There are few better ways to spend an autumn weekend in County Meath than combining a day at the races with a round of golf, good food and a comfortable place to stay.
This November, the BAR 1 Betting Navan Racing Festival returns to Navan Racecourse for two days of top-class jumps racing on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November 2026. With the Troytown Chase, Fortria Chase and Grade 2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle among the highlights, it is a weekend that promises plenty of action on the track.
But why stop at the racing?
With some excellent golf courses within easy reach of Navan, the festival is a great excuse to make a weekend of it. Get out for an early tee time before heading to the racecourse, or enjoy a round the following morning before exploring more of the Boyne Valley.
Make a weekend of the Navan Racing Festival
Navan Racecourse is just a short distance from Navan town, making it easy to combine racing with everything the town and surrounding area have to offer.
The festival takes place over Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th November, with gates opening at 10am on both days. The first race is scheduled for 11.52am on Saturday and 11.40am on Sunday.
There will also be shuttle buses running from Navan town to the racecourse, with stops including the Ardboyne Hotel, The Fair Green, Foxes Pub and The Round O. Return buses will operate after racing.
That makes staying locally particularly appealing. You can enjoy your round of golf, head into town for dinner and a few drinks, get a good night's sleep and be ready for another day of racing.
And if you're travelling with a group of golfers, there's no shortage of options.
Golf near Navan
One of the great things about choosing Navan for a golf and racing break is the variety of courses available across the Boyne Valley. From traditional parkland courses to championship layouts, there is plenty of choice within an easy drive of the town.
Royal Tara Golf Club
For the closest option to Navan, start with Royal Tara Golf Club.
Nestled at the foot of the Hill of Tara, Royal Tara is just 10 minutes from Navan and boasts a 27-hole complex set among mature rolling parkland. The club's main competition course was designed by former European Tour professional Des Smyth, while the three nines are known as the Cluide, Tara and Bellinter courses.
It's a particularly convenient choice if your plan is to get a round in before heading to the races, leaving plenty of time to make your way to Proudstown for the afternoon.
Find out more HERE!
Headfort Golf Club
Head to nearby Kells for Headfort Golf Club, a 36-hole parkland complex set on the historic Headfort estate.
The two courses make use of mature trees and the natural features of the estate, providing plenty of variety for golfers looking to extend their stay in the area.
Kells itself is also well worth exploring, making Headfort a good option for a morning round followed by lunch and a wander around the heritage town.
Find out more HERE!
Killeen Castle
For a championship golf experience, Killeen Castle is another standout option.
Set within an historic estate near Dunsany, the Jack Nicklaus-designed course provides a very different experience to the traditional parkland layouts. Killeen Castle has also hosted major events including the Solheim Cup and Ladies Irish Open.
With its combination of golf, accommodation and dining, Killeen Castle can also form the centrepiece of a more luxurious racing and golf getaway.
Find out more HERE!
County Meath Golf Club
If you're heading towards Trim, County Meath Golf Club is another option worth considering.
Established in 1898 and located just 3km from Trim, this parkland course features tree-lined fairways, strategic bunkering and well-maintained greens. There's also a modern clubhouse with bar and catering facilities, as well as a floodlit driving range.
Combine your round with a visit to Trim Castle and the historic town, followed by dinner before heading back towards Navan.
Find out more HERE!
Knightsbrook Golf Club
Just outside Trim, Knightsbrook Golf Resort offers an 18-hole championship course designed by Christy O'Connor Jnr.
The course is set across the resort's 186 acres and combines undulating fairways, testing greens and water features. Being part of a hotel and spa resort also makes Knightsbrook a natural option for anyone looking to turn their golf trip into a longer break.
Find out more HERE!
Black Bush Golf Club
If you're approaching Navan from the Dublin side, Black Bush Golf Club near Dunshaughlin is another option to put on the list.
The club has a 27-hole parkland layout with tree-lined fairways and strategically positioned hazards, along with clubhouse facilities for relaxing after your round.
Find out more HERE!
Bellewstown Golf Club
A little further east, Bellewstown Golf Course provides another option for golfers exploring the wider Boyne Valley.
Its location makes it particularly attractive if you're combining golf with the region's heritage attractions, including the Hill of Tara and Brú na Bóinne.
Find out more HERE!
Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club
Fancy taking your golf towards the coast?
Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club offers a links experience beside the Irish Sea, with undulating fairways, riveted bunkers and fast greens. It's a very different proposition to the inland parkland courses around Navan and makes an interesting addition to a longer Boyne Valley golf trip.
Find out more HERE!
County Louth Golf Club, Baltray
For golfers willing to travel a little further, County Louth Golf Club at Baltray offers championship links golf on the mouth of the River Boyne.
The historic course dates back to 1892 and has hosted the Irish Open, while its coastal setting provides a completely different golfing experience to the parkland courses closer to Navan.
Find out more HERE!
Where to stay
The easiest way to enjoy the Navan Racing Festival and fit in a round of golf is to stay locally.
There are accommodation options across Navan and the surrounding Boyne Valley to suit everything from a traditional hotel break to a countryside escape.
Ardboyne Hotel
The Ardboyne Hotel is particularly convenient for racegoers, with the Navan Racing Festival shuttle bus departing from the hotel on both days.
It's also well placed for exploring Navan town and the surrounding golf courses.
Find out more HERE!
Bellinter House
For something a little more leisurely, Bellinter House Hotel and Spa provides a country house setting close to Royal Tara Golf Club and the Hill of Tara.
It's also the home of the Style Competition on the opening day of this year's Navan Racing Festival.
Find out more HERE!
Decoy Country Cottages
For groups or families looking for more space, Decoy Country Cottages offer an alternative to a traditional hotel stay, with eight eco-friendly five-star cottages in the Boyne Valley.
Find out more HERE!
Johnsfort House
For a quieter countryside experience, Johnsfort House provides another option for staying in the wider Boyne Valley, giving visitors a base from which to explore the area's golf, racing, food and heritage.
Find out more HERE!
Newgrange Hotel
Right in Navan town, the Newgrange Hotel is another convenient choice for anyone looking to be close to restaurants, pubs and the racecourse shuttle connections.
Find out more HERE!
Other accommodation options in and around Navan include Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation, Bective Stud Self-Catering Apartments and Teltown House and Tailtiu Coffee.
Where to eat and drink
A weekend of golf and racing needs some good food along the way, and Navan has plenty of choice.
For dinner, Hugo's Restaurant at the Ardboyne Hotel, The Central, Seven Arches Navan, The Royal Meath and Room 8 are among the options in and around the town.
Preston's Restaurant at Bellinter House offers a country house dining experience, while The Bridge Restaurant at the Newgrange Hotel is another convenient option.
For something more relaxed, call into Crocketts Bar or make time for Bective Tea Rooms during your Boyne Valley travels.
And, of course, after a day at the races, there is nothing quite like finding a good local pub, settling in with a drink and talking through the day's results.
The beauty of the Navan Racing Festival is that you don't have to make the whole weekend about the racecourse.
You could play Royal Tara on Saturday morning, head to Navan Racecourse for the afternoon and finish the evening in town.
Or stay for two nights, enjoy the racing on Saturday, play Headfort or Killeen Castle on Sunday morning and spend the rest of the day exploring the Boyne Valley.
You could even turn it into a longer golf trip, adding courses such as County Meath, Knightsbrook, Bellewstown, Black Bush, Julianstown, Laytown & Bettystown or Baltray to your itinerary.
With top-class racing, a wide choice of golf courses, excellent food, welcoming pubs and plenty of accommodation, the Navan Racing Festival is the perfect excuse to make a weekend of it.
Race day. Tee time. Dinner. A few pints. That's a weekend worth planning.
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