Celtic Boyne Valley and Ancient Sites Day Tour from Dublin
Description
Trim Castle – Discover Ireland’s largest Anglo-Norman castle, dating back to the 13th century. Explore its vast gardens, impressive three-story keep, and medieval atmosphere, perfect for stunning photos. Loughcrew – Uncover the secrets of a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, adorned with ancient art, atop Meath’s highest hills. A guided tour brings Ireland’s prehistoric past to life. Fore Distillery – Go behind the scenes of Fore Valley spirits, experience expert distillation, and immerse yourself in history. Optional lunch available (not included). Fore Abbey – Visit St. Fechin’s 7th-century monastery, home to the legendary “Seven Wonders of Fore.” **Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before departure**
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will meet in front of the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street. Our exciting day tour will begin by travelling through Ireland's terrain. Before leaving you’ll meet your fun-loving and knowledgeable tour guide and your fellow travel companions! *PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE MEETING POINT 10 MIN BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME*
Next, pay a visit to the Hill of Tara, a holy location and the former home of the high monarchs of ancient Ireland. Discover centuries of history with breathtaking views of the landscape, including the well-known Coronation Stone and An Forradh monument. Experience this 5,000-year-old Boyne Valley gem firsthand.
A drive across the Irish countryside wouldn't be the same without passing through verdant, scenic areas. We go to the town of Trim, which is home to a striking and well-preserved Anglo-Norman castle, through stunning scenery. Ireland's largest castle of its kind is Trim Castle. You will have opportunity to stroll about the expansive grounds and castle (the ticket inside the castle it's not included). This is a great chance to take a picture. You will learn about the background of this intriguing castle and the neighbourhood from your guide.
After that, we go to Loughcrew, the location of Neolithic passage tombs with complete rock art covering the inside walls that date back more than 5,000 years. After our visit, we will have lunch at a nearby restaurant, where the tastes enhance the area's rich history and add even more value to our experience.
Is delighted to invite you behind the scenes for an exclusive look at the craftsmanship behind Fore Valley spirits. Experience the art of distillation, where you can immerse yourself in the rich history of this remarkable location. For those who wish to extend their visit, a delightful lunch option is available (not included)
Finally, visit Fore Abbey, the site of Saint Fechin's founding of a Christian monastery in the seventh century, lastly. Before it was destroyed twelve times, the settlement was home to 300 monks at its height. Explore the ruins, which include Saint Fechin's Church, which dates back to approximately 900 AD.
We will return to Dublin reminiscing about the day's activities, the memorable scenery, and with stories to tell about our experiences!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
- Breaks will be taken at service stations in road, where you can buy food and use the toilet facilities.
Reviews(920)
It is a very hilly walk so definitely dress appropriately esp footwear. (If you are not a walker this is not the tour for you). The scenery is absolutely gorgeous! Even in the pouring rain! Our guide Derrick was absolutely delightful. Lots of great information about the local history!
The trip was very interesting, a wonderful experience and our driver Philip was incredible! He seemed genuinely interested in the people, was a wealth of historic information, and made sure we were comfortable, cared for, and arrived safely at each destination.
Our guide was great very knowledgeable and full of information highly recommended. Good to see a lot of ancient sites
Loved the sites! Well organized, but for a tour that includes so much history, it flys! One could use 15-20 min more at Tara, either shorten Trim Castle (45 min) or time arrival so one can do the tour, give another 15 min at Loughcrew and give at least 45 min for the Abby. Tour guides do not enter sites with you, they do give a brief introduction before. We were rushed the entire visit. Those who walked slower barely got to finish some sites. And if you wanted to take in the mythology of these sites, there simply was no time. However the guide had humor and was helpful. The driver made you feel safe, excellent ! Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to walk fast as you try to soak in the atmosphere.
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the sites, found the tour well organized, and appreciated the guide’s humour as well as the driver’s professionalism and safety. We’re sorry to hear that the timing at certain locations felt rushed and that you didn’t have as much time as you would have liked to fully take in the history and atmosphere. Your suggestions regarding adjusting stop durations are very helpful and will be passed on to our team for review. If you would like us to look into your booking further, please contact us at info@daytours.ie with your details. Thank you again for your honest feedback.
There is no guide - just Tom the bus driver- he lets you off and you go figure it out. When he does point something out from the bus - you can't always hear and sometimes he doesn't help you know where to look. At one site - he joked that I could find out more on YouTube. He was friendly on the surface but don't think he was a people person. If you need transportation to these site - it's fine - but it is not a tour in the traditional sense. We requested seats at front of bus due to motion sickness, but when we arrived at pickup point they didn't even have our names on the list. Mt ticket was valid however but no effort to give us the front seats we requested. Happily drive was largely smooth but still much driving on country roads.
Excellent for history buffs - Ring of Tara, Bective Abbey, Trim Castle, Fore Abbey, Loughcrew Cairns, and Fore Distillery. Lunch is quite late so bring snacks. Everything is outdoors so weather dependent. Lots of free time to explore sights but 30 min stop at at highway stop on the way back made it a needlessly long day
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the sites and found the tour interesting, especially for those passionate about history. We’re sorry to hear that the timing of the stops and the return journey made the day feel longer than expected. Your comments about the schedule and comfort are appreciated and will be passed on to our team for review. Thank you again for your honest feedback.
We missed our bus. It would be helpful if instead of giving a statue to meet in some park, that a nearby parking garage could be provided. We had to deal with rush hour traffic in Dublin and then couldn't find anyplace to park.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that you had difficulty locating the departure point and that this caused you to miss your bus. We understand how stressful this can be, especially during busy traffic conditions. Your suggestion regarding clearer meeting point instructions and parking options is very helpful, and we will pass this on to our team for review. If you would like us to look into this further, please email us your booking details at [info@daytours.ie](mailto:info@daytours.ie). Thank you again for your comments.
If you have a little time and have no car you can use this option. Take into account weather. From 8 till 17.
This was the best tour I have been on since coming to Ireland! Can’t recommend it enough. We were active and learning all day.
Made more stops then I expected. Ring of Tara, Bective Abbey, Trim Castle, Fore Abbey, Loughcrew Cairns. Luck of getting great weather as everything is outdoors. Bring food, lunch is late.
