Free Things to Do in Meath

As parents, we here at My Kids Time know how expensive it can be to entertain the kids, so we thought that we would put together a useful list of things to do for free with the children - yes, ideas and activities that are completely free of charge.  Some ideas may involve a car journey, but half the fun is visiting a new area.  Pick a different town or village to explore, compile a list of interesting places to visit beforehand and then have fun!

Take A Hike: One of our favourite activities is to just get out and about for a long walk or a hike up a hill. One place that we love to visit is Loughcrew Cairns, near Oldcastle; which does require a steep climb, but it is worth it for the view from the top!  Also in the north of the county is Mullaghmeen Forest, which offers more than 1,000 acres to explore and walks for all levels of fitness.  Another wooded walk that we enjoy is Balrath Wood, near Kentstown, which has a picnic area and a playground and climbing frame, while Hungry Hall Park, near Slane, is also worth exploring.

On Your Bike: Take out your bicycles and get active. Follow an established cycle trail or find an off-road route. There is some useful information here.

See the Sea: We're not blessed with beaches in County Meath and have just seven miles of coastline, but the beaches at Bettystown, Laytown and Mornington are sandy and have safe, shallow bathing.  You don't have to wait for the sun to come out. Head to the beach with coats, hats and wellies, if needs be, and take a walk on the shore.  Bring fishing nets and explore rock pools.  Mind you, it's quite likely that the kids will want to get wet, so perhaps bring towels and a change of clothes, even if you don't plan on swimming!

Nurture A Love of Nature: Visit the website of the environmental organisation, ENFO, and you can download a huge variety of posters and leaflets that are both informative and interesting.  Bring a relevant leaflet when you go to visit somewhere outdoors and have fun asking the kids to identify various flora and fauna!  One fabulous place that is full of wonderful nature is the Kells Girley Eco Bog Walk - it's a truly unique and magical place.  Wear sturdy footwear and bring drinking water.

Make The Most of Libraries: Make sure to check out your local library and find out what classes and events that they run throughout the year.  Your local library branch is a wonderful - and free - resource for families.  Many of the branches run or host parent and toddler groups, storytelling sessions, arts and crafts classes, book clubs, chess clubs, games and activities sessions and so on.  Not to mention the fact that there is free computer access and the option to borrow books and DVDs!  For a change of scenery, why not visit a different library to your local branch? There's a great summer programme in place - read more here.

Picnic in a Playground: There are some great playgrounds throughout the Royal County.  Why not print the list and aim to visit them all over time? It's an activity that is both free and good fun!  Make sure to bring some snacks and drinks or a picnic lunch.

Go to a Gallery: Arts centres such as The Solstice in Navan and The Venue in Ratoath often host free art or photographic exhibitions.  It's probably best to check in advance if the exhibition is suitable for families.  You can sign up for free newsletters for either venue to keep informed of what is coming up.

History and Heritage: Did you know that there are eight different market Heritage Trails around Meath? The county is steeped in history and the various Heritage Trails will lead you to explore the Hill of Tara, the Hill of Slane and the Battle of the Boyne, as well as ruined abbeys, medieval table tombs, Celtic High Crosses, passage tombs and draughty old castles... Some heritage attractions have a small admission fee during peak season, particularly if they have a visitor centre, while others are completely free of charge.

Local Events: Keep an eye on our Events page ( to bookmark press Ctrl + D ) for updated information on regular free events taking place in County Meath.  Meath County Council, Meath Tourism, the Arts Council, Chambers of Commerce and many more public and private bodies hold regular free family friendly events such as festivals, carnivals, picnics, treasure hunts and seasonal things to do across the county.

As the saying goes, the best things in life are free!

If you have any more good ideas or suggestions, then please email us and we'll add them to the list.