Free entry for English Heritage members
This place is cared for by the Office of Public Works, which runs Ireland's national heritage sites as Heritage Ireland. English Heritage members are entitled to free entry to all OPW sites from the first year of membership. Show your current membership card at admissions.
More information
OPW's published walk-up price; tickets at reception. Under-12s free with a ticket; visitors with disabilities and one carer free. Free for English Heritage members showing a valid card, from the first year of membership (every OPW site; the named members on the card). Heritage Card holders free.
OPW's 'Child/Student' rate; under-12s free. Free for English Heritage members showing a valid card, from the first year of membership (every OPW site; the named members on the card). Heritage Card holders free.
OPW's family rate (the page gives no definition). Free for English Heritage members showing a valid card, from the first year of membership (every OPW site; the named members on the card). Heritage Card holders free.
OPW's 'Group/Senior' rate. Free for English Heritage members showing a valid card, from the first year of membership (every OPW site; the named members on the card). Heritage Card holders free.
The Trust's page does not say how parking is charged.
OPW's visual guide says that inside the gate there are two car parks, the left for cars and the right for buses and campervans, from which a path climbs past picnic tables to the entrance; blue badge holders use a separate car park beside the building, reached by the first road 150 m west of the main car park on the R314. No tariff or free statement is published and parking on the road is not allowed. The site is 8 km west of Ballycastle and 7 km east of Belderrig on the R314; OPW names no bus service.
Driving pin: the car park on the left inside the gate, 123 m from OPW's own pin on the visitor centre.
Beneath the wild boglands of north Mayo, eight kilometres west of Ballycastle on the R314, lies a system of fields, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs that together make up the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world. The stone-walled fields, extending over hundreds of hectares, are the oldest known anywhere, dating back almost six thousand years, under a natural blanket bog with its own unique vegetation and wildlife. OPW's award-winning pyramid-roofed visitor centre is set against some of the most dramatic rock formations in Ireland, with exhibitions on two floors, a six-minute immersive film, hands-on displays and a steep climb to a rooftop viewing platform on the edge of the 110-metre cliff. Outside, a 0.7 km boardwalk crosses the excavated field, explored on a guided tour of about an hour, self-guided or by audio guide; reviewers say the guides bring the stones to life. Come prepared with protective clothing and sturdy footwear, as the terrain and weather can be challenging. The centre opens from mid March to early November.
Prices, non-members
Open 12 March to 4 November 2026, daily 10:00 to 18:00 with last admission at 17:15; from 5 November the centre is available for group bookings only, and the 2027 dates are not yet published. Tickets at reception; no online booking. Free to everyone on the first Wednesday of each month (OPW's Free Wednesday scheme). Guided tours of the field take 45 minutes to an hour, or go self-guided or with the QR-code audio guide (bring headphones).
Step-free ground floor, a small lift to the first floor, but the rooftop viewing platform is by steep stairs only and the outdoor site is reached by many steps, some without handrails, with an alternative route from reception for limited mobility; stay on the boardwalk. The immersive film is dark and loud. Cafe, toilets, accessible toilet and baby changing; a Leave No Trace site, so take rubbish home. Assistance dogs only.
Photo: The pyramid-roofed Céide Fields visitor centre, grassed over and set above the Atlantic cliffs of north Mayo. PaulT, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IRL_C%C3%A9ide_Fields_01.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
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Not suitable for dogs
A 0.7 km boardwalk with a gentle incline and information boards across the excavated Neolithic field, reached through the back of the visitor centre with a ticket during opening hours by steps (some without handrails), on a guided tour, self-guided or with the audio guide; stay on the boardwalk; assistance dogs only.
