The Boyne Greenway

Walk | Drogheda

Stroll from the heart of Drogheda to Oldbridge House on this history-packed riverside walk.

See the different stages of Drogheda’s history from legend to The Battle of the Boyne and engineering marvels, the Boyne Greenway is a long but very manageable walk through the history of this captivating part of County Louth and into the Boyne Valley.

Set off from Drogheda

Start your walk from the heart of Drogheda and make your way along the busy streets to the banks of the Boyne at Dominic’s Bridge. The walkway brings you on to the recently improved St. Dominic’s Park, now with a wide walkway that’s alive with walkers, cyclists and dogs every weekend. Look back over your shoulder and enjoy views of the town and many steeples standing tall over the streets of Drogheda.

Into the Louth countryside

Less than 2km into this 11.5km walk and you’re surrounded by nature as the sounds of traffic in Drogheda are replaced with flowing water and birds chirping in the trees. The walkway narrows at this point but is more than wide enough to allow for groups of walkers to pass each other. Over the crest of a small hill appears the enormous Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge for the first time. This hugely impressive structure is present for the majority of the walk and with every glance it gets more and more magnificent, walking under the bridge shows off the sheer size of this powerful cable-stayed bridge.

On the banks of the River Boyne

The River Boyne has such a storied history and each chapter of its past can be felt as you wander on its banks. Spot fishing perches where Finnegas tried to catch the Salmon of Knowledge and clearings where Fionn mac Cumhaill supposedly ate the magical creature. The river has huge importance in Irish mythology with the river lending its name to the Irish river goddess Boann.

The Boyne Greenway leads deeper and deeper into the countryside with mature trees lining the walkway and islands of greenery dotted in the slow-flowing river. And things get even more peaceful and idyllic as the River Boyne meaders away from the route and is replaced by a canal and towpath, lined with old boats of all sizes.

Oldbridge House

The longstanding Oldbridge House is a hugely important building and marks the halfway point of the Boyne Greenway Walk. Most well known as the site of The Battle of Boyne in 1690 where King William of Orange defeated King James II, forever changing the history of Ireland. Nowadays, the grounds of the house are much more peaceful and warring battalions have been replaced by walkers enjoying the coffee shop and walled gardens.

Pop inside Oldbridge House and see mannequins wearing the finest armour of the time and watch the laser display on the scale model replica of the battlefield showing you exactly how King William outwitted King James.

At Oldbridge House itself, there are some great walks around the estate. The Canal Towpath Walk follows the waterway around the back of the grounds, the Crabapple Walk and Oldbridge Village Walk are shorter and while not on paved ground, they’re not challenging walks.

Back to Drogheda

Grab a table in the café and look out over the manicured gardens before making the return journey back into Drogheda. Or if you fancy extending your walk, check out the loop at Townley Hall and see Oldbridge House from an entirely different angle.

The walk back into Drogheda takes you through the quiet riverside woodland and back into the centre of the town