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Private Boyne Valley, Hill of Tara and Trim Castle Day Tour
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From €590 per person
County Meath sits just north-west of Dublin and packs an extraordinary amount of Irish history into a relatively small area. This private day tour brings you through the Boyne Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Hill of Tara, and Trim Castle - all in about seven to eight hours, at a pace your guide tailors to your group.
The Boyne Valley is home to Brú na Bóinne, a cluster of Neolithic passage tombs that are older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids of Giza. Newgrange alone took generations to build and still stands largely intact after more than 5,000 years. If you want to visit the interior at Newgrange, you’ll need to book tickets in advance for your group - your guide can advise on this.
Your driver/guide picks you up at your hotel or port, works out the details on the day, and can suggest where to stop for lunch and a drink at the end. The itinerary below is a solid starting point, but it’s your tour to shape.
Important: You must book Newgrange tickets in advance for your group.
Brú na Bóinne - Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth
The three main Neolithic passage tombs of the Boyne Valley make up the UNESCO World Heritage site known as Brú na Bóinne. Newgrange was built around 5,200 years ago - predating both Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. The passage and chamber align to the rising sun on the mornings around the Winter Solstice, illuminating ancient artwork carved into the stone. The site contains over 250,000 tonnes of stone and earth, covers one acre, and features a tomb measuring 12 metres (40 feet) in height and 85 metres (278 feet) in diameter - the roof still intact and waterproof after five millennia. Knowth and Dowth complete the UNESCO site, with Dowth’s passage aligning to the setting sun at Winter Solstice.
Lunch in Slane
A stop in the village of Slane for lunch before continuing further into the valley.
Hill of Tara
The seat of the Celtic Kings of Ireland, including Brian Boru. The famous Tara Brooch, associated with this site, can be viewed at the National Museum in Dublin.
Trim Castle
The largest Norman castle in Ireland, built over 30 years from 1172 by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath. The site was chosen for its commanding position at a fording point on the River Boyne. Parts of the castle have been restored and you can explore inside - up the spiral staircases to the dining halls and sleeping chambers of the De Lacy stronghold. Trim Castle appeared in the film Braveheart.
Optional: Afternoon tea at Dunboyne Castle
On the route back to Dublin, the luxury Dunboyne Castle is a suggested stop for afternoon tea.
Other sites your guide can incorporate include the Monastic Settlement of Kells (closely linked to the Book of Kells held at Trinity College Dublin) and the Loughcrew Cairns - a lesser-known but equally impressive collection of Neolithic monuments on the Loughcrew Estate, which also has a good café.
Slane is the right lunch stop. The itinerary already flags lunch in Slane, and it’s well chosen. The village has four Georgian houses at a symmetrical crossroads, the Conyngham Arms Hotel does a proper sit-down lunch, and Inside Out on the main street offers Mediterranean food in a warm room. If your guide has a little extra time here, the Hill of Slane is a short walk above the village - the views over the Boyne Valley are genuinely worth the climb, and the legend of St Patrick lighting the Paschal fire from this hill in defiance of the High King gives the spot real weight.
Slane Whiskey Distillery is worth knowing about. The old stable yards at Slane Castle have been converted into a working whiskey distillery. It runs on a tour schedule rather than drop-in, so you’d need to book ahead, but it’s worth mentioning to your guide if spirits are your thing. The distillery bar celebrates forty years of rock concerts at the castle with records and memorabilia on the walls.
Kells is an excellent optional add-on. If your guide suggests incorporating Kells, take the offer. The Book of Kells is in Dublin at Trinity College, but the monastery it came from - or was at least sheltered in after the Viking raid on Iona in 806 - is here. The high crosses in the town centre, St Columba’s House (a stone structure from the 8th or 9th century), and the round tower together make a compact 45-minute stop that connects directly to the illuminated manuscript millions of people queue to see in Dublin.
Dunboyne Castle afternoon tea: book ahead if you want it. Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa is a Georgian country house 15 kilometres from Dublin Airport, well placed as the final stop on the return leg. The Ivy restaurant has held two AA Rosettes for a number of years. It fills up for weddings and events on summer weekends, so if afternoon tea here is on your wish list, flag it to your guide when booking so they can check availability.