The quarry is laid out in three main climbing sections.
Off Dalkey Avenue lies Ardbrugh Road, above which give access to the three valleys of Dalkey Quarry (there is no access via Cunningham Drive).
The Far East Valley is private property, occupied by a small "gated community", and closed to climbing; the East Valley Climbing Area which contains a number of climbs; and the West Valley Climbing Area, which also contains climbs.
Between the East and West valleys is a broad ridge along which the quarry railway used to run; this is used to gain access to the Upper Cliffs (or Tier) Climbing Area, which contains the quarry's highest cliffs.
The Upper Cliffs is traversed by a tarmac path leading to the Killiney Hill car-park at one end, and a set of steps leading to the top of the hill at the other end; the path and steps are popular with strollers.
The hilltop path follows a wall which skirts the top of the cliffs, and passes an old signalling tower which was used by the British military to signal to the neighbouring Martello towers during the 19th century.

Apart from the one path and steps, the quarry is not landscaped but is left wild; as a result, it is forested, with gorse and bramble growth.
It, therefore, less resembles a typical industrial quarry, and looks more natural.
 The vegetation is home to wildlife – including foxes.
In recent years, peregrine falcons have nested in the cliffs of the upper tier; climbing in the vicinity of the nests is banned during the nesting period.
The quarry is laid out in three main climbing sections. Off Dalkey Avenue lies Ardbrugh Road, above which give access to the three valleys of Dalkey Quarry (there is no access via Cunningham Drive). The Far East Valley is private property, occupied by a small "gated community", and closed to climbing; the East Valley Climbing Area which contains a number of climbs; and the West Valley Climbing Area, which also contains climbs. Between the East and West valleys is a broad ridge along which the quarry railway used to run; this is used to gain access to the Upper Cliffs (or Tier) Climbing Area, which contains the quarry's highest cliffs. The Upper Cliffs is traversed by a tarmac path leading to the Killiney Hill car-park at one end, and a set of steps leading to the top of the hill at the other end; the path and steps are popular with strollers. The hilltop path follows a wall which skirts the top of the cliffs, and passes an old signalling tower which was used by the British military to signal to the neighbouring Martello towers during the 19th century.
Apart from the one path and steps, the quarry is not landscaped but is left wild; as a result, it is forested, with gorse and bramble growth. It, therefore, less resembles a typical industrial quarry, and looks more natural.  The vegetation is home to wildlife – including foxes. In recent years, peregrine falcons have nested in the cliffs of the upper tier; climbing in the vicinity of the nests is banned during the nesting period.
Dalkey Quarry