Follow the Fairy Trail
An interactive, sensory treasure-hunt trail that sends children looking for fairy houses, giant ants and a fairy forest. It runs all year; pick up the activity booklet and map at the ticket office.
Loughcrew Estate, Coffee Shop and Gardens
4.4 (834)
About
A 17th-century Meath estate of terraced gardens, ancient yew walks and a children's fairy trail, tucked below the Neolithic Loughcrew cairns about an hour from Dublin.
Things to Do
Wander the historic gardens
Around 2.5 hectares of 17th- and 19th-century pleasure grounds: a lime avenue, the ancient yew walk, canals, water features, terraces and a magnificent herbaceous border, all with long views over the Loughcrew valley.
Hunt out the sculptures
Sculptures by established and emerging artists are scattered through the grounds, including works by Ann Meldon Hugh and an Alice in Wonderland figure among the woodland and rockery walks.
St Oliver Plunkett's church and motte
St Oliver Plunkett's family church, tower house and a medieval motte stand within the gardens - a landscape of real religious and historic weight rather than just planting.
Walk the lake loop
A 6km waymarked walk circles Lough Creeve past Loughcrew House, taking in forest, rockery and a fairy ring. It starts and finishes at the Limetree Coffee Shop, so it bookends well with a coffee.
Break at the Limetree Coffee Shop
The estate's own café, with a menu built on local produce: sausage rolls, stone-baked sourdough pizzas, focaccia, soup of the day, coffee and cakes.
Climb to the Loughcrew cairns
The passage tombs of Slieve na Calliagh sit on the hills just above the estate - among Ireland's oldest monuments and the highest point in Meath, with a huge panorama as the reward.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: The garden directory GardenVisit lists garden hours as 10.00 - 5.00pm; the estate's own site says only that the Limetree Café is open daily from 17 March. Winter and event days differ, so check ahead.
- Admission: Older listings quote adult €6 and child €3; a 2026 historic-houses listing gives adult €8, OAP/student €6, child €4.
- Parking: Car and coach park on site at the estate entrance, with wheelchair-accessible parking spaces.
- Food: Limetree Coffee Shop on site, open daily from 17 March: sausage rolls, stone-baked sourdough pizzas, focaccia, soup of the day, coffee and cakes.
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