Bettystown, Meath – An Essential Travel Guide for 2025

Bettystown is a seaside town on the eastern coast of County Meath, next to Laytown and 20 minutes from Drogheda. While Meath isn’t synonymous with beaches, Bettystown offers a long stretch of sand perfect for strolls and seaside fun. It’s one of the few beach towns in the county, making it a popular local getaway during the warmer months. Although slightly livelier than its neighbour, this is still a relaxed, family-friendly area with plenty of charm.

Check out the best things to do below!

Public Transport: Bettystown Railway Station closed in 1847, forcing train travellers to head to nearby Laytown Railway Station instead.

Thankfully the town is well connected by bus. The absurdly cheap Bus Eireann Route D1 links it to Drogheda every 30 minutes for €2 each way. The Matthew’s Bus service runs to Dublin City several times daily. Journeys take under an hour and cost €11 each way.

Navy is a charming seaside café open daily until 5:30 pm. The ocean views are stunning and the food is top-notch – don’t miss the sticky chicken! There are plenty of lunch and breakfast options and the coffee here is brilliant. This is a great spot for a casual, delicious bite by the sea.

Alternatively, The Village Hotel is a charming 16-bedroom hotel with a stylish gastro bar featuring plush velvet seating and a classy vibe. The extensive menu covers brunch, lunch and à la carte options. While prices lean toward the higher side, the quality is probably worth it. Our fish and chips cost €20 but was thoroughly enjoyable.

After eating head straight to Ellie’s Ice Cream for dessert. The treats are divine at this local institution, which is impossible to miss with its pink facade!

Hot Beverages: Bettystown has a few nice cafés to choose from. Burrows Lane on the Golf Links Road is a tiny spot open daily till 6pm. It serves fantastic treats and coffee and is the ideal place for grabbing a takeaway brew before a stroll on the beach. The toasties are sensational here too if you’re feeling peckish.

McDonough’s is a unique thatched pub a short distance from the centre of town. This interesting little spot doubles as a daytime coffee house. You can enjoy sandwiches and sweet treats by day, before it transforms into a lively pub by night. This quirky idea offers a great means of experiencing the cozy pub vibes without drinking a beer!

Alcohol: Reddan’s Pub, aka Neptune Beach, is the bright yellow building in the heart of the town. This old building also functions as a B&B and comes with a beer garden, friendly staff and a decent restaurant. The Sunday carvery is very popular! The bar setting is surprisingly pleasant, considering it has no competition in the centre of the town. Visit at the weekend to catch some live music.

Although slightly away from the beach, the aforementioned McDonough’s Coffee House and Bar is a must visit! This beautiful thatched pub fills up on sunny days, with a lively vibe inside and out. McDonough’s is a chilled coffeehouse by day and a lively boozer by night, serving superb pints of Guinness. Enjoy live music by the warm fire and bring your dog along with you if you like!  

Bettystown Beach lies at the heart of a 5km stretch of golden sand that runs from Mornington in the north to Laytown in the south. With both Blue Flag and Green Coast awards, it’s a clean and safe spot for paddling and is especially popular among families. The calm waters here mean it is not really a hub for water sports, but it’s the perfect place for paddling in the sea.

The area is also a conservation zone and popular among birdwatchers hoping to spot oystercatchers, ringed plover, sanderling, curlew, brent geese, lapwing, cormorant, turnstone, and redshank.

Bettystown Beach Tide Times

The beach here is sandwiched between Mornington Beach to the north and the popular Laytown Beach to the south, with both easily accessed on foot. Mornington is pretty but small, so the most popular route is to head 30 minutes south along the shore to Laytown instead.

Here lies a buzzy little town with plenty of life about it. Check out the shelly strand at the far end of the beach before grabbing yourself an ice-cream in town. Visit in late summer during the Laytown Races to catch one of the most unique annual events in Ireland!

Check out our Travel Guide to Laytown

The town exudes a quiet, charming atmosphere, especially on a sunny summer’s day when families gather around the beach to enjoy its calm waters and relaxed vibe. It’s a family-friendly seaside resort, clearly geared towards children with attractions like the popular Funtasia Theme Park offering fun just a short walk from the sand.

The town’s laid-back energy makes it ideal for a peaceful seaside stroll or a day of paddling and picnics. Unfortunately, it must be noted that the atmosphere here can change in the evenings. Locals advise avoiding the beach during twilight hours, as there have been occasional reports of youths drinking there in recent years.

Nevertheless, during the day Bettystown remains a welcoming, easygoing and safe place to enjoy a family day out. 

Located in nearby Laytown just a 5-minute drive from Bettystown, Sonairte National Ecology Centre is an organic haven offering scenic nature trails and river walks alongside engaging outdoor activities.

Visitors can wander through peaceful woodland paths, explore walled organic gardens, create fairy door art and discover a fascinating bee museum. Don’t miss the rare views of Ballygarth Castle and wading bird species whilst strolling the nature trail.

Admission is free, making this is a great idea for a nature-filled day out.

Funtasia is one of Bettystown’s top attractions for children. You’ll find mini golf, climbing walls, bowling and the Pirates Cove Waterpark here, which only opens Saturdays and Sundays. Soft play areas will keep the toddlers entertained while the older kids check out the arcades. The bowling alley and arcades are open every day from 10am to 10pm. The laser tag experience is also awesome fun if you’re coming with a group.

At the weekends a restaurant here serves yummy food and ice cream. Parking at Funtasia can be tricky, so it’s best to get there early, and the prices depend on the activities you want to do.

One of 58 traditional links in Ireland, Laytown Bettystown Golf Club is a splendid course with over 100 years of history. Legends of the game including Padraig Harrington have been spotted playing here in recent times.

The course is open every day from 8am to 11pm. Green fees are €125 during the busy months, with the usual Golf Ireland members discounts available. Winter visitors can grab themselves a round for just €75. Golf clubs and buggies are available for hire too so don’t fret should you forget yours!

Those open to exploring further afield should definitely tackle The Boyne Valley Drive. Handily waymarked by brown signs, this 190km loop hits some of Ireland’s best historical sites on a drive that should take around 1 full day to complete.

Brú na Bóinne, the main attraction, features the famous prehistoric tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. Built around 3200 BC, these are among Europe’s most important megalithic sites.

Other sites include the ancient Hill of Tara; once home to Ireland’s High Kings, the medieval town of Trim; known for its impressive 13th-century castle and peaceful Mellifont Abbey; Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery.

If time permits try to visit the stunning Slane Castle, famous for its concerts, and the quaint ruins of Bective Abbey.

The Boyne Valley Drive Route