Private Celtic Tours of the Boyne Valley
A private Celtic day tour from Dublin explores the Boyne Valley landscapes most closely linked with Irish kingship, mythology and early Christian art. In one day you can move from the Neolithic monuments of Brú na Bóinne to Monasterboice's high crosses and the ceremonial earthworks of the Hill of Tara.
High Cross at Monasterboice in the Boyne Valley.
The word Celtic is often used loosely for ancient Ireland. On this tour we use it as visitors usually mean it: the Iron Age and early medieval world of sacred kingship, saga and monastic art, set against older monuments that later storytellers folded into legend. The result is a clear day through Ireland's Ancient East, paced for your group only.
Hill of Tara
Tara has been important since the late Stone Age, when a passage tomb was built there, before rising to supreme prominence in the Iron Age and early Christian period as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. Meath tourism notes that the hill has been used for more than 5,000 years as a place of burial and assembly, and that from its slopes you can look toward Loughcrew, the Hill of Slane and Trim.
Surviving monuments include earthworks, the Mound of the Hostages (Dumha na nGiall), and the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny associated with royal inauguration. St Patrick's story is tied to the wider Tara landscape through the Paschal fire lit on the nearby Hill of Slane. The hill is an open site year round; seasonal guided tours and an audio-visual presentation are offered from the visitor center in St Patrick's Church.
Monasterboice
Monasterboice is an early Christian settlement associated with St. Buithe, known for its round tower and high crosses. Muiredach's Cross, also called the South Cross, stands about 5.5 meters (18 feet) high and carries carved scenes from the Old and New Testaments. An inscription asks for a prayer for Muiredach, usually identified with an abbot who died in the early 10th century.
The Tall Cross, or West Cross, is the tallest high cross in Ireland at about 6.5 meters (21 feet) and is densely covered with biblical panels. Together these sculptures are among Ireland's finest early medieval stone carvings and a highlight for anyone interested in Celtic Christian art.
Brú na Bóinne and the older landscape
Newgrange and Knowth belong to the Neolithic, millennia before the Iron Age societies often labeled Celtic. They still belong on a Celtic heritage day because later tradition and modern visitors experience the Boyne Valley as one continuous sacred landscape. Newgrange's winter solstice alignment and Knowth's dense megalithic art give context for how people marked ritual time and place long before the high kings of Tara. Newgrange and Knowth need official OPW timed tickets. When they are on your itinerary, we purchase them on your behalf.
Why Choose Our Private Day Tours
Our driver-guides focus on the stories that connect archaeology, mythology and landscape, so you hear how Tara, Monasterboice and Brú na Bóinne relate rather than standing as isolated stops. Travel is private to your party in a sedan or Mercedes MPV, with room to adjust the pace for walking, photography or quieter corners of each site. The day can emphasize royal Tara, monastic sculpture, or a balanced mix across the Boyne Valley.
Celtic Day Tour
The Boyne Valley in Ireland's Ancient East.
- Pick up from your accommodation or cruise ship.
- Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre - Newgrange and Knowth.
- Monasterboice - Iconic Irish Round Tower and 10th century Celtic Crosses.
- Hill of Tara - Seat of the Celtic Kings of Ireland.
- Return to your accommodation or cruise ship.
Pricing
The total tour price is €700 plus booking fees for up to 6 guests, charged per vehicle rather than per person. Newgrange and Knowth need official OPW timed tickets. When they are on your itinerary, we purchase them on your behalf and add the admission cost to your booking. Meals are not included. Tours may be extended beyond the standard 8 hours for an additional hourly rate.