listing-bg1
listing-bg2
listing-bg3
listing-bg4

Hill of Tara and Trim Castle Half-Day Tour

Step into Ireland’s ancient past with our private Hill of Tara and Trim Castle Tour, an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Boyne Valley. Travel in comfort and style in a luxury vehicle with your personal driver-guide, as you explore some of the country’s most iconic historical landmarks.

Visit the Hill of Tara, once the seat of Ireland’s High Kings and a sacred landscape rich in myth and legend. Walk among ancient earthworks and feel the spiritual energy of this powerful site. Discover the peaceful ruins of Bective Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery with beautiful cloisters and medieval charm.

Explore the majestic Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, where towering stone walls and a unique keep reveal centuries of power struggles and medieval life. Stand atop the Hill of Slane, where Saint Patrick lit the Paschal Fire, marking the dawn of Christianity in Ireland.

This tour offers a perfect blend of myth, history, and scenic beauty, all experienced at your own pace with expert commentary along the way. Ideal for history lovers, photographers, and curious travellers alike, it’s a day of deep discovery in comfort and style, with memories to last a lifetime.

Pick up time at your hotel: 8:30 am
Drop-off: 2:30 pm

  • duration-icon Duration: Half-Day
  • family-icon Suitable for: All age groups
  • group-icon Group: 1-3 (larger groups, contact us)

Sites we will visit

Hill of Tara
Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara, located in County Meath, is an ancient ceremonial and burial site steeped in myth and history. Once the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, it served as a political and spiritual centre for centuries. The hill features archaeological remains such as the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny), believed to roar when touched by a true king. Other monuments include burial mounds and ring forts dating back to the Neolithic period. Tara holds deep cultural significance, symbolizing Irish sovereignty and identity, and continues to draw visitors interested in its rich heritage and mystical past.

Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey

Located near the River Boyne in County Meath, this is a striking example of medieval monastic architecture. Founded in 1147 by the Cistercian order, it was the second Cistercian abbey established in Ireland. The site features a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles, with well-preserved cloisters, stone carvings, and fortified walls. Once a powerful religious and economic centre, Bective Abbey was dissolved during the 16th-century Dissolution of the Monasteries. Today, its atmospheric ruins offer a glimpse into monastic life and Irish history. The abbey’s haunting beauty also made it a filming location for the movie Braveheart.

Trim Castle
Trim Castle

This is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in the country. Built in the late 12th century by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter, it served as a strategic military and administrative centre. The massive three-story keep, with its unique cruciform shape, dominates the landscape and reflects the power of the Norman invaders. Surrounded by extensive curtain walls and defensive towers, the castle was a symbol of control over the region. Today, Trim Castle is a popular heritage site, offering guided tours and scenic views. It also featured prominently in the film Braveheart.

Hill of Slane
Hill of Slane

This is a site of great historical and spiritual significance. According to tradition, it was here that Saint Patrick lit the Paschal Fire in 433 AD in defiance of the pagan High King at nearby Tara, symbolising the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. The hill offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and contains the ruins of a 16th-century Franciscan friary and an earlier church. Its ancient history, tied to both pagan and Christian traditions, makes it a powerful symbol of Ireland’s cultural transformation and a peaceful place for reflection and exploration.

Includes

  • Private tour in a luxury car
  • Fully-qualified tour guide

Excludes

  • Meals
Price: €490

Plus booking fee

You will get a full refund if you cancel your tour up to 7 days before your tour date

BOOK NOW

Got A question?

We’re all ears! Give us a call or drop us an email and our knowledgeable team will be happy to help you.

whatsapp

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Pick up at your hotel in counties Dublin, Meath or Louth at 8:30 am.

End point

After the tour we will drive you back to your accommodation. Drop-off at 2.30 pm.

Breaks

Breaks when requested.

We will schedule time for a light lunch.

Hill of Tara and Trim Castle Tour Showcase

Experiences of Our Guests

tripadvisor-icon (1)

Superb Day Tour, Highest Recommendation

We were returning from a trip to Asia and only had one day to spend in Ireland. At the last minute, I booked a day tour with Owen to the Cliffs of Mohr and Bunratty Castle. My wife and I have traveled to 15 countries and I can honestly say that Owen is the BEST tour guide we have ever experienced. He made our single day in Ireland an unforgettable experience. Owen is extremely knowledgeable, providing great insights about the places we visited and Ireland as a whole. The best thing was he made us feel so comfortable from the first moment. It felt more like we were family than customers. The time en route passed quickly because of the great conversation and wealth of information.

Mar 2025 • Couples

Burgoyne Hughes

Great Driver & Tour Guide

We had a private tour to a couple places we wanted to go and Owen was a great driver, very friendly and very knowledgeable about the country. We went to Rock of Cashel and to Jerpoint Park and it was a great day—he even took us to a local grocery store on our way back to Dublin. His vehicle is so comfortable, so much so that I let my husband ride in the front and we both had great views and were quite cosy. I highly recommend hiring Owen for any private tour you need in the area. You will not regret it. In addition, and as a bonus, he is a super nice person.

Oct 2023 • Couples

AliciaRJ

Went to New Grange and the Hill of Tara with a few little suprises along the way!

I had an incredible time on my tour with Owen. He was friendly, very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. My expectations were far exceeded on my tour and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to tour the incredible history and magic of Boyne Valley.

Jun 2024 • Solo

Roxie H

Phenomenal Tour!

Owen was a phenomenal tour guide, and we felt he curated the perfect experience to maximize our time in Ireland! We were impressed with each and every stop he suggested during our personalized tour of County Wicklow. If you’re looking for an exceptional experience with a guide who pays attention to little details, Owen is the guide for you!

Jul 2024 • Family

Stephanie Waller

The G.O.A.T. of Tour Guides

Owen is not a tour guide, he is THE tour guide. He was the MVP of my Ireland trip. I could listen to him talk all day, no stops or attractions necessary. The second you step into his car, you can immediately see he’s a kind, family man with a love of Irish history. He masterfully tailored the tour to our family’s needs and interests; He shifted between providing detailed information for history lovers, and giving broader, more general information for those of us who were learning about Irish history for the first time. This is one of the many ways Owen makes each of his private tours special for his guests. He took us to two great cafes in the Irish countryside, and recommended an excellent steakhouse back in Dublin for dinner (the cheesecake was just as good as he said it would be. Owen always has your back!). We visited a couple of megalithic sites; and were even able to fit in Trim Castle and the Hill of Slane. Both were “must-do”s on my bucket list, and we wouldn’t have gotten to them on our short trip without his help. Thank you so much Owen!

Aug 2024 • Couples

Tara T

World`s Best Historic Adventure!

Owen was a magnificent guide full of unique knowledge and wit! We’re from the US and it was our first trip to Ireland. We have some Irish family ties and wanted to see special sites like The Hill of Tara, Newgrange and Trim Castle. All the group tours were booked up but Irish luck was with us when Owen and his private tour granted our request to take us around with a few days notice. Owen was like a warm, witty podcaster, full of terrific knowledge of Irish history. My daughter is a history major from a top notch school who’s studied history abroad and she was astounded with his accuracy and the new information he provided to all of us. We highly recommend Owen and hope we someday we get to tour with him again ! We plan to return !! Thank you Owen for everything – including the delicious scone we stopped for in the nearby village ! It’s was a treat we will remember.

Aug 2024 • Families

Alicia T

Awesome Wicklow Tour With Owen

We need more than 5 stars to tell you how amazing our trip with Owen was! We toured the Wicklow Mountains, stopping at a monastic site, the Upper Lake in Glendalough, and Powerscourt Waterfall / Gardens. The weather was a bit foggy in the morning, so we missed the Lough Tay Guinness Lake, but the view at the Upper Lake more than made up for it! Owen is a class act. My wife was a bit woozy going through the mountains, and he allowed her to ride up front and made several adjustments to our path/schedule to make things more comfortable. We really enjoyed chatting about culture, family, and just life in general with Owen. We will definitely be booking another trip with him the next time we make it to Ireland!

Aug 2024 • Couples

Pat A