Boyne Valley Day Tour: Ancient Sites & Trim Castle

Stand inside a 13th-century castle and walk a 5,000-year-old passage tomb in one day

A guided day tour from Dublin to the Boyne Valley visits Trim Castle, Loughcrew Cairns, Fore Distillery and Fore Abbey, with driver guide and round-trip transport included. The tour runs 10 hours and departs from the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street. Arrive 10 minutes early. Lunch at Loughcrew is on your own, as is entry to Trim Castle's interior, though the grounds are open to walk and photograph.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hill of Tara1h
2. Trim Castle1h 10m
3. Loughcrew Cairns50m · entry included

Explore Boyne Valley ancient sites

• Meet at Molly Malone statue
• Visit Hill of Tara historic site
• Tour Trim Castle grounds
• Explore Loughcrew passage tombs
• Tour Fore Distillery
• Visit Fore Abbey ruins
• Return to Dublin

The experience

The day starts at the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street in Dublin, where you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers before heading out through the Irish countryside. The route takes you first to the Hill of Tara, a 5,000-year-old royal site where you'll see the Coronation Stone and An Forradh monument, with views across the landscape. From there, the coach carries you to Trim, home to Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle: a three-story keep set in vast grounds where you can walk the perimeter and photograph the medieval structure (entry to the interior costs extra). Your guide explains the castle's 13th-century history as you explore the exterior.

After Trim, you head to Loughcrew, where Neolithic passage tombs sit atop Meath's highest hills. These cairns date back more than 5,000 years and are covered inside with ancient rock art. A guided tour of the site brings that prehistoric past into focus. Lunch follows at a nearby restaurant. You choose what to eat and pay separately. The coach then takes you to Fore Distillery for a behind-the-scenes look at how Fore Valley spirits are made, with an optional lunch available there as well (also separate). Your final stop is Fore Abbey, the ruins of a 7th-century Christian monastery founded by Saint Fechin. The settlement once housed 300 monks and was destroyed twelve times before its final abandonment. You'll walk among the ruins of Saint Fechin's Church, which dates to around 900 AD.

The coach is air-conditioned and equipped with USB ports and WiFi on some vehicles. Breaks happen at service stations along the road where you can buy food and use facilities. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring weather-appropriate layers, as you'll be on your feet at several stops. The return to Dublin wraps the day as the sun moves lower, and you arrive back at the Molly Malone Statue with the day's stories in hand.

What’s included

• Driver guide in English.
• round-trip transport from Dublin in an air-conditioned coach.
• access to Trim Castle grounds, Loughcrew Cairns, Fore Distillery and Fore Abbey.
• USB ports and WiFi on select buses.
• service station breaks with facilities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 55

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Irish Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with a small group or family and want to see multiple ancient sites in one day without driving yourself: the 10-hour route covers 5,000 years of history across four stops, and the guide handles all the navigation and storytelling while you sit back and take in the countryside.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly is inside Trim Castle that I'd be paying extra to see?

Trim Castle's interior (the keep and its rooms) requires a separate ticket beyond the tour price. The grounds and exterior are included in the tour, so you can walk the gardens, photograph the castle and hear its history from your guide without that additional cost.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. The tour stops at a restaurant near Loughcrew where you order and pay for your own meal. Fore Distillery also offers an optional lunch you can purchase if you choose.

How much walking is involved at each site?

You'll walk the grounds of Trim Castle, climb to the Loughcrew passage tombs atop the hills, and explore the Fore Abbey ruins on foot. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended. The Hill of Tara and Fore Distillery involve moderate walking as well. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the terrain is uneven in places.

What time does the tour leave Dublin and when do we get back?

The tour departs from the Molly Malone Statue on Suffolk Street and runs for 10 hours total. Arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time. The return to Dublin happens at the end of the day, bringing you back to the same pickup point.

What's included in the price besides the guide and transport?

Round-trip transport from Dublin in an air-conditioned coach, a driver guide who speaks English, and access to the grounds at Trim Castle, Loughcrew, Fore Distillery and Fore Abbey are all included. USB ports and WiFi are available on some buses. Lunch, entry to Trim Castle's interior, and gratuities are separate.