Laytown, Meath – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Laytown is a quaint seaside town on the east coast of County Meath, where the River Nanny meets the Irish Sea. The town is known for its lengthy beach and the unique annual horse races that takes place on it. While Meath isn’t usually known for beaches, the one here and at nearby Bettystown are surprisingly nice. But are there more reasons to visit Laytown besides its shelly stretch?

Find out below!

Public Transport: Laytown Railway Station sits on the Dundalk to Dublin line, making it a solid town to commute to the capital from. The frequent trains can have you in Dublin in less than 45 minutes.

Failing that, the Matthew’s Bus links the village to Dublin multiple times per day. The journey takes less than an hour, with a one-way ticket costing just €11. The Bus Eireann Route D1 links the town to Drogheda every 30 minutes or so. Tickets for this bus cost just €2 each way!

Laytown’s predominant Italian restaurant Delfino Bay sits above the lovely Gilna’s Cottage Inn, just a short stroll from the beach. Known for terrific pizza and generous portions, it offers eat-in or takeaway options. You can bring your own beer for a small corkage fee, or order from the pub below – super convenient!

The only alternatives to Delfino Bay are run of the mill fast food spots. R Macari is an Italian fish and chip shop that opens till 10pm daily. There’s no indoor seating, but you’ll find benches across the road for dining on a sunny day. It’s handy and fast, but nothing special.

Hot Beverages: Ariosa Café is a colourful beachfront gem open daily until 4pm. Admittedly, the local competition is non-existent but it still stands out for its sensual coffee and tasty treats such as sausage rolls. It’s a dainty spot to grab a drink for your beach stroll.

The next best option is the café at the Sonairte Visitor Centre, but it’s a 15-minute walk from town. Open Friday to Sunday (10am–5pm), it serves cheap vegan-friendly bites, coffee and a small selection of breakfasts and lunches.

Alcohol: Centrally located and dog-friendly, The Cottage Inn is without question the best pub in Laytown. You can catch live sports here daily and enjoy live music on weekends. The staff are lovely and there’s a great outdoor area for sunny days. The cosy Italian restaurant Delfino Bay is also right upstairs should you get hungry!

Alternatively, The Coast Tavern offers the cheapest pints in town and a warm, lively atmosphere. While there’s no food, you will find regular live music and plenty of sports on screen. The small bar is a locals’ spot, while the spacious lounge attracts tourists. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but authentic nevertheless.

The blue flag beach here dramatically transforms with the tide. A narrow stretch at high tide expands to over a kilometre wide at low tide. It forms the southern end of a 5km sandy strand that extends north to Mornington, offering a great setting for long walks and peaceful vistas.

The beach is part of a designated conservation area, attracting a wide variety of coastal and migratory birds such as oystercatchers, ringed plover, golden plover, knot, sanderling, cormorant, brent geese, lapwing, curlew, redshank, and turnstone. Plan your visit around the tide by checking out the tide times at this link:

Local Tide Times

One of the most popular activities in this area is to walk the 5km coastal stretch to Mornington Beach in the north. This 5km amble may be slightly long for older visitors but they should have no problems cutting the stroll short at Bettystown Beach instead.

Head to the southern end of Laytown Beach, where you will find mountains of beautiful sea shells to collect. Make your way around the corner and continue north along the shore for 30 minutes until you reach a large yellow building, which is the rear of Reddan’s Bar and B&B in Bettystown. Veer off the beach here and head into the town to explore for a bit before returning home.

Check out our Travel Guide to Bettystown

Laytown has a relaxed, laid-back vibe that revolves around its beach. Time slows down here during the off-season, when it can feel like something of a ghost town. In contrast, the summer brings a burst of life as families and day-trippers flock to the beach, giving the area a lively energy.

The real highlight of the year is the annual races, a one-of-a-kind horse racing event held right on the beach. When the races are in town the area transforms, with a carnival-like atmosphere drawing crowds, food stalls, and music. It’s incredibly fun and unlike anything else in Ireland.

If you’re looking for a tourist haven with a multitude of things to do then this town probably isn’t for you. But if it’s a nice quiet beach you are after, where the kids can enjoy themselves away from the crowds then this is definitely the place to be.

The races are an entirely unique event, held annually on the beach here since 1868. Originally paired with the Boyne Regatta, rowing races were traditionally held at high tide followed by horse racing when the tide receded. Over time the races developed from a side show into the main attraction and the rowing gradually faded.

Today, it remains one of the few beach horse races in Europe, drawing thousands of spectators late each summer. All races are run over six or seven furlongs on the firm sand, offering a one-of-a-kind experience for both casual visitors and racing fans. Many of Ireland’s greatest jockeys including Ruby Walsh and Nina Carberry have raced here!

Tickets cost €15 for adults while children under sixteen can attend for free, making it a fun, family-friendly day out.

The Boyne Valley Drive is a 190km scenic heritage loop waymarked by brown signs, guiding you through some of Ireland’s most important historical and archaeological sites.

The highlight is Brú na Bóinne, home to the remarkable prehistoric tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. Built around 3200 BC, these are among the most significant megalithic structures in Europe.

Other key stops include the Hill of Tara; once the seat of Ireland’s High Kings and visited by St. Patrick in the 5th century, Trim Castle; a majestic 13th-century fortress in a charming medieval town and Mellifont Abbey; Ireland’s first Cistercian abbey, founded in 1142.

These are just a few of the many fascinating stops along the Boyne Valley Drive, a must-see for any history lovers visiting Ireland’s Ancient East.

Boyne Valley Drive Route

Just a short walk from the village of Laytown, Sonairte National Ecology Centre is an organic eco-hub offering nature trails, river walks and a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can explore woodland paths, stroll through the organic walled gardens, paint fairy doors and visit the unique bee museum before checking out the lovely café and gift shop.

Along with incredible wildlife, the nature trail also offers glimpses of Ballygarth Castle which is beautiful from this angle. Sonairte is a brilliant free thing to do if in the area.

Seaview Saunas offer a unique way to unwind while soaking in stunning views of the Irish Sea. Each 45-minute session accommodates up to 10 people, making it perfect for solo relaxation or small groups. While walk-ins are welcome, booking in advance is recommended to secure your spot.

At just €15 per session it’s an affordable and refreshing coastal wellness experience that is good for the body and good for the soul!

Book your spot at Seaview Saunas