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48 Hours In Meath: A 2 Day Road Trip Around The Royal County (Full Itinerary)

48 Hours In Meath: A 2 Day Road Trip Around The Royal County (Full Itinerary)

In this guide we’ll be taking you on a 2-day road trip around County Meath.

There’s endless things to do in Meath, so it’s worth having a straight-forward itinerary ready-to-rock for when you visit.

In the guide below, you’ll find a full itinerary for spending a weekend in Meath.

Now, you don’t have to follow it from start to finish – you can switch it up however you like. Right – dive on in!

Our Weekend in Meath on a map

OK, first things first – here’s a map of Meath with the attractions that we’ll be visiting over the two days plotted out.

The one thing that’s not on it is where you’ll be staying, which is Trim.

Day 1: Walks, forests, castles and more

trim castle tour

Photos via Shutterstock

Day 1 of our mini-Meath road trip kick-starts with an option of two different attractions – Tayto Park or Balrath Woods.

It then takes you somewhere for a bit of food before tipping on towards some of Meath’s most notable attractions.

Stop 1 (option 1): Tayto Park

Cú Chulainn Coaster

Photos via Tayto Park on FB

Our first stop of the day takes us to Ireland’s only theme park – Tayto Park. Here, you’ll find a huge variety of things to see, do and experience, with something to suit all ages.

You can spend some time checking out the Zoo and see animals like the Amur tiger, meerkats, and buffalo or, if you’re a thrill-seeker looking for an adrenalin rush, there are plenty of rollercoasters where you can test your nerve.

Like Cu Chulainn Coaster, Europe’s largest wooden rollercoaster. The theme park is located in Ashbourne in Meath, a handy 30-minute drive from Dublin City. Spend 3 hours here having the buzz.

Stop 1 (option 2): Balrath Woods

balrath woods meath

Photos courtesy of Niall Quinn

There’s some mighty walks in Meath and one of my favourite handy rambles is the long trail in Balrath Woods.

I say ‘long’, but it’ll only take you around 30 minutes or so to complete it. If you plan on visiting at the weekend, try and arrive early, as the car park fills up quickly.

It’s also worth having a pair of walking shoes with you, as it can get muddy here, too.

Stop 2: Lunch

inside out slane

Photos via Inside Out on FB

When you finish up at Tayto Park or Balrath Woods, head to Slane Village and find a bit of parking (there’s plenty of on-street parking in the town).

I’m going to recommend that you nip to Inside Out for lunch. I had food here recently (the half roast chicken) and it was the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time.

It’s nice and cosy inside and the service is fast and friendly. A winning combo!

Stop 3: Slane Castle/Disitllery

slane in meath

Photos via Shutterstock

You’ve two choices at our next stop – you can head into Slane Castle and take the tour or you can nip into Slane Whiskey Distillery and have a nosey around that.

I only heard about the distillery tour recently after a friend, who hates whiskey, visited it and raved about it.

Those that join the guided distillery tour will be taken on an interactive, immersive tour with a tutored whiskey tasting that allows you to first appreciate the history, and then assess the whiskey with a sample of Slane’s finest.

Naturally enough you’ll want to ensure that you’ve a designated driver for this stretch of the trip if you fancy a tipple.

Stop 4: Trim

trim castle aerial

Photos via Shutterstock

We’re going to round off day 1 with a stroll (or the tour, if you fancy!) around Trim Castle.If you’re looking at the picture above and thinking that the it looks like something from a movie, you’re spot on.

Trim Castle was used during the filming of Braveheart staring Mel Gibson. Now, you can either stroll around the outside of the castle and admire it from afar, or take the tour.

When you’re finished, there’s plenty of other things to do in Trim, if you’d like to see more of the town.

Stop 5: Check-in time

trim castle hotel meath

Photo via Trim Castle Hotel

So, there’s plenty of places to stay in Trim. However, if you fancy a nice, central base to explore the town from, Trim Castle Hotel (affiliate link) is a solid option.

The hotel overlooks the castle and it boasts spacious rooms, an on-site restaurant and a bar, too. Get checked in, chill for a bit and then hit the town.

Stop 6: Food, live music and trad bars

Pubs in Trim

Photos via Lynchs on FB

There’s some excellent restaurants in Trim for those of you that don’t fancy eating in the hotel. Personally, I find myself going back to StockHouse Restaurant over and over again, but head wherever you fancy.

When you’re finished, it’s time to see what Trim’s pub scene has to offer. Marcie Regan’s Pub and Lynchs are two great spots. Another popular pub in the town is the James Griffin Pub.

It’s a traditional Irish pub that’s been on Trim High Street since the 1800’s. If you visit on a Thursday, you’ll have a Trad Session to accompany your pint. Those visiting on a Friday or Sunday will be treated to Acoustic Sessions, while a DJ will be rocking away on Saturdays.

Day 2: Ancient sites, steep hills and history galore

exterior of Knowth

Photos via Shutterstock

Day 2 of our Meath road trip contains many of the most popular stops on the Boyne Valley Drive.

Each of the stops below is within reasonable driving distance and there’s a bit of something to tickle most fancies.

Stop 1: Loughcrew

Loughcrew cairns

Photos via Shutterstock

Our first stop of the day is going to take us up the highest hill in County Meath. The very steep walk up to Loughcrew immerses visitors in an area that boasts five thousand years worth of history.

Standing at just 276 meters high, you’ll reach the top after a steep 20-25 minute walk from the car park. Once there, you’ll be treated to fantastic views of the lush green and hilly landscape that envelopes the area.

If you visit on a clear day make sure to keep an eye out for the Sperrins in the north and the Blackstairs in the south. When you’ve had your fill of the view, take a look around the passage tombs and stone circles scattered around you.

Stop 2: The Hill of Tara

visiting tara in meath

Photos via Shutterstock

Our second stop of the day takes us just over half an hour down the road from to a place rich with history. The Hill of Tara was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland, and it was here that 142 kings are said to have reigned.

It’s said that, on a clear day, a quarter of Ireland’s landscape can be seen from Tara which, if true, is very impressive,

In ancient Irish mythology, the Hill of Tara was said to be the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was known as the entrance to the otherworld.

Saint Patrick is said to have travelled to Tara to confront the religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

Stop 3: Newgrange and Knowth

newgrange winter solstice

Photos via Shutterstock

Our next stop takes us to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, which is where we’ll be accessing Newgrange and Knowth (make sure to book tickets online in advance!).

A visit here takes 3 hours, so it’ll finish off day 2 of our Meath road trip nicely. Built over 5,200 years ago by Stone Age farmers, Newgrange is a passage tomb that has a clear astronomical alignment.

Newgrange is known globally for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the winter solstice sun. An event that is so sought after that a yearly lottery takes place for tickets.

For those of you take the tour, you’ll be given an in-depth insight into its history. Knowth was also constructed over 5,000 years ago – likely after the construction of Newgrange and before the construction of nearby Dowth.

Stop 4: Back to base camp

trim castle hotel meath

Photo via Trim Castle Hotel

As mentioned earlier, there’s plenty of places to stay in Trim. However, if you fancy a nice, central base to explore the town from, Trim Castle Hotel (affiliate link) is a solid option.

The hotel overlooks the castle and it boasts spacious rooms, an on-site restaurant and a bar, too. Get checked in, chill for a bit and then hit the town and polish off the last night of your weekend in Meath.

FAQs about our Meath road trip

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘How many days do you need to see Meath?’ to ‘What attractions can’t be missed?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What can you see during a weekend in Meath?

If you follow our itinerary, you can see quite a lot, from forests and the ancient site of Newgrange, to Trim Castle, Slane Distillery, Loughcrew and more.

Is 2 days enough in Meath?

To get a good taste of the place, yes! However, you’d need 3 days if you want to really see the best that the Boyne Valley has to offer.

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