Memorable Experiences in the BOYNE VALLEY

3DAYS | 15STOPS The cultural heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, the Boyne Valley is home to one of the world’s most important prehistoric landscapes & enjoys a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading food-tourism destinations. Renowned for the quantity & quality of its cultural visitor attractions & for its natural beauty, the Boyne Valley represents the best of Ireland’s historical and contemporary culture. PAGE 1 OF 7 Mellifont DAY 1 N is only five minutes away and houses the Abbey beautifully ornate and slightly macabre 2 CO. LOUTH shrine to Saint Oliver Plunkett in which you CO. MEATH can view the 17th century saint’s preserved head! After lunch in one of Drogheda’s Irish Sea many fine cafes, restaurants and pizzerias

Battle of the 4 head to the Highlanes Gallery, located Boyne Visitor 3 1 Centre in the town’s former Franciscan Church, Boyne Drogheda Boats it holds exhibitions both from Drogheda’s Municipal Art Collection along with Boyne River renowned Irish and international artists. CO. MEATH Just a short distance away and housed within a large fort which played a crucial part in Drogheda’s history, Millmount Museum houses various exhibitions on Irish archaeology, folklife, local history, geology, industry and today and it is widely regarded as one of military history. The museum also contains DAY 1 - morning the finest of its kind in Europe. Be sure to one of the four surviving examples of an ancient We’re going to begin our journey through stop at the fascinating but slightly spooky type of fishing vessel, called a coracle, which the Boyne Valley in the walled-town of early-16th century carved cadaver stone at was once a common sight along the River Drogheda where you’ll find a number of Boyne. You can also pick up some fantastic St Peter’s . At seven feet great galleries and museums that tell the craft direct from a number of artisan tall, the stone depicts two carved skeletons fascinating story of this medieval town. makers who are located within the building. representing Edward Golding and Elizabeth Fleming, whose family were once the Barons Join a walking tour from the Tourist Office A 10 minute north-westerly journey will bring you on West Street or take a stroll around the of . There are less than ten of these to the historic ruins of Old Mellifont Abbey. town at your own leisure enjoying some of the grim cadaver stones remaining in Ireland. The first Cistercian monastery to be founded in town’s many fantastic medieval monuments. Ireland in 1142, the abbey was to become one of St Laurence’s Gate is one of only a handful Designed in the French gothic style, the Ireland’s most influential, housing hundreds of of town-wall gates which remain intact impressive St Peter’s monks by the time of its closure in 1539.

PAGE 2 OF 7 rich tapestry of characters who have inspired The evocative ruins that remain today Alternatively, the region has an abundance the legends associated with the area today. include a 13th century ‘lavabo’ (where monks of wonderful gardens which can be explored washed their hands before eating), some through the Boyne Valley Garden Trail. Boyne Boats is happily located on the beautiful Romanesque arches and a 14th The trail encompasses a rich diversity of grounds of the Visitor century chapter house. The visitor centre gardens - historic and modern, large and Centre on the 18th century Oldbridge on-site houses an exhibition of Medieval small, country and village gardens, in private House estate, so after your paddle you can carvings discovered during excavations. and public ownership, all lovingly tended head into the centre and learn about one and waiting to be explored. Three award- of the most significant events in Irish winning designers’ garden centres are DAY 1 - afternoon . The Battle of the Boyne was fought history listed on the trail along with cafes, garden One of the best ways to experience the between the Protestant King William III shops, galleries and information about wonderful natural beauty of the Boyne and the Catholic King James II in 1690. guided tours and summer outdoor events. Valley is to head out on the river itself with Boyne Boats, winners of the ‘Best Boyne The kings were rival claimants to the English, Valley Tourism Experience 2018’. The tours Scottish and Irish thrones. King William had DAY 2 - morning take place in the handcrafted, traditional deposed King James two years earlier and the Begin the day at the beautiful Loughcrew Kerry naomhóg currachs which have starred battle is vividly brought to life in the visitor Estate just outside the town of Oldcastle in the hit TV show, Game of Thrones! centre with a laser battle site model, an audio where you will find the best of three visual film, real and replica weaponry and centuries of landscape and garden design. Young and old can paddle together as they interactive guided tours. The visitor centre is Hidden along the looped walks you will hear about 5,000 years of the fascinating surrounded by Victorian gardens, tea rooms find a Medieval motte, the foundations history of the Boyne Valley, about the and a host of fascinating battle-site walks. of a Long House, dating to the early bloody battles that shaped Ireland and the 1600s and the magnificent ‘Yew Walk’.

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Loughcrew N Megalithic DAY 2 2 Centre 1 CO. MEATH CO. LOUTH Loughcrew 3 Kells Gardens & Village Slane Fairy Trail Drogheda

Irish Sea Causey 6 Navan Brú na 4 Farm Boyne River Bóinne A Limekiln Gastropub

CO. MEATH Hill of 5 Tara Trim CO. DUBLIN

The ruins ofSt Oliver Plunkett’s family in 550AD. It is said that this is the place where church can be also be found on the estate. At over 5,000 years old, these tombs are even the iconic Book of Kells was produced. It is said that the Plunkett family resided at older than ! Loughcrew Megalithic Loughcrew and this is where the well-known Centre offers guided tours of this breadth- The village has a treasure trove of superb Saint was born. The smallies and tweenies taking landscape, recounting the myths and heritage sites to discover such as the will love the charming and interactive legends associated with the tombs and the impressive round tower, the old market Fairy Trail also located on the estate witch who is credited for creating them! You cross, five early-medieval High Crosses and where they can make their way through an can also enjoy a visit to ‘Maggie Heaney’s’ the tiny early Irish church known as ‘Saint atmospheric garden full of magic doors, traditional Irish cottage or a bite to eat in Colmcille’s House’, which local tradition beautiful fairy houses and wishing trees. Nelly’s Kitchen Cafe also located at the centre. suggests is the building in which the Book of Kells was completed! Kells Courthouse A visit to this area would not be complete Afterwards, head 10 minutes south to the is now a tourist information and cultural without a visit to the fascinating historic town of Kells, where you can soak up hub, housing an interactive exhibition, the Loughcrew Cairns or ‘passage the rich monastic heritage of the town where Toradh2 Visual Art Gallery and offering tombs’, as they are also known. St Colmcille established a religious settlement guided-walking tours of the town.

PAGE 4 OF 7 Later you may wish to experience a taste of na Bóinne is dominated by the three well- Ireland’s more recent culture! A 25 minute known and celebrated passage tombs of meaning ‘Sanctuary of the Kings’ and it is drive west through the valley brings you Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth, built some here that the ancient High Kings of Ireland to the fantastic Causey Farm which offers 5,000 years ago, they are older than both were inaugurated, the hill is much celebrated traditional Irish farm experiences along with Stonehenge the Egyptian pyramids! Newgrange in Irish myth and legend. The passage tomb some typically rural-Irish activities. Before and Knowth are both accessible from the known as Dumha na nGiall (meaning ‘the the adventure begins, visitors make some visitor centre at Brú na Bóinne (to access the mound of the hostages’) is the oldest visible traditional Irish soda bread and pop it in chamber at Newgrange prebooking is essential). monument on the hill, dating from around the oven to enjoy at the end of their visit. 3,000 BC. It is said that Saint Patrick lit the Thenew state of the art, immersive visitor Paschal Fire in 433 on the nearby Hill of Slane Guests can take part in some traditional experience transports visitors back 5000 in defiance of the ‘pagan’ King of Tara. Irish dancing, learn how to play Ireland’s years to the construction of the monuments, traditional Irish drum - the bodhrán, take a explores the seasonal nature of Stone Age One of the most interesting monuments stroll around the farm trail meeting farm society, the significance of the solar cycle, at Tara is the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny), residents such hens, geese, pigs, Connemara and the tomb-building process. Visitors the inauguration stone of the High Kings. ponies, goats and donkeys and watch the can drive directly to Dowth but there is no According to tradition, when a true Irish or resident collie round up a flock of sheep! public access to the passage chambers. Scottish King places his foot on Lia Fáil, it cries out to announce his rightful reign! The hill has No doubt Brú na Bóinne will have whetted continued to be a significant landmark in the DAY 2 - afternoon your appetite for the stories and monuments Irish landscape throughout the centuries. Heading further west into the valley you’ll come Locatedof Ireland’s ancientjust 30 Kings, min soutes after lunchnorth head of Dublin ThereAirport, is avisitor the centreBoyne on Valleysite with enjoysan to the fantastic UNESCO World Heritage ato reputation the The Hill of asTara one, a low-lying of the ridge leading food-tourisminformative audio-visual, destinations guided intours Ireland are Site at Brú na Bóinne - one of the world’s located a further 25 minutes west. On a clear available between May and September most important prehistoric landscapes, today.day, hills The in all region four provinces was proud of Ireland to be named butas visitorsone of can the enjoy ‘World’s the monuments Best Food containing the largest concentration of Destinations’can be viewed from in the 2019 hill. The by namethe National Geographicthemselves any Traveller, alongside day of the year. the megalithic artwork in Western Europe. Brú ‘Tara’ comes from the Irish, ‘Teamhair na Rí’ cities of Bologna in Italy and Cusco in Peru.

PAGE 5 OF 7 N DAY 3 Slane Castle, film,Braveheart was filmed at ! Distillery Slane & Village 4 Navan In Medieval times, this massive, twenty-sided Adventure tower stood like an imposing and powerful Centre A stone symbol of Norman strength at the edge Boyne River of the Pale. Tours are available daily during the summer and at weekends in the winter. Don’t Navan forget to visit Trim Visitor Centre beside the castle and take the Medieval Armoury Tour. CO. MEATH CO. MEATH DAY 3 - Afternoon Tayto A trip to the Boyne Valley would not be Trim Theme Park complete without a visit to the historic village of Slane and a peek inside the 1 2 B 3 Trim Boyne Trim Visitor 250-year-old Slane Castle which has been Valley Castle Centre Ashbourne Activities home to the Conyngham family since 1703. The guided tour of this architectural gem takes in the sumptuous 18th century interiors and stories from both the family and the castle’s colourful past. all day, every day, from 9.30am until dusk and DAY 3 - morning has a great Family Activity Package which A tour of Slane Distillery, housed within the If you’re travelling with kids and you’d includes an inflatables area, mini-golf, pedal old stable building of the castle pays homage like the family to take part in some outdoor to 300 years of Conynham family history Locatedgo-karting, football-golf just 30 min and utesski-walking.) north of Dublin Airport, the Boyne Valley enjoys adventures, then start the day with the at Slane Castle through an interactive and dizzying array of activities such as kayaking, aIf youreputation are in Trim, youas cannotone of leave the without leading food-tourismimmersive tour destinations. The tour concludes in Irelandwith white-water rafting, archery or a medieval river visiting the fantastic , one of the a taste of the distillery’s signature triple today. The regionTrim was Castle proud to be named as one of the tour with Boyne Valley Activities located in largest, best-preserved and most impressive casked blend, ‘Slane ‘World’sIrish Whiskey Best’ - a Food historic Trim. (Alternatively, Navan Adventure Destinations’Anglo-Norman castles in 2019in Ireland! by The the National kids Geographicmust for all those Traveller, alongside over 18! Visitors under the Centre is located further north and is open might be impressed to know that Mel Gibson’s 18 must be accompanied by an adult. cities of Bologna in Italy and Cusco in Peru.

PAGE 6 OF 7 Slane is also a great spot to pick up some display. Other onsite activities include a From the hair-raising rides of the fantastic local gifts before heading home. Have large inflatable obstacle course and combat Adventure Zone to the more laid-back a browse in Pat’s Art Studio or look out for the archery for some high octane fun! experiences of the Eagles Nest, to the farmer’s market at Rock Farm while you’re in fantastic array of both exotic and farm the area. Alternatively, head to the wonderful Tayto animals that can be visited in the zoo or Theme Park situated just north of Ashbourne, the life-like animatronics at Dinosaurs Afterwards, head 10 minutes north to the Irish it’s worth setting aside a whole day to really Alive, everyone is sure to find something Military War Museum & Family Park which explore all that this fantastic 22 hectare park that thrills and enthrals at Tayto Park! offers a hands-on,interactive museum has to offer. All age groups and interests are experience which includes handling catered for, from the thrill-seekers looking original weapons, visiting a replica World for an adrenalin rush to younger guests War I trench and a blank-firing weapons who like to take things a little bit slower!

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