Discover the Boyne Valley
Download the free visitor guide to the Boyne Valley, covering attractions and places of interest throughout Counties Meath and Louth. The guide includes a helpful map, practical information and local listings.
Download the Discover Boyne Valley Guide (PDF)
The Boyne Valley, birthplace of Ireland's Ancient East.
“The Boyne is not a showy river. It rises in County Kildare and flows gently and majestically through County Meath and joins the sea at Drogheda in County Louth some 112 kilometers (70 miles) later. It has none of the razzmatazz of its sister, the Shannon. What it does have, and by the gallon, is history.
In fact, the Boyne Valley is like a time capsule. Travel along it and you travel through millennia of Irish history, from passage tombs that pre-date the Pyramids, to the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland, all the way to the home of the First World War poet Francis Ledwidge in Slane. It is the Irish equivalent of Egypt's Valley of the Kings. And you can choose to explore it by car, bicycle, kayak, or by strolling along its banks and the towpaths of the navigation canals that run alongside from Navan to Oldbridge.”
Frances Power, Editor, Cara, the Aer Lingus inflight magazine (Boyne Valley Feature, October/November 2014).
Your journey of discovery starts here
To tell the story of Ireland's Ancient East we must start at the beginning: 5,000 years ago in the Boyne Valley. Here you will find 5,000 years of Europe's history in a lush green, compact and accessible landscape. Go at your own pace. Dip in or delve deep. Meet great people and listen to stories told by some of the greatest storytellers in the world.
Discover tombs older than the pyramids at Brú na Bóinne, the birthplace of Samhain on the Hill of Tlachtga (Hill of Ward), monasteries such as Mellifont Abbey, a medieval armoury at Trim, and the famous Battle of the Boyne battlefield. The spirit of the past is wonderfully alive here today. A private day tour with Boyne Valley Tours is one of the easiest ways to connect the sites with time for walks, photographs and conversation.
Out and about: greenways, walks and paddling
Bike hire and family cycling on Boyne Valley greenways and trails.
The Boyne Valley is best appreciated when traveling by boat, bike or on foot. The Royal Canal Greenway offers 130 kilometers (81 miles) of level towpath for walkers, runners and cyclists, with about 22 kilometers (14 miles) in County Meath and access points at Enfield, Longwood and Hill of Down. Picnic areas, storyboards and historic landmarks line the route. The greenway also forms part of the National Famine Way.
The Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway provides a 30 kilometer (19 mile) car-free pathway from Blackwater Park in Navan along the former Midland Great Western Railway to Dún an Rí Forest Park, Kingscourt, County Cavan. The Boyne Greenway runs about 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) from Dominic's Park in Drogheda along the river and canal to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Center at Oldbridge. The Boyne Blueway around Trim is a beautiful stretch of river from Trim to Bective Mill, ideal for paddling.
Heritage walks include the Boyne Ramparts Heritage Walk from Navan to Stackallen Bridge, the Porchfield and river walk from Trim Castle toward Newtown Trim, Oldbridge Estate walks on the battle site, the Slane Historic Trail, the Drogheda and Kells historic trails, and the Boyne Valley Camino, a self-guided 25 kilometer (16 mile) loop from Drogheda taking in Townley Hall woods, Oldbridge, Mellifont Abbey and the Boyne Canal.
Forest and nature walks include Balrath Wood, Littlewood Forest near Slane, Mullaghmeen Forest near Oldcastle, and Girley Bog Eco Walk near Kells. Wear walking boots, bring rain gear and fluids, keep dogs under control, and leave only footprints.
Boyne Valley gardens
Victorian Walled Garden at Oldbridge House on the Battle of the Boyne site.
For a gentler pace, follow the Boyne Valley Garden Trail through a kaleidoscope of color and fragrance. Highlights include the restored Victorian Walled Garden at Oldbridge House on the Battle of the Boyne site, Beaulieu House overlooking the river, Loughcrew Estate and Gardens near Oldcastle, Barmeath Castle, Killineer, Listoke, and many cottage and community gardens. See our gardens page for more detail.
The coast
Beaches north and south of the Boyne estuary.
Wide open beaches north and south of the Boyne offer peaceful walks or the thrill of the gallops near the racecourses. In Meath choose from Mornington, Bettystown, Laytown or Gormanston. In Louth choose Seapoint, Clogherhead, Port, Termonfeckin or Baltray. Several hold Green Coast or Blue Flag awards. Feel the sand in your toes, make sandcastles, or take a dip in the sea.
Boyne Valley Drive and heritage sites
Boyne Valley Drive map of key sites and routes.
The Boyne Valley Drive links the principal heritage towns and monuments in a compact loop that is easy to tailor. Browse our places to visit page, the archaeological Boyne Valley Guide, or book a private tour so ticket times at Brú na Bóinne and your preferred stops fit the day. Cruise guests can join a shore excursion from Dublin Port or Dún Laoghaire.
Brú na Bóinne: Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth
Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne is Ireland's richest archaeological landscape, set within a bend of the River Boyne. It is famous for the prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, built around 3200 BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.
Megalithic art on a Knowth kerbstone at Brú na Bóinne.
All visits to Newgrange and Knowth start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center near Donore. Do not go directly to the monuments; visitors travel by shuttle bus. Dowth is not part of the official tour, though you may walk around the outside. Pre-booking is essential. Newgrange predates the pyramids of Giza by about 400 years and Stonehenge by about 1,000 years. At dawn on the winter solstice, a shaft of sunlight enters the chamber through the roof box. Knowth holds the greatest concentration of megalithic art in Western Europe.
Towns and villages
Heritage towns along the Boyne.
Navan is centrally located and an ideal hub for exploring the region, with walks along the Boyne and canal at the Ramparts and the Navan Points of Pride trail from the Solstice Arts Center. Nearby sites include Bective Abbey, Ardmulchan, Donaghmore round tower and Athlumney Castle.
Drogheda is the gateway to the Boyne Valley. Explore St. Laurence's Gate, Millmount Tower and Museum, St. Peter's Church with the shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett, Highlanes Gallery, and the Tholsel visitor exhibition. Culture venues include Droichead Arts Centre and the TLT Theatre. Beaulieu House sits on the banks of the Boyne nearby.
Trim is dominated by Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, built by Hugh de Lacy from 1173. Explore the Yellow Steeple, Sheep Gate and Newtown monuments. Nearby Athboy sits below the Hill of Ward, traditionally linked with the original Samhain (Halloween) festival.
Millmount Tower overlooking Drogheda and the Boyne.
Slane is one of Ireland's most attractive hillside estate villages, laid out in the 1760s by the Conynghams of Slane Castle. The Hill of Slane is where St. Patrick is said to have lit the Paschal fire. Visit the Francis Ledwidge Museum, follow the Slane Historic Trail, and nearby Duleek for abbey ruins and high crosses. Slane Distillery on the castle estate produces Slane Irish Whiskey; see also our Boyne Valley whiskey page.
Kells welcomes visitors to early Christian architecture, high crosses and the round tower. Its most famous treasure is the Book of Kells, created by the community of St. Columba (a facsimile can be viewed in Kells Courthouse; the original is at Trinity College Dublin). Outside the town stands the Spire of Lloyd, Ireland's only inland lighthouse. Nearby Donaghpatrick and Teltown recall the ancient Tailteann Games.
Oldcastle and the Loughcrew hills.
Oldcastle and the hills around Loughcrew reveal passage graves, megalithic chambers and decorated stones, with sweeping views for walkers. Nearby Loughcrew Estate and Gardens offer historic gardens, a café and family events. Cairn T is famous for its equinox illumination.
Festivals and events
Seasonal festivals across the valley.
The calendar is full year round: Drogheda Arts Festival, Drogheda Comedy Festival, Fairyhouse Easter Racing Festival, Loughcrew Spring Equinox, Moynalty Steam Threshing, Trim's Salmon of Knowledge Festival, Navan Choral Festival, and the Spirits of Meath Halloween celebrations linked with ancient Samhain. With music, fire, feasting and merriment across Ireland's Ancient East, join the Celtic New Year traditions that began here. Check listings at discoverboynevalley.ie when planning dates.
Boyne Valley flavors
Farm stays and glamping experiences in the Boyne Valley.
With fertile soils steeped in history, the valley has nurtured generations of farmers and food producers. Today their traditions thrive alongside innovative practice. Look out for Boyne Valley Bites, dishes that showcase local ingredients, often paired with a local beverage. Join a cookery class, visit farmers' markets, or take a farm walk at Rock Farm Slane. The Boyne Valley Food Series runs through the year with long-table suppers, foraging walks, cookery demonstrations and farm tours.
The region has been recognized by the World Food Travel Association and highlighted by National Geographic Traveller UK among notable food destinations. Craft distilling and brewing continue the story, from Slane Irish Whiskey to local distilleries and brew houses. For more on whiskey stops, see Boyne Valley whiskey. Food event updates are listed at boynevalleyflavours.ie.
Eating out across Meath and Louth.
From hotel dining in Trim and Navan to village pubs, estate restaurants and coastal cafés, there is no shortage of places to eat. The PDF guide lists many individual venues with contact details. On a private tour, your driver-guide can recommend a lunch stop that fits the day's route, such as Maguires on the Hill of Tara, Dolly's Pantry, the Conyngham Arms in Slane, or the café at Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center.
Download Discover Boyne Valley Guide - PDF format
Explore with a private guide
The Discover Boyne Valley guide is designed for independent travelers as well as those who prefer a driver-guide. A private Boyne Valley day tour from Dublin, Meath, Louth, Dublin Airport or a cruise ship lets you see Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice, Trim and more without worrying about parking, tickets or timing. Book online at boynevalleytours.com/private-tours or send an inquiry.
For the archaeological and historical guide covering Trim, Tara, Brú na Bóinne, Monasterboice, Mellifont, Kells and Loughcrew in more depth, see the Boyne Valley Guide.
Trip Advisor Review
My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed our day with Michael Fox. He grew up near the Boyne Valley and had many personal stories to share about his love for the sacred places we discovered. Read the full TripAdvisor review