Beneath the wild blanket bog of north Mayo lies the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world: almost 6,000-year-old stone-walled fields, watched over by an award-winning visitor centre and a platform on the edge of a 110-metre cliff.
Two floors of self-guided exhibits tell the story of the site: try on replica Neolithic clothing, build an ancient wall, touch animal skins, see a 3D hologram and grind grain on a quernstone. You can also listen to Seamus Heaney reading his poem 'Belderg'.
A platform on the edge of the 110-metre-high cliff looks out over the wide Atlantic and some of Ireland's most dramatic rock formations. If the weather turns, watch the seascape from the glass rooftop instead.
The blanket bog has its own ecology: watch for hares, frogs and the elusive lizard, and listen for skylarks. Mosses, heathers, lichens and grasses change through the year, from spring milkworts to summer bog cotton and orchids.
A 0.7-kilometre boardwalk loop crosses the Neolithic stone-walled fields, the oldest known farmland in the world. You can join a guided tour, self-guide, or follow the audio tour.
The black door with a green panel leads to a six-minute 360 film that plays automatically every ten minutes. It is dark and loud with colourful animation all around; you can leave at any time. Caution is advised for people with photo-sensitive epilepsy.
Guides lead you through millennia and let you probe the bog to find a Neolithic stone wall two metres beneath your feet. New discoveries are being made here all the time.
The ground-floor cafe sits to the right of reception, where you queue at the counter to order. It is a warm stop before or after the exposed outdoor walk.
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