Killiney in county Dublin is the place I love returning to. There is no doubt in my mind it is the most scenic spot in the entire county.

The view from the top of Victoria Hill, the park close to Fitzpatrick Hotel in Killiney, is simply spectacular. Even on a dull day, you can feel your soul enriched at the almost never-ending horizon in front of you.

On one side of the hill, you get a commanding vista of the entire city. Turn towards the sea and you can take in a good portion of Dublin Bay plus half the Irish Sea. On a perfectly clear day, the Welsh mountains are just about visible.

If you turn your head a further 90 degrees south, the Wicklow Mountains and the two Sugar Loafs complete the extraordinary panorama.

From Victoria Hill, which was opened by Queen Victoria’s son Albert in 1887, one can follow pathways, which lead down onto Vico Road and from here the beach in Killiney is easily accessible.

Generally, I like my beaches to be sandy but I make an exception for Killiney. Its stony surface can make walking a little awkward but the lack of crowds, even in the summertime, more than compensate for the lack of sand.

The tide never covers the beach here either, which means it is possible to walk all the way into Bray, a good six miles away. That is one walk I have yet to complete, instead I follow the coast for a mile or two before stopping to admire the view. Making a seat for myself among the stones to watch the wading birds and the waves of the Irish Sea breaking gently on the shore is one of my favourite pastimes.

Twenty minutes here is like a spiritual bath. After soaking in Killiney’s serenity, I return home relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world again.

Above: The view from Killiney Hill Park over the bay.