Things to Do in Westmeath: The Lakeland County's Hidden Treasures

Westmeath, in the middle of the country, is lake-and-castle land. The big days out are Belvedere House and Gardens above Lough Ennell, an 18th-century hunting lodge with 160 acres of grounds, and Athlone Castle, a 13th-century Norman keep with a Siege of Athlone experience, beside Sean's Bar, a Guinness World Record holder as one of the world's oldest pubs.

Westmeath is the county where you come for lakes, castles and the oldest stories in Ireland. It sits in the middle of the country, built around Lough Ree, Lough Owel and Lough Ennell, with Athlone on the Shannon to the west and Mullingar at its heart. You can stand on a hill that the old texts call the centre of Ireland, tour a working distillery older than the United States, and still be home for dinner. Here is what is actually worth your time.

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What are the must-see attractions in Westmeath?

Hill of Uisneach

If you do one thing in Westmeath, make it this. The Hill of Uisneach near Killare is the mythological centre of Ireland, the spot the old texts mark as the meeting point of the five ancient provinces. It rises to about 182 metres and holds more than 20 monuments, including the Catstone, a huge limestone boulder said to mark the centre itself. The hill sits on private working farmland, so you can only go up on a pre-booked guided tour. Book through the official Uisneach site before you travel, and pick a clear day for the views across the midlands.

Belvedere House, Gardens and Park

Belvedere is the grand day out near Mullingar: an 18th-century hunting lodge above Lough Ennell with 160 acres of gardens, woodland and lakeshore walks. The headline curiosity is the Jealous Wall, a mock-Gothic ruin and the largest folly in Ireland, built by the Earl of Belvedere purely to block his view of his estranged brother's house next door. Give it three hours if the weather holds, more if the kids want the playground and the walled garden. Details and opening times are on the Belvedere House website.

Athlone Castle and the River Shannon

Athlone is Westmeath's western anchor, a Shannon town with a 13th-century Norman castle at its centre. The castle's visitor experience walks you through the dramatic 1691 Siege of Athlone with audio-visual rooms and a 360-degree film, and it takes about 90 minutes. Right beside it is Sean's Bar, which holds a Guinness World Record as one of the oldest pubs in the world. From the castle quay you can also take a Shannon cruise downstream to the monastery at Clonmacnoise, which makes a fine half-day on the water.

Fore Abbey and the Seven Wonders of Fore

Tucked in a quiet valley about half an hour north-east of Mullingar, Fore is the best-preserved Benedictine ruin in Ireland and it is free to visit, open all year. The draw is the set of folk curiosities known as the Seven Wonders of Fore: the monastery built on a bog, the mill with no race, the water that flows uphill, the wood that won't burn, and the rest. It is a genuine wander-and-wonder spot rather than a ticketed attraction. The Heritage Ireland listing has the background.

Kilbeggan Distillery

Kilbeggan is the oldest licensed distillery in Ireland, dating to 1757, sitting on the River Brosna in the small town of the same name. It is part living museum, part working distillery, with original water-powered machinery and a 19th-century waterwheel still on site. The standard tour ends with a tasting, and there are longer hands-on experiences if you want to go deeper. Worth booking ahead at weekends. Times and tickets are at kilbegganwhiskey.com.

What are Westmeath's lesser-known spots?

Tullynally Castle and Gardens

Near Castlepollard, Tullynally is one of the largest castellated houses in Ireland, home to the Pakenham family for over 350 years. The gardens are the real reason to come: 30 acres including a Chinese garden, a Tibetan garden of waterfalls and a long walk down to two ornamental lakes. The grounds open seasonally, so check before you set off as opening can be limited outside summer.

Mullaghmeen Forest

On the Westmeath and Meath border sits Mullaghmeen, the largest planted beech forest in Europe and a quiet favourite for walkers. A network of looped trails climbs to the high point with views over Lough Sheelin and the surrounding counties, and in late April the woodland floor fills with bluebells. It is free, rarely crowded, and good for a couple of hours on foot. The Visit Westmeath site lists the trail options.

Royal Canal Greenway

The Royal Canal runs right across Westmeath, and the towpath is now a flat, traffic-free greenway ideal for walking or cycling. The stretch between Mullingar and Coolnahay is the prettiest, with old lock houses and plenty of birdlife along the water. You can ride a long way before you meet a hill, which makes it a good family cycle. Pack a flask and pick your distance.

Lough Ree and Lough Owel

The lakes are the thing that makes Westmeath itself. Lough Ree spreads north of Athlone with islands, monastic ruins and some of the best coarse fishing in the country, while Lough Owel near Mullingar is a clear limestone lake popular for trout fishing and open-water swimming. Both have quiet shore spots for a picnic. Conditions change fast on open water, so check before you swim or launch a boat.

Where can you book a guided tour or cruise?

Westmeath rewards a guide when you want the history filled in, especially around Athlone and the Shannon. Two private options if you want someone else doing the driving and the talking:

• Private Boat Tour on the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise, Athlone (from €300): a private boat trip out of Athlone down the Shannon to the ancient monastery at Clonmacnoise, away from the bigger group cruises. See the private Shannon boat tour on Viator.
• Sean's Bar and Athlone Castle en route Dublin to Galway (from €600): a private chauffeur-driven trip that takes in Sean's Bar, one of the world's oldest pubs, and Athlone Castle as a stop on the road between Dublin and Galway. Check the Sean's Bar and Athlone Castle trip on Viator.

This guide contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

What's on in Westmeath through the year?

The fixture that pulls the biggest crowd is the Bealtaine Fire Festival on the Hill of Uisneach, a one-night gathering of music, fire and ceremony each May that revives the old summer festival on the hill where it was first lit. It sells out, so book early when dates are announced. Athlone runs a busy summer of riverside events and a lively Christmas programme in the town, and Mullingar has a strong calendar of arts and music through the year. Dates move from season to season, so check the Visit Westmeath listings before you plan around any one event.

What's good in Westmeath with kids?

Two family spots are worth knowing. Glendeer Pet Farm near Athlone is a working open farm with goats, deer, donkeys and an indoor play barn, and it turns into Lapland each December. On the shore of Lough Ennell, Lilliput Adventure Centre runs lake activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and orienteering, with sessions geared from young children up to teenagers. Belvedere's playground and the flat Royal Canal Greenway also keep small legs happy without much planning.

How do you get to Westmeath?

Westmeath is about an hour and a quarter from Dublin by car on the M4 and M6, which run straight through the county to Mullingar and Athlone. Athlone is on the main Dublin to Galway rail line, so you can reach it from Heuston in around an hour and a half, and Mullingar sits on the Dublin to Sligo line. Once you are here you really want a car for the lakes, Fore and Tullynally, but Athlone and Mullingar towns are walkable in their own right.

Make a weekend of it

Westmeath pairs well with its neighbours if you have more than a day. Athlone sits right on the Offaly border and Clonmacnoise is a short cruise away, so it slots neatly with our guide to things to do in Offaly. If you are basing yourself in town, our deeper local guides to Athlone and Mullingar cover where to eat and what to do after the main sights, and walkers should see our roundup of the best hiking trails in Westmeath.

Westmeath FAQ

What is Westmeath best known for?

Lakes and ancient sites. Westmeath is built around Lough Ree, Lough Owel and Lough Ennell, and it holds the Hill of Uisneach, long regarded as the mythological centre of Ireland.

Can you visit the Hill of Uisneach without a tour?

No. The hill is private working farmland and a protected national monument, so access to the summit is only by pre-booked guided tour through the official Uisneach site.

Is Fore Abbey free to visit?

Yes. Fore Abbey is open all year with free access, and there is a small farm building on site serving coffee and snacks.

How long do you need in Westmeath?

A day covers one base, either Athlone with a Shannon cruise or Mullingar with Belvedere and Fore. A weekend lets you do both ends of the county plus the lakes.

Where to stay in Westmeath

Making a night of it? Browse hotels, guesthouses and places to stay in Westmeath:

See places to stay in Westmeath on Expedia

Heritage sites in Westmeath

Westmeath has 4,540 recorded archaeological monuments, and 2 are set up to visit. See the historic sites in Westmeath worth visiting →

Walking trails in Westmeath

Westmeath has 10 waymarked walking trails on the national register, graded and mapped. See the walking trails in Westmeath worth lacing up for →

Nature reserves in Westmeath

Westmeath has 1 nature reserve open to the public. See the wild places worth visiting in Westmeath →

Historic buildings in Westmeath

Westmeath has 1,617 recorded NIAH buildings, 44 of them rated of National or International importance, from Georgian houses and churches to bridges and mills. See the historic buildings in Westmeath worth seeking out →

Top things to do in Westmeath

Fore Abbey, In a tranquil, green valley in the village of Fore, about a 30 minute drive from Mullingar in County Westmeath, visitors can see the site where St Fechin founded a Christian monastery in the 7th century.

The Chimera Gallery, Brain child of David O'Shea, David along with his friend, artist, Hazel Revington Cross opened their first Gallery in 2010 (The Garden Gallery) for four years they traded and learned the art business from the ground up.

Áras an Mhuilinn Regional Comhaltas Centre, Áras an Mhuilinn is the regional Comhaltas centre serving the midland counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

O’Meara’s Garden Pavilion, Five star garden centre on a 12 acre site in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.

Carmel Rooney Art, Shop and working art studio set up in September 2021.

Athlone Castle, In County Westmeath is a 12th century castle and family friendly attraction in the heart of Ireland.

Dead Centre Brewing Company, With great views of the River Shannon from the entire building, Dead Centre Brewing Company's outdoor decking extends over the river and is an ideal place to enjoy a local, handcrafted beer, or a fresh, made to order pizza.

Glasson Craft Gallery, The Glasson Craft Gallery provides a welcoming space filled with carefully selected handmade craft and original artwork, created by artists and craftspeople based all over the island of Ireland.

What's on

Daily Lough Ree & River Shannon Cruise
Wed 8 July · Viking Tours Ireland

Viking History & Celtic Mythology Walking Tour of Athlone
Wed 8 July · Viking Tours Ireland

Belvedere Guided Walking Tours
Wed 8 July · Belvedere House Gardens & Park

Belvedere Garden Festival
Sun 19 July · Belvedere House Gardens & Park · Festival

Athlone River Festival 2026: Viking Themed
Fri 31 July · Athlone · Festival · Free

Féile na Sionainne Athlone 2026
Fri 31 July · Athlone · Festival · Free

Events & attractions: Fáilte Ireland Open Data (failteireland.ie), CC BY 4.0.