Oldcastle is a small town in the north-west of County Meath, useful less for its streets than for what rises just outside them. The great reason to come is Loughcrew Cairns, a hilltop cluster of Neolithic passage tombs older than Newgrange and far less crowded.
The cairns sit on Slieve na Calliagh, the "witch's hills", where rough paths climb past carved stones, open grass, and wide Midlands views. It is a place that rewards a spare day because the experience is not just archaeological: the climb, the wind, and the empty hilltops are part of the visit.
Oldcastle itself is practical and modest. Use it as the approach point for the cairns, Loughcrew Estate, and a few scattered ruins in the surrounding countryside. Wear shoes that can handle rock and wet grass.