14–21 September Boyne Valley Trails Walking Festival

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Win 2 Boyne Camino Tickets (including your pilgrim passport) and 2 Boyne Camino T-shirts

The Boyne Valley Trails September Festival returns from 14 to 21 September 2025, offering eight immersive days of guided hikes, historical walking tours, storytelling sessions, and cultural experiences, all set against the lush natural and mythological backdrop of the Boyne Valley.

Centrally located and easily accessible from Dublin, Drogheda is the perfect base for exploring this ancient and evocative region. Whether you’re an experienced walker, a history enthusiast, or simply seeking a deeper connection to Ireland’s landscape, this festival offers something for everyone.

With support from Fáilte Ireland and Love Drogheda BID, this year’s programme blends adventure, heritage, wellness, and community spirit.

“The Boyne Valley Trails Festival in September has become one of the highlights of my walking year,” says Dusty Flanagan of Boyne Valley Tours. “We are lucky to have a landscape of river walks, forest, coastline, and our amazing Camino.”

Festival Highlights

The festival boasts a wide variety of events to choose from. The 2025 schedule includes long-distance hikes, local history tours, Nordic walking sessions, myth-laced walks, and family storytelling. The Boyne Valley Trails festival introduces attendees to new trails, new locations, and new experiences this year. Their objective is to showcase the Boyne Valley’s incredible historical, ecological and cultural diversity. Events are being added to the schedule regularly. Keep an eye on their website for the accurate list of events and follow them on social media for updates.

Special Guest: Ellie Berry of Tough Soles

Irish adventurer, writer, and previous guest on The Outsider Podcast, Ellie Berry, will join the festival for two special events. Co-creator of Tough Soles, Ellie is best known for walking every National Waymarked Trail in Ireland. She did so in 2017 with her partner Carl Lange and documented the experience on YouTube. She also climbed all 275 mountains on the Vandeleur-Lynam list in 50 days in 2023!

“Her work combines a deep respect for Ireland’s landscape, encouraging others to find their own connection to the outdoors,” the organisers note.

Ellie will be hosting two events at the Boyne Valley Trails Walking Festival in September.

Her second event will be a guided hike through Moyry Pass.

Chats and Trails with Ellie Berry

Join Ellie for an informal talk where she will discuss her relationship with the Irish outdoors, chronicle her journey, and give tips to people looking to spend more time outdoors.

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Moyry Pass Guided Walk with Ellie Berry

Walk alongside Ellie through the Moyry Pass, also known as the Gap of the North. This beautiful trail serves as the gateway to the Cooley Mountains, as well as having cultural and historical significance. This 12-kilometre hike will blend storytelling with historical and geographical insight, providing a unique experience. It will also be led by Ellie, one of the most accomplished and passionate walkers in Ireland.

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The Boyne Camino

The 25-kilometre Boyne Camino loop departs from Drogheda and follows the River Boyne through historic landscapes including Oldbridge House and the Battle of the Boyne site. As part of the official Celtic Camino network, this experience allows participants to collect stamps in their Camino passport, making it a spiritual and cultural experience as well as a physical challenge.

Should participants wish to continue their Camino journey to it’s traditional endpoint of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, they will receive their Compostela (certificate of completion) for the Celtic Camino. Connecting to a tradition of pilgrims walking from their homes to the famous Galician city. Mellifont Abbey, Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery, which was founded in 1142AD, is the enchanting halfway point on the route and is the perfect place to enjoy your lunch and soak in the calming atmosphere of the abbey before heading back into town for your final stamp and a much-deserved pint!

Watch Ellie’s video from her experience on the trail to give you a taste of what it’s like!

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History and Heritage Tours

Festival regular and local legend Brendan Matthews will return this year. Brendan will bring attendees on several themed tours delving into the lesser-known stories of Drogheda and its people. We had a private tour with Brendan last year ahead of the walking festival, and his tours are nothing short of incredible. His knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm about the city of Drogheda are incredibly infectious and will leave you wanting to know more. In previous years, we have recommended these tours to “history buffs” however, given the experience we had last year, we would recommend his tours to absolutely everybody! Make sure you attend at least one. Here are just a few of them.

The Great Famine in Drogheda

Discover the profound impact of the Great Famine on Drogheda and its community. This moving tour sheds light on the hardships faced by locals during one of Ireland’s darkest periods. Through personal stories, historic sites, and vivid narration, participants gain a deeper understanding of resilience and survival in the face of a defining moment in Irish history.

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The Bold Fenian Men of Drogheda

Explore the daring exploits and enduring spirit of Drogheda’s Fenian men, brave revolutionaries who fought for Irish independence in the 19th century. This tour brings to life their stories of courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood, weaving local landmarks with tales of rebellion that shaped Ireland’s fight for freedom.

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Myths, Legends and Storytelling

The Myths, Legends and Storytelling events at the Boyne Valley Trails Festival invite participants to step into Ireland’s ancient past through the power of story. Rooted in the rich mythology of the Boyne Valley, these events bring to life the heroes, battles, and folklore that have shaped the region for generations. Whether you’re walking the Hill of Tara with a historian or joining a family-friendly storytelling trail, each experience blends landscape and legend in a way that sparks imagination and deepens your connection to place.

New for 2025: Foraging in the Boyne Valley

A new guided foraging experience will be added to this year’s programme, introducing participants to the wild edibles and medicinal plants of the Boyne Valley. This event will offer a sustainable, sensory way to engage with nature and local knowledge while also giving participants and appreciation of some of the natural remedies that Irish people would have relied on for centuries. “For me, the main purpose of foraging is to connect with nature, whether the environment is urban or rural, and it’s about connecting to our heritage too. For example, when you learn that nettle was one of the three main plants that helped Irish people to survive the Great Famine, you see it in a different way. These are plants that have helped us so much and still do.” – Jenny Boylan (Forage Leader)

Date and booking details to be announced on boynevalleytrails.ie

Plan Your Boyne Valley Trails Festival Week

With morning, afternoon, and evening events running all week, you can build a flexible itinerary around your interests and availability. From short cultural walks to multi-hour hikes, the festival offers something for every pace and personality.

“We are delighted to welcome walkers from near and far to our historic region,” says Trevor Connolly, CEO of Love Drogheda BID. “With stunning beaches, beautiful cliffs, and incredible history, the Boyne Valley has something to enthrall every visitor.”

Last year, we travelled to Drogheda for the day to get a taste of the area. We experienced first-hand, the wide variety of walks, activities, and experiences on offer at the walking festival. We also scoped out some of the very best places to eat, swim, drink and see in the area. Check out the article linked below to read all about our day in Drogheda.