Victorian seaside resort turned creative commuter town, Bray combines a Blue-Flag beach, cliff walks to Greystones and fast DART links to Dublin. Musicians play seafront bandstands during July's Groove Festival, while Bray Head's 241-metre summit repays a 20-minute hike with Wicklow Mountain panoramas. Film fans tour Ardmore Studios sets, surfers ride morning swells and locals refuel on craic-laden fish-and-chips at harbour shacks. Sunset paints the granite obelisk atop Bray Head coral-pink, sealing its status as Dubliners' favourite escape.