Preparing for your New Year's Trip to The Boyne Valley

Travelling to the Boyne Valley this New Year and need tips and Inspiration? Here are our top selections for the new year for you and your loved ones.

Discover the many Greenways, Walks and Trails

Boyne Ramparts Walk 

This walk is for you if you're searching for a lengthy, beautiful tour of the Boyne Valley. The Boyne Navigation flows beside 5,000 years of Meath Heritage, passing by the estate village of Slane, the Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge, and the passage graves of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. It is 8 km one way so a 16 km round trip. Give yourself about two hours each way.

Hill of Tara 

Discover this 1.3-km circular track in County Meath close to Tara. The Hill of Tara is the landscape's crowning glory in the Boyne Valley, a location that has been used as a gathering and burial ground for more than 5000 years. It takes an average of 25 minutes to complete. 

Trim Castle River Walk 

This extraordinary location is a visual feast as you stroll along the banks of the majestic Boyne and take in the views of the rich medieval legacy in Trim. Along clearly indicated paths, the stroll lasts around 30 minutes.

Take a Trip to the Races

It’s always a good day out at the races, even in Winter! There are 4 racecourses in Meath which include Navan Racecourse, Fairyhouse Racecourse, Laytown Races and Bellewestown Racecourse which is beautifully situated in a rural setting with magnificent views of the Mountains of Mourne to the north and the Irish sea to the east.  

All Racecourses have a number of events occurring throughout the months of 2023. 

Discover the Heritage Sites

In the Boyne Valley, history can be found on every corner…

There are two castles situated in the Boyne Valley, Trim and Slane Castle. Trim Castle is the largest, best-preserved & most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and definitely worth a visit. Slane Castle is set in the middle of a 1,500 acre estate in the heart of the Boyne Valley. Public tours are available at the castle which includes admission to the walking trail. Tours will reopen in March 2023.

The towns and villages that have been established in the Boyne Valley each have different charms and characteristics. You’ll find heritage sites in and around the towns as well as plentiful facilities such as hotels, restaurants, pubs and shopping facilities.

Rainy Weather

If there is one thing you can’t guarantee on your trip to The Boyne Valley, it’s the weather. Here are some things to do if the weather is not ideal on your visit.

Boyne Valley Tour Guide

The best person to find all the great places to go when the weather is bad! They will even take you there. Why not take a trip with one of our many Boyne Valley tour guides around the region? Get in contact with Boyne Valley Tours, Custom Irish Tours, Love Irish Tours, My Ireland Family Heritage tours and Royal Historical Tours for everything you need to know about your tour.

The perfect activity for any weather in the Boyne Valley. There are many great museums to explore and discover including Drogheda Museum, Droichead Arts Centre, the Francis Ledwidge Museum in Slane, Highlanes Gallery in Drogheda, Moynalty Steam Thresing Museum, the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan and Toradh Gallery in Ashbourne. Make sure to check out their latest exhibitions and opening times before you travel.

Shopping

Discover all our amazing shops and studios on your next visit to the Boyne Valley. Pick up the perfect gift or treat yourself to a memento. Some places to pop into are the Kilkenny Shop at Trim Castle Hotel, Pats Art Studio in Slane, Sage and Stone outside Duleek, or the Skylight Gallery in Drogheda.

Enjoy a Swim at one of the Swimming Pools

The perfect way to get active and spend some time swimming when the weather is not ideal. Public swimming pools can be found in Navan, Trim, Drogheda and Kells.