Best Dublin Bus routes for scenery / favourite routes

stop wrote: »

44B to Glencullen, maybe get off at the blue light on the way back for a pint and then stroll down to stepaside/sandyford to get a different bus back if no other 44B is coming.

65 to Blessington, or Ballyknockan if you're an early riser.

185 to shop river

You'd do well to walk back to Sandyford from the Blue Light, especially if you are full of scoops

There is a 65 to Ballyknockan at 17:30 as well; get on at Hawkins Street and you will be sure of a seat. If things go well and if you have the RTPI app on your phone you might catch the 18:30 to Ballymore Eustace as well.

Another trip worth making is the 33 beyond Swords to Balbriggan. The run from Rush towards Skerries through Ardgillan's special, especially on a wild weather day.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

You'd do well to walk back to Sandyford from the Blue Light, especially if you are full of scoops

2km downhill with scoops, easy!

68 has a nice rural stretch from Bawnogue to Newcastle

Also the 161 if you're allowed to stay on board to the point the bus turns around at Kilmashogue Lane.

31/a from city centre over Howth Summit (stop there and go up the top), and down to Howth village, then to Sutton Cross and walk to the DART station and get the 102 to Swords via Malahide. From Swords Main Street, take the 33 to Balbriggan and then back to the city centre. Then the 44 to Enniskerry and the 185 to Bray, check out the promenade, then 45a to Dún Laoghaire, the 59 to Killiney, walk over the hill to Dalkey and the 8 all the way into town or the 59 to Dún Laoghaire and the 7/46a into town.

If you want, add the DART into the mix for Howth-Sutton, Blackrock and Killiney Bay. Note that you can get the whole way from Bablriggan to Greystones/ Kilcoole for about €4.50.

Best views:
Killiney Bay from the DART at Dalkey Tunnel southbound or Killiney Hill.
Killiney Hill from the 46a at Foxrock southbound.
Ireland's Eye / Lambay Island from Howth Summit northbound.
Ireland's Eye / Lambay Island from Portmarknock.
Dublin Bay from Howth Summit / Killiney Hill / Booterstown.

Edit: I'd actually do it in reverse, something like: https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=53.327098,-6.2083312+to:53.3144413,-6.2214293+to:53.2805865,-6.18226+to:53.2949471,-6.1352689+to:53.265217,-6.1151299+to:53.273933,-6.0931174+to:53.2762011,-6.1034343+to:53.2698367,-6.0986974+to:53.1440127,-6.0613876+to:53.2055485,-6.0999151+to:53.1924501,-6.1792256+to:53.3322314,-6.2627788+to:53.3422437,-6.2495318+to:53.4071816,-6.2378326+to:53.530515,-6.0914866+to:53.574323,-6.1162831+to:53.5262886,-6.0911554+to:53.4440478,-6.1262989+to:53.3752382,-6.0900096+to:53.3713671,-6.054906+to:53.3833255,-6.0620146+to:Abbey+Street+Lower&hl=en&ll=53.332513,-6.15509&spn=0.621617,1.955566&sll=53.34594,-6.257057&sspn=0.041504,0.122223&geocode=Fav_LQMd5YOg_w%3BFfq0LQMdtUSh_ykrtdMO2A5nSDHztw4h6yIIkg%3BFYmDLQMdixGh_ynPDPm1MglnSDGXJibGFXaWAw%3BFUr_LAMdjKqh_ynT3Kuj8AhnSDGm9JQnHV3cag%3BFWM3LQMdHGKi_ynRxjSyIwZnSDGvzfVS5I68BQ%3BFUHDLAMdx7Ci_ylbpIo_xgdnSDFths_dp6ecbg%3BFU3lLAMdwwaj_yltjegmrAdnSDEEvJWBpfiJSw%3BFSnuLAMddt6i_ykdMikUswdnSDGUKOAoEGsTRA%3BFUzVLAMd9_Ci_ymFhWrNsQdnSDEFusS-GrzkTA%3BFczpKgMdtYKj_ykJ1YhSKa9nSDH3lba7WeDGaA%3BFSzaKwMdNeyi_ynvsJpaaKhnSDFJvIDjqQnvlQ%3BFQKnKwMdZ7ah_yn9o5CxAKdnSDHaIqLzEIAQOA%3BFQfJLQMdBnCg_ynLWmxXoA5nSDFjrYsSts-S0w%3BFSPwLQMdxaOg_ynl3GgfkQ5nSDEC6NKoGdptmg%3BFc3tLgMdeNGg_ynnROfI0BFnSDFSAYbyXBfMfw%3BFZPPMAMdIg2j_ymZiHbZLRlnSDGU5I8rmUYYtw%3BFbN6MQMdRayi_ymJK4P0oxhnSDHMkl5OR9cLNQ%3BFRC_MAMdbQ6j_ymbLaoCMhlnSDH9tTZThnjIKQ%3BFc99LwMdJoWi_ylhYD8h_BpnSDFgKx5JC0wnZA%3BFQZxLgMd5xKj_ylfRP1Q8ARnSDFuQJEbse8Pxg%3BFedhLgMdBpyj_ykhKC9BgQRnSDHIfixL-Bwu-g%3BFZ2QLgMdQoCj_ykna6ZwmQRnSDG7JkuRnUN_4A%3BFaMKLgMd14qg_w&dirflg=w&mra=dvme&mrsp=13&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21&t=m&z=9
These are weekday timings, weekend will be different.

09:00 Fleet Street, the 47 to UCD flyover,
09:37 46a to Dún Laoghaire,
10:06 59 to Killiney Village,
10:26 walk (40 minutes) to Dalkey station via Coliemore Road, https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Killiney&daddr=53.2710987,-6.093721+to:53.275339,-6.094363+to:Dalkey+Dart+Station,+Sorrento+Drive,+Dalkey&hl=en&ll=53.27204,-6.105652&spn=0.020788,0.061111&sll=53.276634,-6.101232&sspn=0.010393,0.030556&geocode=FXPCLAMdfLGi_ynxd7TaxQdnSDEhMbkZqMcAJg%3BFTraLAMdZwSj_ykxkHlbrgdnSDFWLzED1yTHPg%3BFcvqLAMd5QGj_ylBqgBUrAdnSDExpUCc8t-MvQ%3BFWTsLAMdV92i_yldrIUNswdnSDHCk1XqnzVVcg&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&via=1,2&t=m&z=14
11:26 DART to Greystones station,
12:01 184 to Bray
12:45 185 to Enniskerry,
13:00 Lunch at Enniskerry
13:30 44 to Pearse Station,
14:44 train to Skerries station,
15:33 walk (a few minutes) to Selsker Road, Skerries
15:42 33 to Swords Main Street,
16:31 102 to Sutton station,
17:25 walk (a few minutes) to Sutton Cross
17:55 31b to Howth Summit,
18:50 31 to city centre.

Bring food, drink, camera, rain gear, sun lotion.

victor, that post is magnificent

Victor wrote: »

31/a from city centre over Howth Summit (stop there and go up the top), and down to Howth village, then to Sutton Cross and walk to the DART station and get the 102 to Swords via Malahide. From Swords Main Street, take the 33 to Balbriggan and then back to the city centre. Then the 44 to Enniskerry and the 185 to Bray, check out the promenade, then 45a to Dún Laoghaire, the 59 to Killiney, walk over the hill to Dalkey and the 8 all the way into town or the 59 to Dún Laoghaire and the 7/46a into town.

If you want, add the DART into the mix for Howth-Sutton, Blackrock and Killiney Bay. Note that you can get the whole way from Bablriggan to Greystones/ Kilcoole for about €4.50.

Best views:
Killiney Bay from the DART at Dalkey Tunnel southbound or Killiney Hill.
Killiney Hill from the 46a at Foxrock southbound.
Ireland's Eye / Lambay Island from Howth Summit northbound.
Ireland's Eye / Lambay Island from Portmarknock.
Dublin Bay from Howth Summit / Killiney Hill / Booterstown.

Edit: I'd actually do it in reverse, something like: https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=53.327098,-6.2083312+to:53.3144413,-6.2214293+to:53.2805865,-6.18226+to:53.2949471,-6.1352689+to:53.265217,-6.1151299+to:53.273933,-6.0931174+to:53.2762011,-6.1034343+to:53.2698367,-6.0986974+to:53.1440127,-6.0613876+to:53.2055485,-6.0999151+to:53.1924501,-6.1792256+to:53.3322314,-6.2627788+to:53.3422437,-6.2495318+to:53.4071816,-6.2378326+to:53.530515,-6.0914866+to:53.574323,-6.1162831+to:53.5262886,-6.0911554+to:53.4440478,-6.1262989+to:53.3752382,-6.0900096+to:53.3713671,-6.054906+to:53.3833255,-6.0620146+to:Abbey+Street+Lower&hl=en&ll=53.332513,-6.15509&spn=0.621617,1.955566&sll=53.34594,-6.257057&sspn=0.041504,0.122223&geocode=Fav_LQMd5YOg_w%3BFfq0LQMdtUSh_ykrtdMO2A5nSDHztw4h6yIIkg%3BFYmDLQMdixGh_ynPDPm1MglnSDGXJibGFXaWAw%3BFUr_LAMdjKqh_ynT3Kuj8AhnSDGm9JQnHV3cag%3BFWM3LQMdHGKi_ynRxjSyIwZnSDGvzfVS5I68BQ%3BFUHDLAMdx7Ci_ylbpIo_xgdnSDFths_dp6ecbg%3BFU3lLAMdwwaj_yltjegmrAdnSDEEvJWBpfiJSw%3BFSnuLAMddt6i_ykdMikUswdnSDGUKOAoEGsTRA%3BFUzVLAMd9_Ci_ymFhWrNsQdnSDEFusS-GrzkTA%3BFczpKgMdtYKj_ykJ1YhSKa9nSDH3lba7WeDGaA%3BFSzaKwMdNeyi_ynvsJpaaKhnSDFJvIDjqQnvlQ%3BFQKnKwMdZ7ah_yn9o5CxAKdnSDHaIqLzEIAQOA%3BFQfJLQMdBnCg_ynLWmxXoA5nSDFjrYsSts-S0w%3BFSPwLQMdxaOg_ynl3GgfkQ5nSDEC6NKoGdptmg%3BFc3tLgMdeNGg_ynnROfI0BFnSDFSAYbyXBfMfw%3BFZPPMAMdIg2j_ymZiHbZLRlnSDGU5I8rmUYYtw%3BFbN6MQMdRayi_ymJK4P0oxhnSDHMkl5OR9cLNQ%3BFRC_MAMdbQ6j_ymbLaoCMhlnSDH9tTZThnjIKQ%3BFc99LwMdJoWi_ylhYD8h_BpnSDFgKx5JC0wnZA%3BFQZxLgMd5xKj_ylfRP1Q8ARnSDFuQJEbse8Pxg%3BFedhLgMdBpyj_ykhKC9BgQRnSDHIfixL-Bwu-g%3BFZ2QLgMdQoCj_ykna6ZwmQRnSDG7JkuRnUN_4A%3BFaMKLgMd14qg_w&dirflg=w&mra=dvme&mrsp=13&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21&t=m&z=9
These are weekday timings, weekend will be different.

09:00 Fleet Street, the 47 to UCD flyover,
09:37 46a to Dún Laoghaire,
10:06 59 to Killiney Village,
10:26 walk (40 minutes) to Dalkey station via Coliemore Road, https://maps.google.ie/maps?saddr=Killiney&daddr=53.2710987,-6.093721+to:53.275339,-6.094363+to:Dalkey+Dart+Station,+Sorrento+Drive,+Dalkey&hl=en&ll=53.27204,-6.105652&spn=0.020788,0.061111&sll=53.276634,-6.101232&sspn=0.010393,0.030556&geocode=FXPCLAMdfLGi_ynxd7TaxQdnSDEhMbkZqMcAJg%3BFTraLAMdZwSj_ykxkHlbrgdnSDFWLzED1yTHPg%3BFcvqLAMd5QGj_ylBqgBUrAdnSDExpUCc8t-MvQ%3BFWTsLAMdV92i_yldrIUNswdnSDHCk1XqnzVVcg&dirflg=w&mra=ltm&via=1,2&t=m&z=14
11:26 DART to Greystones station,
12:01 184 to Bray
12:45 185 to Enniskerry,
13:00 Lunch at Enniskerry
13:30 44 to Pearse Station,
14:44 train to Skerries station,
15:33 walk (a few minutes) to Selsker Road, Skerries
15:42 33 to Swords Main Street,
16:31 102 to Sutton station,
17:25 walk (a few minutes) to Sutton Cross
17:55 31b to Howth Summit,
18:50 31 to city centre.

Bring food, drink, camera, rain gear, sun lotion.

Good itinerary Victor!

As a very seasoned day tripper on buses here and elsewhere, there are three basic rules that I follow (based on experience!):

1) Have a schedule that has recovery built into it - things do and will go wrong - you need to allow for for buses being delayed.

2) Be prepared to change the schedule - have alternatives don't go with a schedule that is cast in stone.

3) Allow an hour for lunch and always factor in dinner as well somewhere

Therefore, I'd change your schedule slightly:

It's fine as far as Enniskerry - the 185 should be up there for about 13.10 or so.

I'd go for a walk around Enniskerry, having had a nice bite to eat in Poppies, and change it to:

14:30 44 to Pearse Station
15:43 Train from Pearse to Skerries (arrive 16:23).

Then you need to catch the 33 that leaves Balbriggan at 16:30 - RTPI times are too generous - the bus will always be at the stop nearest the station in less than 10 minutes - so be at stop 3567 at Town Parks for about 16:35 - there's a direct path - turn left from the main station exit.

So then 16:30 route 33 ex-Balbriggan to Swords, where you ought to be in time for the 17:10 route 102 departure from the airport, but be prepared to get the next one!

Both should get you to Sutton in time for the 18:15 route 31b which will take you up to the Summit via Strand Road (a nice little variation!).

Then take a stroll up to the top, and when you return get a 31 to Howth and take a pitstop for dinner!

Finish off with another 31 into town.

Bit late to the thread, but three routes who have views I enjoyed are the 47 and 61/161.

The 47 is quite nice all the way out to Belarmine, but in the off-peak it does the diversion through Mount Merrion which has this view:

AX 468 Mount Merrion 03/09/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

The 61/161 has some lovely views when it gets out to Rockbrook, such as this one at the Merry Ploughboy:

AV 86 Rockbrook 16/08/13 by Rail Scene Ireland, on Flickr

If anyone interested, I have a website I update every few weeks which is trying to cover the bus routes in Dublin, and show what can be seen along the routes: http://offthebeatentrack.webs.com/routes-2

MGWR wrote: »

I would have thought of the 40B north of Finglas and 41B northwest of Swords.

Should the 65 services south of Blessington be taken over by Bus Eireann or a private concern nowadays?

Nothing of any note to see on either of those routes.

Why shouldn't the 65 stay as it is? What difference does it make?

MGWR wrote: »

Should the 65 services south of Blessington be taken over by Bus Eireann or a private concern nowadays?

If people want to discuss this, please start a new thread.

Moderator