Today we begin closing the loop back toward Dublin.

Our first stop is Titanic Belfast, the place where the Titanic was built, which today is a museum that tells the story of the RMS Titanic, from her conception to her tragic maiden voyage. We’ll explore the Titanic Experience and learn about Belfast’s shipbuilding history, the construction of the Titanic, and the story of the ship itself.

Then we leave the 20th century behind.

Very, very far behind.

Our next stop is Brú na Bóinne, one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in Europe. Here we’ll enter Newgrange, an enormous passage tomb built more than 5,000 years ago.

That makes it older than Stonehenge.

Older than the Egyptian pyramids.

And its builders designed the passage so that sunlight enters the inner chamber around the winter solstice.

After exploring Brú na Bóinne and Newgrange, we continue south and complete our road-trip loop back in Dublin.

Sixteen days ago, we arrived here.

Since then, we’ve driven around most of Ireland, climbed its highest mountain, biked across the countryside and an island, paddled lakes, fjords, and the Atlantic, walked ancient ruins, explored wild coastlines, looked for puffins, and somehow slept in a castle.

I’d call that a pretty good lap around Ireland… 🙂

TOTAL DRIVING TIME: Approximately 3 hours, broken into about 30–35m to Titanic Belfast, 1h20m–1h25m to Brú na Bóinne, and 55m–1h to Dublin.

OVERNIGHT: Ashling Hotel Dublin
MEALS: None. Breakfast at Ballygally Castle is not included. It is made to order, and meals cannot be paid for in advance.