Climb to Cairn T
The walk up Carnbane East is steep but short — only about 15 minutes, with benches along the way where you can rest and take in the view. It is the highest hill in County Meath, and on a clear day you can see as far as 18 counties.
Loughcrew Cairns
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About
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic passage-tomb cemetery spread over the hills above Oldcastle, crowned by the richly carved Cairn T — the highest point in County Meath.
Things to Do
Find the Hag's Chair and Cairn S
Beyond Cairn T, other boulders and smaller cairns carry their own carvings, including the Hag's Chair at Cairn T and the decorated stones in nearby Cairn S.
Greet the equinox sunrise
Cairn T is aligned to sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes, when people gather on the hilltop to welcome the first rays of the sun.
Join a guided tour
Guides meet visitors at the top and run tours through the season, telling the archaeology, art and mythology of the tombs, including the legend of the hag or witch who is said to have dropped the stones from her apron as she leapt from hill to hill.
Peer into the tomb chamber
Cairn T holds a cruciform chamber beneath a corbelled roof. Access to the interior is closed during ongoing conservation works, but you can still look inside and glimpse the carvings.
See the megalithic art
Carved stones in the passage and chamber are among the finest Neolithic art in Ireland. Look closely but never scrape or mark the stones — some of the art is only faintly visible and is over 5,000 years old.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: 28 May – 2 September 2026: guides on site daily 09:30–17:30; guided tours 10:30–15:30 (weather dependent).
- Admission: Free admission
- Parking: Car park on site. The approach road is very narrow, so drive with caution.
- Food: Café and toilets at the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre, beside the car park.
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