Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara is the jewel in the crown of the Boyne Valley landscape. A site that has been in use for more than 5000 years as a place of burial and assembly, it grew to fame as the legendary inauguration site of the ancient High Kings of Ireland. From its rolling slopes one can see all the way to the other great sites of the Boyne Valley, including Loughcrew Cairns, the Hill of Slane, Trim Castle and beyond. In later centuries it remained the focus of Gaelic identity and remains to this day the beating heart of Ireland.

May to September (Hill of Tara Visitor Centre) +353 46 902 5903. Out of Season contact: (Brú na Bóinne) +353 41 988 0300

hilloftara@opw.ie

Hill of Tara,

Dunsany,

Navan

Co. Meath

C15 P44W

View location on Google Maps

From Navan:

Get on the R147 heading towards Dublin. Continue on this road (through three roundabouts) for about 8Km. Take a right at the sign for the Hill of Tara. Continue up the hill until you reach your destination on the left.

From Trim:

Take the R154 headed towards Dublin/Clonee. After 5km turn left for Kilmessan on L2205. In Kilmessan take a sharp right onto Skein Abbey. Continue to the end of this road and take a left, arriving at the Hill of Tara.

Via M1 Motorway or Drogheda:

Take the M1 (this road is tolled) coming from Belfast. At junction 10, take the N51 exit to Drogheda (North)/Navan/Collon. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto N51 for Slane. In Slane take a left onto the N2 towards Dublin. Take a right onto the R153 for Navan/Kentstown. Take a left for the road towards Trim. Continue on this road until you reach the R147. Take a left onto the R147 and continue through the two roundabouts. Take a right at the sign for the Hill of Tara. Continue up the hill until you reach your destination on the left.

From Dublin:

Take the M3 (this road is tolled) headed for Cavan. At junction 7, take the R147 exit to Skryne/Johnstown. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto R147. Take a right at the sign for the Hill of Tara. Continue up the hill until you reach your destination on the left.

Hill of Tara accessible all year round

Visitor Centre

11 May – 14 September 2023

Daily 10:00 – 18:00

Last admission 17:00

Please see the Heritage Ireland website for visitor centre opening hours.

https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/hill-of-tara/

https://www.facebook.com/hilloftaraOPW/

Admission to visitor centre with guided tour (Please note, no credit card facilities on site):

Adult: €5.00

Senior/Group: €4.00

Child/Student: €3.00

Family: €13.00

Admission to the site: Free of Charge

53.5813

-6.60963

Kells Town & Monastic Sites

The heritage town of Kells contains many fine examples of early medieval Christian architecture.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Historic Sites

Towns

Kells

(046) 924 7508

For tourist information, brochures and more see:
Kells Courthouse Tourism and Cultural Hub
Headfort Rd Kells, Co. Meath A82
RY62
(located opposite the Market Cross as one enters Kells from the Navan or Slane road)

View location on Google Maps here

From Dublin take the M3 motorway, Exit 10 for Kells South, alternatively take the N3 North through Navan, follow the main road till you enter Kells town.

Via M1 Motorway or Drogheda: From the M1 (this road is tolled) coming from Belfast, take the exit for junction 10, take the N51 exit to Slane/Drogheda North. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto N51 headed for Slane. If coming from Drogheda take the N51 headed towards Slane also. Head west on Main Street/N51 toward Churchlands, Continue to follow N51, Turn right onto R163, Turn left to stay on R163, Turn right onto R162, Take the 1st left onto R163. You are entering Kells Town

https://www.facebook.com/discoverkells

53.72730187148076

-6.879900768134526

Loughcrew Cairns

Limited Access

Access to outside spaces only. Please do not climb on Cairn T.

Due to ongoing conservation works access to the interior of Cairn T is not possible at present. The rest of the monuments on the hill are not affected by this necessary work.
OPW regret any inconvenience caused.

In the summer months tour guides are on site to answer questions: please see website for times and details.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Oldcastle

Kells

+353 (0)49 8541240 (seasonal). Mobile: 087 0524975

brunaboinne@opw.ie

View location on Google Maps here

From M1 Motorway

At junction 10, take the N51 exit.

Merge onto M3

Continue onto R154

Continue onto L2800 Turn right Destination will be on the left

From Dublin M3

Continue onto Navan Road/N3, take exit onto R163

Continue onto R154

Turn right to stay on R154

Continue onto L2800

Turn right

Destination will be on the left

Limited Access

Access to outside spaces only.

See website for details.

https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/loughcrew-cairns/

https://www.facebook.com/loughcrewopw/

53.7447

-7.11024

Monasterboice High Crosses and Monastic Site

The historic ruins of Monasterboice (Irish: Mainistir Bhuithe) are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe who died around 521, and was an important centre of religion and learning until the founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in 1142.

The site houses two churches built in the 14th century or later and an earlier round tower, but it is most famous for its 10th century high crosses.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Historic Sites

Monasterboice

Drogheda

+353 41 9872843

Monasterboice

Collon

Louth

View location on Google Maps here

Just west of and clearly visible from the M1 motorway, just north of Drogheda. 5km from Tullyallen, 8km from Drogheda

Access : Sited across a minor road from the carpark. Level but gravel-covered paths around the well-kept site.

Open All Year

No Admission Fee.

53.7776

-6.41759

Navan Town

History of Navan

The burgeoning town of Navan lies at the confluence of the rivers Boyne and Blackwater. It is the county town, or administrative capital, of Co. Meath. The name Navan has long confused etymologists. It is thought that it may take its name from the Irish An Uaimh, meaning ‘the cave' or perhaps from Nuachongbhail, meaning ‘new habitation'. Navan was accredited Purple Flag in 2015 promoting a well managed vibrant town with an impressive nighttime economy.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Towns

Navan

+353 (0) 46 9092300

info@solsticeartscentre.ie

Solstice Arts Centre and Tourism Information Point, Railway St., Navan, Co. Meath

View location on Google Maps

From Dublin:

Take the M3 (this road is tolled) headed for Cavan. At junction 8, exit toward R147Navan (South). Merge onto Navan (South). Turn left onto R147. Arrive at destination. Via M1 Motorway or Drogheda: Take the M1 (this road is tolled) coming from Belfast. At junction 10, take the N51 exit to Drogheda (North)/Navan/Collon. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto N51 for Slane. Continue on the N51 to Navan.

From Trim:

Head south on Castle Street. At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto R154 to Navan. At the traffic lights turn right onto the R161. Continue on this road until arriving in Navan. From Kells: Take the R147 headed towards Navan/Dublin. Continue on this road until arriving in Navan.

Monday to Saturday, 9.30am - 4.00pm

http://www.solsticeartscentre.ie

N/A

53.6501590055968

-6.685881599220233

Newtown Trim Monuments

The Newtown Monuments consist of a large medieval cathedral, two monasteries and small church which mostly date from the early 13th century. They are situated just downriver from the town of Trim, separated by the medieval open field system known as the Porchfields.

St Peter & St Paul Cathedral and Victorine Priory

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Historic Sites

Trim

+ 353(0)469437227

trimvisitorcentre@discoverboynevalley.ie

Newtown,

Trim,

Co. Meath

View your location on Google Maps here

From M1 Motorway

At junction 10, take the N51 exit.

Continue onto R161 & continue onto Trim

From Navan

Take the 1st exit onto Railway Street & continue onto R161 & continue onto Trim

From Drogheda

At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto N51 Continue onto R161 & & continue onto Trim

From Dublin M3

Continue onto Navan Road/N3, take exit onto R156

Merge onto M3, At junction 6, take the R125 exit

Continue to follow R154 towards Trim.

Newtown Trim is located on the north side of the road about two kilometres before Trim.

Free entry. Please respect Newtown as it is still in use as a burial ground. Dogs must be kept on leads.

53.55571755550373

-6.772506654180335

Nobber

(Nobber mediveal church ruin and modern Church of Ireland church, now George Eogan Cultural and Heritage Centre: Photo, Henry Cruise)

Nobber: from the prehsitoric to the present day

The town of Nobber and its surrounds is an ancient settlement that can trace its roots back to Mesolithic Ireland, c.6,000 BC. The name Nobber come from the Irish word “an Obair” ('the work'), which refers to the Norman motte at the north end of the village.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

nobberheritage@gmail.com

View location on Google Maps here

https://www.facebook.com/NobberHeritageCentre/

53.8217384521912

-6.7479354245739875

Old Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. St Malachy of Armagh created it in 1142 with the help of a small number of monks sent by St Bernard from Clairvaux. The monks did not take well to Ireland and soon returned to France, but the abbey was completed anyway and duly consecrated with great pomp.

Boyne Valley Drive Sites

Drogheda

Slane

mellifontabbey@opw.ie

Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Telephone No:
Summer phoneline: +353 41 982 6459
Outside the above period please contact Brú na Bóinne +353 41 988 0300

View location on Google Maps here

Tullyallen
Drogheda
Co. Louth

A92 K682.

10km north-west of Drogheda off the R168 (Drogheda-Collon Road)

Site open all year round.

Access to Visitor Centre and guided tours: 25 May – 03 September 2023 only Daily 10:00 – 17:00

Last admission 45 minutes before closing

Average Length of Visit: 1 hour

Notice
This site is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.

Old Mellifont Abbey OPW website

https://www.facebook.com/oldmellifontabbey

Grounds only: Free entry

Access to exhibition in the Visitor Centre and guided tour:
Adult: €5.00
Group/Senior: €4.00
Child(12-17)/Student: €3.00
Family: €13.00

53.7428

-6.46587

Oldcastle

The town of Oldcastle was the 18th century creation of the Naper family, who received parts of the Plunkett estate following the cromwellian wars. Due in part to the continuation of a Gaelic way of life, the area, suffered badly during the Great Famine (1845-‘9) in comparison with richer, more arable areas in the southern part of Meath. The poorest inhabitants were obliterated by starvation and emigration. Nonetheless, land patterns still visible today reveal a strong attachment to pastoral farming of ‘Gaelic Culture'.