The best hikes from bus stations around The Municipal District of Ashbourne

The gardens and views at Ardgillan Castle are exceptional. It's worth a visit for the rose garden alone. The colours and fragrance as you walk past are incredible.

Dominating West Street, St. Peter’s is a breathtaking late 19th-century neo-Gothic masterpiece famed for its soaring limestone spire and stunning rose window. Beyond its architectural beauty, it is an internationally renowned pilgrimage site housing the National Shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett. Inside, visitors can view a truly unique and sobering historical relic: the remarkably preserved severed head of the martyred archbishop, alongside his actual prison cell door. As an active parish, it offers a peaceful, reverent atmosphere for both spiritual pilgrims and curious history buffs alike. It is an unmissable, fascinatingly distinct landmark that captures the deeply layered history of Drogheda in just a brief visit.

Standing proudly at the intersection of Shop Street and West Street, The Tholsel is an 18th-century limestone clock tower that serves as the unmistakable architectural anchor of Drogheda's town center. Once the historic seat of the town council, this beautifully restored landmark now houses the local tourist information center and a fantastic interactive exhibition on the region's rich heritage. A brilliant blend of functional tourism and living history. Whether you are looking for expert travel advice or a quick dose of local culture, this magnificent landmark is an essential pitstop on any Drogheda itinerary.

Ardgillan Castle is a country house near Balbriggan. It is set in the 200-acre (0.81 km2) The house was built by the Reverend Robert Taylor son of Sir Thomas Taylor, 1st Baronet in 1738.

On the right bank lies Millmount, presumably an old Bronze Age burial mound, which successively served as a watchtower, feudal motte and finally as a fortress. From the top you have a panoramic view of the city. In the Millmount Museum & Tower, an interesting small museum about local history, you will discover a unique collection of company flags and memorabilia from the American War of Independence.

At the intersection of Shop Street and West Street stands the Tholsel clock tower (18th century), which was the seat of the town council until the end of the 19th century and now serves as a tourist information centre. This tower is an excellent landmark in the centre of Drogheda. Inside, an interactive exhibition on the history of the area can be viewed.

St. Peter's Church (catholic), a neo-Gothic church from the late 19th century, dedicated to St. Oliver Plunkett.

Founded by the Cistercian order in 1147, Bective Abbey sits on the River Boyne, just outside Bective in County Meath. A Hollywood favourite, the Abbey have been used three times (so far) in major films. These are Captain Lightfoot in 1955, Braveheart in 1995 and most recently in 2020 by Ridley Scott's The Last Duel. The well-preserved ruin are free to access having been bought by the state in 2011.