General Information
There are a lot of sites to visit in the Boyne Valley. We had less than a day so we saw only a very limited selection. Some places we did not get to visit, but would like to see some day is Old Melfort Abbey, Monasterboice, the site of the Battle of the Boyne, and someone's head in Drogheda (pronounced droh - head - ah). Apparently they saved some guy's head.
Two of the sites we mention on our drive on the map can not be visited except via the tour that begins at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor's Center (Newgrange and Knowth).
Dowth
Dowth is a rarely visited site. we still thought it was pretty neat. We asked the guide at Newgrange about the recent history of Dowth since we could see electrical lighting in the passageway of the tomb. We were told that up into the 70's, people could squeeze into the passageway, but it became damp and when dampness hit the electrical wires and fizzled, the site was cleared of tourists, the gate locked, and internal visits stopped for good.
So I admit, visiting the site leaves one with more questions that could not be answered, there were still several kerb stones with ornate carvings that were worth our time. You are able to walk around the mound and follow a path to the top allowing for nice vistas of the valley as well as Newgrange. This site was also interesting in that it had two entrances.
Some Rock Art
The Passages
Newgrange
There is a lot to say about Newgrange so we have a page solely dedicated to the site. The visit is via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor's Center, but you can drive by the site and sneak a slight peak at the site. I would not recommend doing so during the busy season as a lot of busses travel the road and swarms of tourists are milling about in the road as well.
Knowth
Access to this site is via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor's Center, but only during peak tourism season. In the winter they do not visit this site. It is fenced off and the carved rocks are covered in plastic. The site is barely visible from the road except a huge mound of grass. We parked in the bus parking lot and tried to peek through the gate to see if we could see much. You can't.
During our conversation with the tour guide at Newgrange, it appears that tourists used to be able to go inside the tomb, but it was difficult and it is no longer permitted. We will have to go back and do the tour to be sure, though.
Hill of Slaine
To complete the day, we drove up to the Hill of Slaine. It was not a clear day as we had hoped, as we wanted to see Newgrange from the distance, but the site was still a nice place to visit. We have included information and photos of the Hill of Slaine on our Hill of Slaine page.