"A square mile of rock and turf washed by waves from the Irish sea,
honeycombed with caverns which are the home of great grey seals,
a Castle unique in plan, a little chapel, an abandoned coastguard station,
an enchanting animal life, a fascinating history - these are Lambay."
- Lawrence Weaver, Country Life, 1912
Lambay Tours & Day Trip Packages
Please note the island is closed to visitors in the Winter months.
INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS: If you are looking to join an existing tour, you can book individual spaces on Eamon McGrattan's wonderful Nature Walking Tours or Combing Nature & Castle Tours (see below). Please note these trips are not suitable for children under the age of 12 and a reasonable level of fitness is required.
PRIVATE GROUP BOOKINGS: You can also book privately with Eamon for groups of up to 12 and request a more bespoke offering, for example if you would like more time on the beach, or if you wish to bring children as part of a family day out.
All other day trips to Lambay must be arranged on a private group basis only, and there are set fees for groups of up to six, 12 and above. Again, the tours are not tailored towards children but if you wish to arrange a family day out including little ones, please contact Eamon for options.
Boat transfers between Malahide or Howth and Lambay are organised by Lambay and are included as part of the day trip package. Private vessels are unfortunately not permitted to land at Lambay due to H&S, insurance and privacy reasons.
Boat departure times are tide dependent and the open sea crossing takes approximately 25 minutes from Malahide, or 40 minutes from Howth. Flexibility is required if wind patterns dictate a shift in timings prior to your visit.
Private Architecture Tour
Set Groups Only
Set fee for multiples of 12 guests,
starting from €1,560
Trip duration approx. 3 hours
Enjoy a two-hour private tour of the famous Lutyens architecture on Lambay, led by a resident family member or close friend of the island.
This intimate tour encompasses the extraordinary island works conceived by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and patrons Cecil & Maude Baring, between 1908 and 1933, which transformed Lambay into the architectural paradise it is today. The project became a lasting testament of their life-long friendship.
Discover Lambay Castle (exterior and interior of the C15th Old Fort), the family Mausoleum, the Bothy, Coastguard Cottages and White House (exterior), the C19th Chapel and the Real Tennis Court, with personal anecdotes from your guide.
Please check back in January for 2025 bookings.
Nature Walking Tour
Individual spaces are €130 pp
Set group rates are
€780 for six or €1,320 for 12
Trip duration approx. 5 hours
For nature lovers, this is a perfect opportunity to explore the wilder parts of Lambay and, if you are lucky, see some of the island's incredible wildlife in its natural habitat. Seals, deer, wallabies and puffins to name but a few and depending on the season!
Enjoy a jolly sail over in the Naomi Leigh with our local living legend, Eamon McGrattan. Eamon will then guide you on a relaxed 3-hour walk of the island including the Real Tennis Court and Chapel, into the Walled Kitchen Garden and up through the wilder parts of the island to where the unfortunate RMS Tayleur met an early demise in 1854. Enjoy incredible views from the island summit, before returning to the harbour for refreshments and time for a dip in the sea on Lambay's private sandy beach.
Please check back in January for 2025 bookings.
Combined Nature & Castle Tour
Individual spaces are €175 pp
Private group rates are
€1,050 for six or €1,740 for 12
Trip duration approx. 5-6 hours
If you can't decide between the nature walk and the Castle Tour, we have limited availability for a mixed tour combining the two elements.
Eamon will take you through the surrounding architecture and the wilds of the island, before bringing you up through the Castle rampart walls, private woods and into the Castle terraces.
Here you will be met by a resident of Lambay and given an exclusive private view of the Old Fort including the Dining Room (with vaulted ceiling), formal Sitting Room and master bedrooms suites upstairs.
Complete the trip with a lovely BBQ and refreshments on the harbour hosted by Captain Eamon, with time for a dip in the sea on Lambay's private sandy beach.
Please check back in January for 2025 bookings.
