye back to the harbour.