Loughcrew Cairns

Loughcrew, or Sliabh na Cailli, is a line of hilltops in western Meath carrying a scatter of Neolithic passage tombs, roughly contemporary with the better known Boyne Valley monuments. The largest, Cairn T, sits on the summit inside a ring of kerbstones, and its cruciform chamber holds a backstone with some of the densest megalithic carving in Ireland: circles, rays, flower shapes and zigzags. The chamber is aligned so that the equinox sunrise reaches that stone. Around it are the remains of a dozen more cairns, several reduced to rings of loose stone. The climb from the car park is short but steep, and the reward is the view.

What you actually see

• Cairn T - the main tomb on the summit, ringed by heavy kerbstones.
• The carved backstone - dense megalithic art inside the chamber, when access permits.
• The scattered cairns - a dozen more tombs along the ridge, some little more than stone rings.
• The Hag's Chair - a large kerbstone on the north side, shaped like a seat.

When to go

Dry, clear days from spring to autumn, since the path is short but steep and slippery when wet. The equinoxes are the reason many come, and mornings then are crowded and often clouded out. Check ahead whether the chamber is open, as arrangements for interior access change and have been suspended for long stretches.

Honest expectations

Access to the inside of Cairn T has been restricted at times, and the carvings are the main reason to come, so a wasted trip is possible. The climb is steep and muddy, the hilltop is exposed and windy, and there are no facilities at the top. Cattle sometimes share the field.

Nearby

Oldcastle is the nearest village; Kells and its high crosses are half an hour east.