First pick
Shanganagh Park
Park or garden
33 ha7.6 km of path
1 h 40 minto walk all 7.6 km of path
3.4 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.089%near a park
Outdoors in Bray · parks, paths & countryside
Woods cover more of Bray than of 9 in 10 Irish towns
Woods cover 13% of Bray and the kilometre around it. 15 waymarked trails start within 5 km of Bray, among them the Bray Head Loop Walk and Belmont Way. The sea makes up 37% of the area within 5 km.
Near a park
89%
of residents within 400 m
Typical Irish town: 92%
Green space
2.9 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical Irish town: 4.1 ha
Footpaths
64 km
2.1 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical Irish town: 2.1 km per km²
Protected for nature
3.4%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Bray Head SAC
Woodland
13%
of the town and 1 km around it
Typical Irish town: 2.7%
The sea
37%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Bray?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Wooded country13% mapped woodland in and around town, more than 97% of Irish towns.On the coast37% of the area within 5 km is sea.Hills with a view9 mapped viewpoints, about 7× as many per resident as the typical Irish town.Countryside close byWicklow Mountains National Park starts 5.9 km west.
Bray’s strongest suit is its woods, followed by the sea.
Against other towns
How Bray compares with Irish towns
Each figure against Ireland’s 321 towns and city neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (city hubs left out): the marked bar is the town’s, the line the median. Ireland has no Outdoors Grade yet: the figures are described, each against other Irish towns, and none of them counts towards the overall grade.
A park within a walk89%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
44out of 100
Public green space2.9 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
38out of 100
Footpaths2.1 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
50out of 100
Protected for nature3.4%of the land within 5 km
60out of 100
Woodland13%of the town and 1 km around it, as mapped
97out of 100
The sea37%of the area within 5 km
93out of 100
Parks, paths and woods: OpenStreetMap; residents: CSO Census 2022 Small Areas; protected sites: NPWS; sea: CSO and ONS land outlines. A 0 means nothing is mapped.
Towns its size
Bray has the 18th fewest footpaths per km² of 40 towns its size
The 40 Irish towns nearest in population (18,626 to 44,135 residents), by km of footpath per km². Hover for each one’s protected land and woods; click for its page.
From Esker (10.5 km per km²) to Portlaoise (0.6 km per km²).
Footpath, km per km²
Bray2.1
Towns its size2.5
Co. Wicklow towns1.2
Typical Irish town2.1
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Bray2.9
Towns its size4.0
Co. Wicklow towns1.5
Typical Irish town4.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Bray89%
Towns its size95%
Co. Wicklow towns75%
Typical Irish town92%
Bray falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 23 of the 39 others do better.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Paths (km/km²) | Woodland | Protected | The sea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esker Dublin | 10.5 | 2.1% | 0.1% | – |
| 2 | Old Bawn Dublin | 8.5 | 3% | 1.8% | – |
| 3 | Dolphins Barn Dublin | 8.4 | 2.9% | 0% | – |
| 4 | Stoneybatter Dublin | 7.5 | 1.6% | 0% | – |
| 5 | Carpenterstown Dublin | 7.3 | 11% | 0% | – |
| 6 | Blanchardstown Dublin | 7 | 3.8% | 0% | – |
| 7 | Lucan Dublin | 6.8 | 7.3% | 0.2% | – |
| 8 | Mulhuddart Dublin | 6.6 | 4% | 0% | – |
| 9 | Ballymun Dublin | 6.5 | 2.6% | 0% | – |
| 10 | Clonsilla Dublin | 6.4 | 3% | 0.1% | – |
| 11 | Jobstown Dublin | 6.3 | 1.9% | 2.2% | – |
| 12 | Rathmines West Dublin | 6 | 1.7% | 0.1% | 5.8% |
| 13 | Crumlin Dublin | 5.4 | 0.8% | 0% | – |
| 14 | Clondalkin Dublin | 4.6 | 3.3% | 0% | – |
| 15 | Stepaside Dublin | 4.3 | 15% | 6.4% | 5.9% |
| 16 | Sandymount Dublin | 3.6 | 1.2% | 3.6% | 35% |
| 17 | Clontarf East Dublin | 3.1 | 3% | 6.1% | 38% |
| 18 | Kilkenny Kilkenny | 3.1 | 3.8% | 2.4% | – |
| 19 | Beaumont Dublin | 2.9 | 2% | 3.4% | 9.7% |
| 20 | Swords Dublin | 2.6 | 2.6% | 1.1% | – |
| 21 | Celbridge Kildare | 2.4 | 6.9% | 0.5% | – |
| 22 | Greystones-Delgany Wicklow | 2.2 | 11% | 5% | 35% |
| 23 | Bray Wicklow | 2.1 | 13% | 3.4% | 37% |
| 24 | Balbriggan Dublin | 2.1 | 1.6% | 0% | 37% |
| 25 | Naas Kildare | 1.9 | 1.4% | 0% | – |
| 26 | Navan Meath | 1.7 | 4.7% | 2.2% | – |
| 27 | Douglas Cork | 1.7 | 4.6% | 5% | – |
| 28 | Dundalk Louth | 1.4 | 1.7% | 3.6% | 23% |
| 29 | Ballincollig Cork | 1.3 | 8.4% | 0% | – |
| 30 | Athlone Westmeath | 1.3 | 6.1% | 14% | – |
| 31 | Sligo Sligo | 1.2 | 6.1% | 9.5% | 18% |
| 32 | Tralee Kerry | 1.1 | 2.4% | 21% | 6.4% |
| 33 | Wexford Wexford | 1.1 | 3.8% | 13% | 22% |
| 34 | Drogheda Louth | 1 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 5.5% |
| 35 | Carlow Carlow | 0.9 | 1.3% | 2% | – |
| 36 | Mullingar Westmeath | 0.8 | 8.9% | 3.3% | – |
| 37 | Ennis Clare | 0.7 | 9.6% | 7.8% | – |
| 38 | Letterkenny Donegal | 0.7 | 4.9% | 4.3% | 5.3% |
| 39 | Newbridge Kildare | 0.6 | 1.6% | 4.9% | – |
| 40 | Portlaoise Laois | 0.6 | 2.6% | 1.1% | – |
The map
Parks, woods, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Bray’s urban area.
Green: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces and woods, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · NPWS · Sport Ireland · CSO
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Bray
The biggest is Shanganagh Park, 33 ha (82 acres).
All 12 named parks and woods by size: 76 ha (188 acres) and 13 km of path
Parks & gardens 58 haWoods 18 ha
The two biggest, Shanganagh Park and Manweiler's Wood, are 60% of the named green space and carry 9 km of path between them. 5 of the 12 are under 2 ha.
Corke Abbey Valley Park
Park or garden
5.5 ha1.7 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.7 km of path
1.9 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
People's Park
Park or garden
3.7 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
0.9 km northfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Manweiler's Wood
Wood or forest
12 ha1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
2.1 km south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Sans Souci Wood
Park or garden
4.2 ha0.3 km of path
0.8 km eastfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Victorian Walled Garden
Park or garden · 300 m outside town
0.9 ha0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
1.9 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
All 12 named parks and green spaces
Shanganagh ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 7.6 km of path
DirectionsCorke Abbey Valley ParkPark or garden · 5.5 ha · 1.7 km of path
DirectionsBallywaltrim ParkPark or garden · 7.9 ha
DirectionsPeople's ParkPark or garden · 3.7 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsManweiler's WoodWood or forest · 12 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsSans Souci WoodPark or garden · 4.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsVictorian Walled GardenPark or garden · 0.9 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGermans WoodWood or forest · 5.6 ha
DirectionsThe AnglesPark or garden · 1.6 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSidmonton ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsSeafront ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSunken GardenPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsNamed parks, gardens, commons and woods in the town or within 400 m of it, from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL); pieces of one name that touch are one place. Sizes are the whole site; directions go to a point inside.
Close to home
9 in 10 Bray residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (CSO Census 2022 Small Areas against OpenStreetMap).
Within 400 m (89%)Further (11%)
Bray89%
Co. Wicklow towns75%
Typical Irish town92%
About 4,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees.
Protected areas
3.4% of the land around Bray is protected for nature
Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas designated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, within 5 km of the town’s edge.
Inside Bray3.3%
Within 5 km3.4%
Co. Wicklow towns3.9%
Typical Irish town1.8%
6 protected sites lie within 5 km of Bray. Proposed Natural Heritage Areas cover 9.9% of the land within 5 km as well; many have been proposed since 1995 and aren’t counted here. Ireland’s National Parks have a block of their own on this page; much of their land also lies inside these sites.
Bray Head SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 2.6 km² · reaches Bray
NPWS pageBallyman Glen SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 0.2 km² · 0.7 km from the edge
NPWS pageKnocksink Wood SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 0.9 km² · 1.7 km from the edge
NPWS pageRockabill to Dalkey Island SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 273 km² · 2.5 km from the edge
NPWS pageGlen of the Downs SACSpecial Area of Conservation · 0.7 km² · 4.0 km from the edge
NPWS pageDalkey Islands SPASpecial Protection Area (birds) · 0.8 km² · 4.8 km from the edge
NPWS pageProtected sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service designated site boundaries (CC BY 4.0), 2026; land within 5 km from CSO Small Areas and, over the border, ONS. Overlapping sites are counted once.
National Parks
Wicklow Mountains National Park is 5.9 km away
Ireland’s National Parks within 100 km, and the nearest always, by direction and distance from the town’s edge; circle size shows each park’s area.
National ParkThe 5 km around the town
National Park
Wicklow Mountains National Park
5.9 km west223 km²
National Park boundaries: National Parks and Wildlife Service, generalised to 50 m (CC BY 4.0, © Government of Ireland), 2022. Distances from the town’s outline (CSO Small Areas).
Footpaths and woods
64 km of footpaths cross Bray
Footways that aren’t pavements, paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, and mapped woods and forest, in the town and 1 km around it, each beside the county’s and Ireland’s typical town of 2,500+.
Footpaths
64 km
over 29.6 km² of town and the 1 km around it
Woodland
13%
about 3.8 km² of mapped woods
Registered trails
15
walking trails within 5 km
Km per km², town and 1 km around · mapped on OpenStreetMap
BrayCo. Wicklow townsTypical Irish town
Footpaths2.1
01.53 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
BrayCo. Wicklow townsTypical Irish town
Woodland13%
0%50%100%
Bray has more footpath per km² than 50% of Irish towns and more woodland than 97% of Irish towns.
Footpaths and woods: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract, October 2026. Woods are mapped cover, private and Coillte forests included.
Footpaths & trails
15 waymarked trails start near Bray
64 km of footpaths are mapped in Bray and the kilometre around it, 2.1 km for every square kilometre (the typical Irish town has 2.1).
Walking trailLong-distance wayMountain access
Bray Head Loop Walk5.9 km
Belmont Way5.0 km
Dublin Mountains Way41.2 km
Sugar Loaf Way4.5 km
Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Full)2.6 km
Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Medium)2.2 km
Little Sugarloaf Access Route1.0 km
Belmont Hike and Bike Loop (Short)1.7 km
Carrickgollogan - Mountain Access route2.0 km
Carrickgollogan - Lead Mines Way - (Orange)2.3 km
Barnaslingan - Scalp Lookout Trail (Red)1.4 km
Barnaslingan - Pine loop trail (Blue)0.9 km
Kindlestown Trail0.5 km
Djouce Woods - Deerpark Walk7.2 km
Plus one more trail within 5 km.
For a shorter walk, the Bray Head Loop Walk is 5.9 km, graded moderate. 7 cycling or paddling trails also start within 5 km.
7 more waymarked walks on OpenStreetMap
LocalOther waymarked
Bray Head Loop5.9 km
De Buitléar Way4.2 km
Little Sugar Loaf Agreed Access Route1.3 km
The Sugar Loaf Way1.3 km
Greystones Way0.8 km
Rathmichael Walk0.7 km
Bray Greystones Cliff Walk0.4 km
Trails: Sport Ireland National Trails Register (CC BY 4.0), registered trails within 5 km; footpaths: OpenStreetMap (ODbL). More waymarked walks: OpenStreetMap route relations (ODbL) within 2 km, those already on the register left out. Coillte’s own forest trails and recreation sites aren’t included: Coillte’s terms limit its data to research or private study. Its trails on the National Trails Register are listed.
History
One historic park or garden on the record in Bray
Parks, gardens, walled gardens and demesne walls in the town on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, each with its record.
Walled gardenWoodbrookfrom 1700Regional rating (NIAH)
The oldest dated is Woodbrook, from 1700.
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (CC BY 4.0).
When to get out
The best walking months in Bray: May to September
Met Éireann’s 1991–2020 averages for the town’s 1 km square and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 15 to 30 °C and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.1 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 16.9 | 16.5 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 7.6 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 83 | 70 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 65 | 55 | 64 | 68 | 95 | 109 | 92 |
July is the driest month (55 mm) and the warmest (highs of 20 °C). Winter days are short, about 7.6 hours of daylight in December, and 109 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. The climate in Bray →
The coast
Bray is a coastal town
37% of the area within 5 km of Bray is sea. 4 bathing waters are within 5 km, each with its latest class.
Bray South PromenadeGood (2025) · 0.1 km from town
beaches.ieKillineyExcellent (2025) · 3.3 km from town
beaches.ieWhite Rock BeachExcellent (2025) · 4.3 km from town
beaches.ieThe Cove GreystonesExcellent (2025) · 4.6 km from town
beaches.ie3 of the 4 are rated excellent, Killiney among them.
Bathing water classes: EPA, latest season (CC BY 4.0). Sea: the area outside CSO and ONS land outlines. Check today’s water quality on beaches.ie
Things to do
9 viewpoints, 11 hills and peaks and 1 waterfall
Mapped on OpenStreetMap in the town and 2 km around it; each count per resident beside Irish towns’ typical town of 2,500+. Beaches are on the coast’s list, from the EPA.
9Viewpoints7.3× the typical Irish town, per resident11Hills and peaks1Waterfalls2Nature reserves25Playgrounds0.6× the typical Irish town, per resident1Dog parks
Per resident, viewpoints stand out most: Bray has 7.3× as many as the typical Irish town.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 9
Panoramic view of Brayin town
DirectionsBray Greystones View1.6 km from town
DirectionsPlus 7 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 11
Bray Headin town
DirectionsBray Head Hill239 m · 1.2 km from town
DirectionsLittle Sugar Loaf342 m · 1.5 km from town
DirectionsCable Rock1.6 km from town
DirectionsCarrigoona242 m · 1.8 km from town
DirectionsPlus 6 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Ballyman Glen22 ha · 1.4 km from town
DirectionsThe Bog Meadow6.7 ha · 1.9 km from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 25
Ballywaltrim Playgroundin town
DirectionsEsplanade Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 23 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Plus 1 dog park without a name on the map.
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract, October 2026. Unnamed places are counted, not listed.
Gardens & nature
4 gardens and nature sites to visit near Bray
Gardens, national parks, nature sites and islands within 15 km of the town’s edge, each with its own page.
Festina Lente GardensGarden · 0.4 km from town
Its pagePowerscourt House & GardensGarden · 2.8 km from town
Its pageGreat Sugar Loaf MountainNature site · 3.3 km from town
Its pageMornington GardenGarden · 5.0 km from town
Its pagePlaces to visit: Fáilte Ireland open data (CC BY 4.0), OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.
Next door
Next to Bray
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 20 km, coloured by the share of the land within 5 km protected for nature.
KilmacanogueEnniskerryShankillKillineyGreystones-DelganyBallybrackBray
Under 1%1–10%10–25%25–50%50%+
| Town | Near a park | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Paths (km/km²) | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bray | 89% | 2.9 | 2.1 | 3.4% |
| Kilmacanogue 3.5 km | 86% | 1.7 | 2.1 | 4.3% |
| Enniskerry 3.9 km | 70% | 2.6 | 1.8 | 6.2% |
| Shankill 4.1 km | 86% | 8.9 | 3.6 | 3.8% |
| Killiney 6.2 km | 100% | 13.6 | 6.0 | 0.5% |
| Greystones-Delgany 6.9 km | 75% | 1.0 | 2.2 | 5% |
| Ballybrack 7.1 km | 100% | 18.4 | 8.6 | 0.2% |
In Killiney, 100% of residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park, more than here. Shankill, Killiney and Ballybrack have at least twice Bray’s green space per resident.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Green space nearby. The share of residents (CSO Small Areas, by where people live) within 400 m of a park, garden, common or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap. Mapping is uneven: a town whose parks nobody has mapped looks greyer than it is.
- Protected areas. Land in a Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area or Natural Heritage Area within 5 km, overlaps counted once. Protected for nature doesn’t always mean open to walkers.
- Footpaths and hiking routes. Footways that aren’t pavements, paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it, from OpenStreetMap. Trails are the registered ones within 5 km; a trail often follows mapped paths, so the two aren’t added.
- Woodland. Woods and forest as OpenStreetMap maps them, private and Coillte forests included: mapped cover, not access.
- No grade yet. Ireland’s grades don’t include the outdoors yet: these figures describe the town and stand beside the median Irish town.
Questions about the outdoors in Bray
What is the biggest park in Bray?
Shanganagh Park, 33 ha (82 acres). Ballywaltrim Park (7.9 ha) is second. 10 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is there protected countryside near Bray?
Yes: 3.4% of the land within 5 km is protected, across 6 sites. Bray Head SAC reaches Bray.
What are the best walks near Bray?
15 waymarked trails start within 5 km, including the Bray Head Loop Walk, Belmont Way and Dublin Mountains Way.
Where can you swim near Bray?
The nearest bathing water is Bray South Promenade, 0.1 km from town: Good (2025). Check beaches.ie before swimming: a notice can close a beach for the day.
How many people in Bray live near a park?
89% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a park or playing field; in the typical Irish town it is 92%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Bray?
On the town’s 1991–2020 averages and its daylight: May to September, when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light for the place.
Is Bray near a National Park?
The nearest of Ireland’s six National Parks is Wicklow Mountains National Park, 5.9 km west of the town’s edge; it covers about 223 km².
What is there to do outdoors around Bray?
Within 2 km, OpenStreetMap maps 9 viewpoints, 11 hills and peaks, 1 waterfall and 2 nature reserves; the named ones are listed under Things to do, with directions.
Which parks in Bray are historic?
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage records one historic park, garden or demesne in the town: Woodbrook.
Sources
Where Bray’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks, woods and paths. OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL): parks, woods and footpaths, Geofabrik extract, October 2026
- Protected sites. National Parks and Wildlife Service: designated sites (SAC, SPA, NHA), 2026
- Trails. Sport Ireland: National Trails Register, 2026
- Residents. CSO: Census 2022 Small Areas (residents)
- National Parks. National Parks and Wildlife Service: National Park boundaries, generalised to 50 m (CC BY 4.0), 2022
- Things to do. OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL): viewpoints, hills, waterfalls, nature reserves, picnic sites, playgrounds, campsites and waymarked walks, Geofabrik extract, October 2026
- Historic parks and gardens. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (CC BY 4.0)
- Bathing water. EPA: bathing water quality, 2025 season
- Weather. Met Éireann: 1991–2020 averages (Copyright Met Éireann)
Protected sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service (CC BY 4.0). Trails: Sport Ireland National Trails Register (CC BY 4.0). Bathing water: EPA (CC BY 4.0). Parks, woods and paths: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Not on this page yet: Coillte’s forest trails (its terms) and bike routes.
Contains Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, Census 2022, and Tailte Éireann boundaries (CSO Urban Areas, Small Areas, local electoral areas, constituencies), under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).