Site Access Images

Site Access Image Gallery

These Boyne Valley site access images show how visitors reach and move around the main monuments on a day tour.

They are meant to help you understand paths, steps, gradients and confined spaces before you arrive. That way, a private itinerary can be adjusted for mobility or comfort needs without surprises on the day.

Use the photos below as a practical guide alongside our access welcome guide and sensory guide.

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center

Tours of Newgrange and Knowth begin at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center. A paved path of approximately 275 yards (250 meters) leads from the parking lot to the visitor center, which has accessible restrooms, an exhibition, and an accessible replica of the Newgrange chamber for visitors unable to enter the original passage tomb.

A 275-yard (250-meter) pathway leads from the parking area to the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center.

Accessible replica of the Newgrange Chamber at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center.

Newgrange site access images

After arriving by shuttle, visitors follow a gravel path around the mound. Steps lead up to the entrance. Once inside, the passage leading to the chamber is narrow in places. Anyone concerned about confined spaces may remain outside or enter at the back of the group, making it easier to leave the passage if necessary.

A gravel path surrounds the Newgrange monument, with steps leading to the interior.

There are steps leading to the interior of Newgrange Passage Tomb.

The passage to the chamber narrows in places, and the chamber itself may feel claustrophobic for some visitors.

Knowth site access images

Knowth is reached by shuttle from the same visitor center. Paths around the great mound are outdoor and can be uneven. Public visits do not enter the passages, so the experience stays outside among the kerbstones and satellite tombs. Visitors can also access the top of the mound by stairs.

A gravel path surrounds the Knowth monument, with steps leading to the top of the mound.

Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara is an open hilltop landscape of ancient earthworks, grass paths, and gently sloping ground. The terrain is generally manageable, although some areas are uneven and can become soft or muddy after rain. Unlike Newgrange, there is no passage tomb or enclosed chamber to enter. Visitors explore the monuments and viewpoints outdoors, allowing them to walk at their own pace and choose a route suited to their comfort and mobility.

The Hill of Tara is a grass-covered site with uneven terrain, and the surface can become slippery when wet.

Old Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont has relatively level ground and is often one of the easier stops for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility. Paths are clearer than at many upland monuments, though historic stonework still needs care underfoot.

Old Mellifont Abbey has excellent accessibility for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility | View Video

Glendalough Monastic Site

Glendalough has a visitor area with facilities, then outdoor paths through the monastic site. Some entrances and routes include steps or uneven ground, so footwear with grip helps. Allow extra time if you want both the main buildings and the lakeside walks.

Steps and uneven terrain at the entrance to the monastic site at Glendalough in County Wicklow

Visit the Boyne Valley with Boyne Valley Tours

Enjoy a private day tour from Dublin to the Boyne Valley. We tailor the itinerary to your interests and handle the driving and logistics. The OPW-guided visit from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center includes Newgrange and Knowth. Afterwards, continue to the Hill of Slane and the Hill of Tara. Because this is a private tour, you can choose other sites instead.

Book online now! Inquire now!