The lovely seaside town of Bray is one of the iconic coastal spots of Irelands East Coast. Located just on the border of Dublin and Wicklow it is easily reachable by car or train. There is an abundance of activities and places to visit to keep any family busy for the whole day. The beach and promenade which it is probably most famous for is a great place to admire the Irish Sea and surrounding scenery in all its glory. The beach itself has a nice sandy stretch at the north end of the strand with plenty of space to build sandcastles, paddle in the rockpools, take a dip in the sea or sunbathe to your hearts content. 

The lengthy Victorian Promenade makes for an enjoyable leisurely stroll. It is lined with grass verges, has an impressive newly refurbished Victorian bandstand and offers gorgeous views of Bray head, the Sugarloaf and the Wicklow Mountains. There is always an ice cream truck parked up to get your 99, or why not try a crepe or gelato from Gino’s Gelatos halfway down the strip.

Following on from the promenade, Bray head and cliff walk will offer a more adventurous walk. The cliff walk, while more uneven is still fine for the moderately fit, the Bray Head walk on the other hand, is not for the faint hearted. However, if you do have what it takes to get to the summit, it is absolutely worth it, the views are to die for!

Moving on from the walking aspect, Bray’s many other attractions include the SeaLife Aquarium. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the creatures of the sea and is entertaining for children and adults alike. With many different habitats you can get up close and personal with the sharks, rays and jellyfish or interact with the smaller creatures in the touch pools. Why not plan your visit around the informative talks and feeding sessions to get in depth knowledge of the habitats and the conservation efforts of the locals. 

Another great attraction of Bray is Kilruddery Estate. It has been in the Brabazon Family since 1618, and spans over an impressive 800 acres. The house itself is steeped in history, offers daily tours and is known as an excellent filming location. There are plenty of walking opportunities to be had whether its through the 17th Century formal gardens, the flowering woodland or strolling alongside the long ponds and walled gardens. They pride themselves on the ethos of bringing farm to table and do this expertly through their Biodiverse Farm, Farm Shop, Farmers Market, Garden Centre and Fairweather Tea Rooms. All of their produce is either grown/farmed on their Estate or locally sourced. There are a range of outdoor activities also available on the Estate, from Squirrels Scramble, a treetop adventure course, to Nordic Walking, Firefox Bushcraft Family Adventure, Mike’s Hikes or Paintballing with Delta Force! 

Bray is equally famous for its many events that it hosts throughout the year. The Bray Air Display, Jazz festival, Food Festival and their comedy festival to name but a few. Check out their local websites for more info on dates and times.

To finish off your day, there is an array of restaurants, cafes and gastropubs to choose from with great views of the sea. Or why not pick up a classic takeaway fish and chips and enjoy it on a bench while watching the evening pass by.

Location:

Bray Coastal Village
Border of Dublin and Wicklow
A98

Bray is located a 30-minute drive from the Castle Hotel.

Public transport can also be taken, our front desk staff will be able to guide you on these.