Trim Castle
Trim, Ireland
The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, a massive keep inside curtain walls on the river Boyne.
Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. It stands in Trim, County Meath, above the River Boyne, just under an hour's drive from Dublin via the M3.
Hugh de Lacy began building around 1174, his son Walter de Lacy extended it, and it was complete by the 1220s. The three-storey keep has a cruciform plan with twenty corners, which is unusual for a Norman keep. The complex covers about 30,000 m² and the outer wall is roughly 450 m long. In the film Braveheart the castle stands in for the walled city of York. It passed to the Irish State in 1993 and has been open to the public since 2000 after extensive restoration.
Practical details: you can explore the grounds and ruins on your own for a small fee. The keep can only be visited on a pre-booked guided tour and is reached by steep stairs, so keep that in mind with small children or limited mobility. Check opening times, especially in winter.
- Nearest town
- Trim, Ireland
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 53.5545, -6.7887
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Ireland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Barrier-free toll on the M50 around Dublin. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Motorhome stopover · SlaneMotorhome stopover23 km from Trim CastleMotorhomes
All campsites in Ireland · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Trim Castle?
Trim Castle is in Trim, Ireland, at GPS 53.5545, -6.7887. It is about 24 km from Slane.
Can you camp near Trim Castle?
Yes. Within 25 km there are 1 campsites and motorhome stopovers listed in OpenStreetMap; the nearest is about 23 km away.
Which road trips pass Trim Castle?
Trim Castle is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Boyne Valley: Tara, Trim and Newgrange.
What is there to see near Trim Castle?
Places worth a stop nearby: Hill of Tara (12 km), Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) (26 km), Monasterboice (35 km) and Kilmainham Gaol (35 km).
When is the best time to visit Trim Castle?
The most pleasant months are usually June. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and July–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)