ancient ruins
Hill of Tara
The ceremonial seat of the High Kings of Ireland, a set of grassy earthworks with the Lia Fáil standing stone on top.
16 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeIrelandLeinster
Ashbourne
Leinster, Ireland · Europe
About Ashbourne
Ashbourne works well as a base: 10 minutes from Ratoath, 16km from Hill of Tara.
Ashbourne is in Leinster, Ireland, with about 13,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Ratoath, about 4 km away.
Ashbourne (Irish: Cill Dhéagláin, meaning 'Déaglán's church') is a town in County Meath, Ireland. Located about 20 km north of Dublin and close to the M2 motorway, Ashbourne is a commuter town within Greater Dublin. In the 26 years between the 1996 and 2022 census, the town tripled in population from approximatelyRead more
4,900 to 15,680 inhabitants. The town is passed by the Broad Meadow Water, which comes from Ratoath and Dunshaughlin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ashbourne?
Within an hour or so of Ashbourne: Hill of Tara (16 km), Dublin Zoo (18 km), Newgrange (21 km), St Patrick's Cathedral (21 km).
Are there any good drives near Ashbourne?
The nearest famous roads are Sally Gap, Wicklow Gap and Dundrod Circuit.
Where is Ashbourne?
Ashbourne is in Leinster, Ireland, about 4 km from Ratoath.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 12,679
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- Leinster
- Timezone
- Europe/Dublin
- Coordinates
- 53.5116, -6.3982
Tags
Worth the detour from Ashbourne
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Dublin Zoo
Ireland's largest zoo in Phoenix Park, one of the oldest zoos in Europe, home to over 400 animals.
18 km · about 20 min drive
ancient ruins
Newgrange
A 5,200-year-old passage tomb in Ireland's Boyne Valley, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, famous for its winter solstice illumination of the inner chamber.
21 km · about 25 min drive
cathedral
St Patrick's Cathedral
Ireland's largest cathedral and national cathedral of the Church of Ireland, once led by Jonathan Swift.
21 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
Knowth
A great passage tomb in the Boyne Valley ringed by kerbstones carrying the largest collection of megalithic art in Europe.
22 km · about 25 min drive
castle
Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle, used as a Braveheart filming location, with a massive 20-sided keep dominating the Boyne Valley.
26 km · about 30 min drive
film location
Trim Castle, County Meath (Braveheart's York)
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle doubled for the city of York in Braveheart, with the battles shot on the Curragh plain nearby.
26 km · about 30 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Howth Cliff Walk
A looped cliff path around Howth Head with views to Ireland's Eye and the Wicklow mountains, easily reached from Dublin.
27 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Ashbourne
- 27 kmHowth Cliff WalkA looped cliff path around Howth Head with views to Ireland's Eye and the Wicklow mountains, easily reached from Dublin.
- 42 kmSally GapA high crossroads pass over the Wicklow Mountains amid blanket bog, with the famous Military Road running through.
- 46 kmLough Tay (Guinness Lake)A dark lake with a pale sand beach at one end, viewed from the R759 above; used as the Viking village in the series Vikings.
- 52 kmWicklow GapHigh mountain pass on the R756 across the Wicklow Mountains between Hollywood and Glendalough, following the medieval pilgrims' route of St Kevin's Road through wild granite moorland.
- 56 kmThe Spinc, GlendaloughA boardwalk ridge walk high above the Upper Lake at Glendalough, climbing beside the Poulanass waterfall.
- 73 kmVale of AvocaA wooded river valley on the R752 in Wicklow at the meeting of the Avonmore and Avonbeg rivers.
Driving in Ireland
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€2.10/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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