Stay 
Navan
approx. 6.5 km
The county town of Meath, at the meeting of the Boyne and the Blackwater, about 50 km north-west of Dublin; 33,886 inhabitants at the 2022 census.
Photo: Jtdirl, public domain
Norman castle stay near Navan: a family night in the Boyne Valley
Advertised on Expedia as “Fabulous Norman Castle with WiFi in Meath”, this family-friendly castle stay is in the Navan area of County Meath, land that the Normans received in 1172. The listing describes a privately hosted house with fireplaces, a garden, a children’s playground, a hot tub and a babysitting service, while Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Ireland, is about 12 km away.
At a glance
- Location
- Navan area, County Meath, in the Boyne Valley; Navan town centre is within about 10 km according to Expedia
- Accommodation
- Privately hosted castle stay listed as “Fabulous Norman Castle with WiFi in Meath” and classed by Expedia as a castle for families; the building is not named
- Highlights
- Five bathrooms, fireplaces, hot tub, garden, children’s playground, table tennis, babysitting service, Wi-Fi, parking on site
- Guest rating
- 10/10 from 2 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in from 4 pm · check-out at 11 am
- Good to know
- Dogs welcome (max. 2, up to 25 kg each) · breakfast at extra cost · non-smoking
Staying in a Norman castle near Navan: a stay made for families
Expedia classes this castle as a place for families, and the listing backs that up: a garden, a children’s playground, a table-tennis table and a babysitting service are all mentioned. The castle is presented as a privately hosted house, with five bathrooms, a hot tub, a living and dining setup with separate dining areas, and a TV and DVD player for quiet evenings. Photos in the listing show four-poster beds, floral wallpaper, wardrobes and open fireplaces in the bedrooms.
The kitchen is built for cooking together: the listing mentions a kitchen island, hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, blender, coffee grinder and spices, along with cookware, crockery and cutlery. Bed linen and towels are provided, and the house also has a washing and drying service, an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and central heating. Outside, a barbecue and garden furniture make the most of fine evenings.
Breakfast is available for an extra charge, and the listing notes vegan and vegetarian food options, mostly regional produce, tours and activities run by local businesses and performances by local artists. Green details include recycling, food-waste rules, no single-use plastic bottles or straws, and reusable cups and crockery.
Photos of Norman Castle near Navan
The Norman story around the castle: Meath from 1172
- 1147 – Bective Abbey is founded on the Boyne as a daughter house of Mellifont Abbey.
- 1172 – Henry II grants the land of Meath to Hugh de Lacy, who builds a ringwork castle at Trim on a hill above the Boyne.
- 1173 – After an attack by the forces of the High King, the Trim castle is quickly repaired or rebuilt.
- 1186 – Hugh de Lacy dies and his son Walter becomes Lord of Meath, continuing the rebuilding of Trim.
- c. 1224 – Trim Castle is most likely completed in the 1220s, after about thirty years of building.
- Early 15th century – Durhamstown Castle, a tower house not far from Navan, is believed to date from this time.
- 1734 – Bishop Arthur Price starts work on the Palladian Ardbraccan House, completed in the 1770s.
The listing calls the castle Norman but does not name it, and none of the sources used here describes the building itself, so this section tells the Norman story of the surrounding countryside. The Normans reached Meath in the 1170s, when Henry II granted the territory to Hugh de Lacy. His headquarters at Trim, about 12 km south, grew into the largest Norman castle in Ireland and is still a landmark of the Boyne Valley.
Other chapters of the story are close at hand. Bective Abbey, founded in 1147, stands on the river a short drive south, and Ardbraccan House, the former home of the Church of Ireland bishops of Meath, rose in the 18th century. The older Irish past is never far away either: the Hill of Tara, traditional seat of the High Kings, lies about 14 km to the south-east.
Facilities and services at the Norman castle near Navan
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); what is available can vary, so check the listing for your dates.
For families
- Children’s playground
- Table tennis
- Babysitting service
- Garden with outdoor furniture and barbecue
- Books and a music library
Rooms & bathrooms
- Five bathrooms, with bath or shower
- Hot tub
- Fireplaces and separate dining areas
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Hair dryer, soap and shampoo
- Desk and desk chairs
Kitchen & entertainment
- Kitchen island, hob, oven and microwave
- Dishwasher, fridge, blender and coffee grinder
- Cookware, crockery, cutlery and spices
- Smart TV and DVD player
- Stereo system
Service & practical
- Breakfast available at extra cost
- Wi-Fi in the rooms
- Laundry service and dryer
- Linen, towel changes and cleaning on request
- Parking on site; non-smoking property
Where the Norman castle is: in the Navan area of County Meath
The castle is in the Navan area, in County Meath. Navan is the county town, at the meeting of the Boyne and the Blackwater, about 50 km north-west of Dublin. According to Expedia, Navan town centre, the Solstice Arts Centre and The Zone are within about 10 km, as are the Royal Tara Golf Club and Headfort Golf Club; for children, the listing points to Aura Leisure Navan and Páirc Tailteann, and the Boyne River Valley is named among the highlights.
From here the great sights of Meath are easy day trips. Bective Abbey and Trim Castle lie to the south, Kells to the north-west, and the Hill of Tara and the World Heritage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth within about 20 km. Dublin is roughly 50 km away.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from the castle)
| Durhamstown Castle (tower house) | approx. 900 m |
| Ardbraccan House | approx. 2 km |
| Navan | approx. 6.5 km |
| Bective Abbey | approx. 10 km |
| Kells | approx. 10 km |
| Trim Castle | approx. 12 km |
| Hill of Tara | approx. 14 km |
| Knowth | approx. 20 km |
| Newgrange | approx. 20 km |
| Brú na Bóinne | approx. 22 km |
Distances are measured as the crow flies from the map position given in the listing, which may be approximate for a private rental; Durhamstown Castle is a separate tower house nearby and is not the castle described here.
Things to see around the Norman castle near Navan
Bective Abbey
approx. 10 km
A Cistercian abbey on the River Boyne, founded in 1147. The well-preserved ruins mostly date to the 15th century; the abbey appeared in the film Braveheart.
Photo: Charles Mount, CC BY-SA 3.0
Trim
approx. 12 km
A town on the River Boyne with 9,563 inhabitants (2022), noted for Trim Castle, the largest Norman castle in Ireland.
Photo: Row17, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hill of Tara
approx. 14 km
An ancient ceremonial and burial site, traditionally the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, with a passage tomb, burial mounds and the Lia Fáil standing stone.
Photo: Patrick Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0
Knowth
approx. 20 km
A Neolithic passage tomb from around 3200 BC, ringed by 17 smaller tombs, with the largest collection of megalithic art in Europe.
Photo: Rob Hurson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Newgrange
approx. 20 km
A passage tomb built around 3100 BC, older than Stonehenge. At the winter solstice the rising sun shines through a roof-box into the inner chamber.
Photo: Tjp finn, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tours & activities near Norman Castle near Navan
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Dublin Book of Kells, Castle and Molly Malone Statue Guided Tour
Enjoy ease of access with online fast-track ticket entry to the Book of Kells. Discover one of the most important highlights of Irish heritage on …
View details ›
St Patrick's Cathedral, Book of Kells and Dublin Castle Tour
Embark on a privileged journey through Dublin's historic center on this exclusive priority timed access tour. Gain entry to iconic landmarks …
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St Patricks Cathedral-Dublin Castle Exterior & Book of Kells Tour
-We specialise in smaller groups -All Entrance fees covered & Fast-Track Entry -Award winning 'City Heritage Tours with 5* guide pedigree …
View details ›
Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral Tour
Visit the Book of Keels at Trinity College with skip-the-line tickets (3h tour only) and walk through Dublin's history: Dublin Castle, Christ Church …
View details ›
Book of Kells. Dublin Castle exterior. 5* History & Heritage Tour
-Smaller group -Exclusive Tour for the more discerning traveller -All Experienced/Official Qualified Guides -All entry fees covered -Skip the line & …
View details ›
Dublin, Trintiy College Library Tour & Book of Kells
Discover Dublin on the only guided tour in Italian that takes you to the Book of Kells, the marvelous illuminated gospel of the 800s Before you …
View details ›
Dublin: Book of Kells. National Museum. VIP Heritage City Tour.
Discover Dublin’s history and culture on a guided walking tour. Visit Trinity College, see the Book of Kells, explore the spectacular Long Room …
View details ›
Skip-the-line Book of Kells and Dublin Old Town Private Tour
Choose one of our excellent tour options tailored to your needs and interests: 2-hour: Old Town & Book of Kells Book this tour to see the Books of …
View details ›Some descriptions are machine-translated.
Who is the Norman castle near Navan for?
Families with children
A playground, table tennis, a garden and a babysitting service are all mentioned in the listing.
Groups & multi-generation stays
Five bathrooms, a large kitchen with an island and separate dining areas suit a group sharing the house.
History lovers
Trim Castle, Bective Abbey, the Hill of Tara and Brú na Bóinne tell a thousand years of Irish history within a short drive.
Dog owners
Up to two dogs, each up to 25 kg, are welcome, and the grounds and countryside offer room to roam.
Good to know before booking the Norman castle near Navan
- Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
- Dogs are welcome: a maximum of two in total, each weighing up to 25 kg.
- Breakfast is available at an extra charge. Parking is available on site, and the property is non-smoking.
- The stay is privately hosted: linen and towel changes and cleaning are done on request.
- The listing does not name the castle and has only a few reviews so far, so check the description, photos and house rules on Expedia before you book.
Find available dates at Norman Castle near Navan
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight in the Norman castle near Navan?
Yes. It is listed on Expedia as “Fabulous Norman Castle with WiFi in Meath”, a privately hosted castle for families in the Navan area.
Is it suitable for children?
Expedia classes it as a castle for families. The listing mentions a children’s playground, table tennis, a garden and a babysitting service.
Are pets allowed?
Dogs are welcome, up to two in total and each up to 25 kg, according to Expedia.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 4 pm and check-out is at 11 am.
Is breakfast available?
Yes, breakfast is available for an extra charge; a vegetarian breakfast is also listed. The kitchen can be used for self-catering.
What is there to see near the castle?
Bective Abbey is about 10 km away, Trim Castle about 12 km, the Hill of Tara about 14 km and Newgrange about 20 km as the crow flies; Navan town centre is within about 10 km.
Photos of the rooms, guest reviews and available dates are all in the listing for this Norman castle on Expedia.
Looking for a family stay in a Norman castle in the Boyne Valley? Check availability and current prices for this Norman castle near Navan on Expedia.
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