Starting at the impressive St Peter’s Church, West Street in the medieval town of Drogheda, the Boyne Valley Camino takes us on a journey through history. The route is a mixture of riverside, greenway, wood paths, quiet country roads, canal path and green fields on its route from Drogheda to old Mellifont Abbey and back.
Steeped in history on the banks of the Boyne, Drogheda /Droichead Átha, meaning the bridge of the ford, is Ireland’s largest town. A medieval walled town full of arts, culture, lively pubs and bars, restaurants and many historical sites. Drogheda’s proximity to the history-rich Boyne Valley to the west and fantastic beaches to the east make it a perfect base for exploring the town itself and hinterland. Boyne Valley Walking Group often lead walks and detail many local routes.
If you’d like to explore more on foot, please search online for ‘Drogheda Walks’ or pick up a copy of the FREE Drogheda Walks map. Four walks through the town take different routes which highlight places of interest in our built, cultural, religious and natural history (Walls, Steps, Spires, Bridges walks)
For more to see and do in and around Drogheda, visit www.drogheda.ie
Born 1625 in Loughcrew, Oliver Plunkett founded the first integrated Jesuit College in Ireland. He was hung drawn and quartered in Tyburn, London for ‘promoting the Roman faith’. His head is in St Peter’s RC Church in Drogheda since 1921, he was canonized in 1975.
You can detour off our walk to enjoy Oldbridge House and grounds which house the Battle of the Boyne Interpretive Centre, café, gardens and magnificent grounds. Collect a stamp while you’re there. Managed by the OPW.
This four lane, 352m, cable-staye bridge carries the M1 between Dublin and Belfast. This attractive inverted Y structure, with 56 individual span cables is illuminated with blue light at night.
Part of Townley Hall estate, planted over 200 years ago, mixed broadleaf, conifer and specimen species.
The woods are under Coillte ownership for commercial forestry and recreation.
Single-span iron girder road bridge over River Boyne, built on rock-faced limestone piers. Limestone ashlar piers to north and south ends with recessed panels, cut stone cappings. Suspended repair gantry to underside. Beautiful views of Boyne as you walk across.
Mellifont Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland. St Malachy of Armagh founded it in 1142 with a small number of monks sent by St Bernard from Clairvaux. The abbey imported its formal style of architecture from the abbeys of the same order in Europe. It has several extraordinary architectural features, the foremost of which is the two-storey octagonal lavabo.
The visitor centre at Old Mellifont Abbey was formerly a Youth Hostel. It was the first Youth Hostel in Ireland. To celebrate this, Richard Schirrman who invented youth hostels planted this Ash tree in front of building in 1934.
The Village of Tullyallen grew up around the Early Christian monastery founded by St Colman in 726.You will see a 15th century gable window of a chapel, built by the Abbot of Mellifont, marking the monastic site in Tullyallen Graveyard.
Protestant King William III (William of Orange) and his father-in-law, Catholic King James II – fought at this location in 1690 to control England, Scotland and Ireland. William of Orange with his army of 36,000 troops was victorious.
DISCLAIMER: The creators of this map shall not be liable, directly or indirectly to the user or any other third party for any accident, injury, loss or damage resulting from the use of the information contained. The walking details on this map were accurate at time of publishing.Whilst public access is agreed on these walks, it is not a right and forests or trails may be closed from time to time, please obey any temporary signage.