Get the walking shoes on and discover some of the trails and walks within easy reach of Bray.

Walk the Sugarloaf Trail

Just a 15-minute drive from Bray will bring you to one of Wicklow's iconic spots, Great Sugarloaf Mountain, one of the notable North Wicklow landmarks. There are few different trails you can take, the shorter Sugarloaf Walk, which takes about an hour or the Sugarloaf Loop, taking approximately 2.5 hours.

The starting point for the shorter Sugarloaf walk is the small car park at the base of the mountain. It's best to arrive early in the day as the car park can get busy. It takes about an hour in total to reach the top and return down, but make some extra time to take in the spectacular views. There is a clear trail and it's not too strenuous, so it's a good walk for bringing younger family members on. The Sugarloaf Loop takes over 2.5 hours; you can start at either Red Lane car park or at Kilmacanogue GAA grounds. This loop walk is approximately 7.5km, so a great walk if you fancy getting out in the fresh air for longer.

Make sure to have good walking shoes or boots on when tackling the Sugarloaf mountain track. Bring some water and rain gear for the changeable weather. Whichever walk you choose, you won't regret it as the views are wonderful at the summit.

For information on routes, maps and parking, check out Visit Wicklow.

Climb Bray Head

If you want to have some stunning views of the North Wicklow coastline and Dublin, then the summit of Bray Head Hill is the perfect spot. This is one of the easiest walks to access as the entrance sits right at the south end of the Bray seafront. The walk is approximately 7.7km there and back and it takes a bit of time to reach the cross at the top of the hill, but it's well worth it when you do. Most of the climb up the hill is on a well-worn track, but be prepared to do a little bit of scrambling at the rocks near the top.

The view from the top of Bray Head is stunning, giving you a panoramic vista of Bray itself along with fantastic mountain views, including ones of the Great and Little Sugar Loaf and Carrickgollogan. When you descend from the top of Bray Head, you can always try out some of Bray seafront's ice cream stalls and cafés, rounding off a good walk.

Wander Mount Usher Gardens

If you're thinking of a more casual stroll, a wander around Mount Usher Gardens might be just what you're looking for. Just over twenty minutes by car from Bray, the gardens are great to visit at any time of the year, as there is such variety in the walks.

The ever-changing colours and scents at Mount Usher Gardens make it one of the nicest places to spend a few hours in. The gardens run along the banks of the River Vartry and are filled with wonderful trees and flowers. With over 5,000 species of plants, it has photo-perfect scenes around every bend.

Mount Usher Gardens is laid out over 22 acres, with a range of walks, from the Tree Trail to the Palm Walk and the lovely riverside paths. If you're feeling peckish you can visit the Avoca Café on site to sit down or for food to go.

Mount Usher is open all year round and it's easy to access via the N11 at Ashford. For information on tickets and travel, visit the Mount Usher Gardens website.

There are plenty of wonderful walks and hikes near Bray; these are just a taster to get you started.

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