Is Newgrange claustrophobic?

Yes, the passage is a bit tight, and the room at the end is not large. I would say that the total passage is something like 20 feet (I have seen the actual number but can't recall right now). You don't have to go in if you don't want to, and some in my group chose not to. You can still walk around the outside. In the museum, you can see a recreation of the chamber, so if you choose not to go in, you can still see what it looks like.

Thank you Nancy for the heads up on the small room at the end of the passage. Everyone says Newgrange is a must see but if we don't go in is it still a "must see?" Somewhere I read a "break down" on the 1.5 hour tour out to Newgrange. It was x amount of time to get out and back and I thought you spent a good amount of time inside and then had time to look around on your own. Seems like the highlight might be going into the structure.

I have not been there; but this website--http://www.newgrange.com--says "A passage measuring 19 meters (21 yards) leads into a chamber with 3 alcoves." This site also has a video that gives some idea of the feel of the passage.

Newgrange is now on my travel radar, thanks for that. However, I am pretty claustrophobic myself, so who knows if I'll see the chamber.

I am not crazy about tight spaces myself, but not to the level of claustrophobia. I did not find the entry passage to be an issue at all, but you did have to squeeze around some rocks. The hard part for me was in the actual central room. I was the very first one in and for a moment it was great.. then they let the other 29 or 19, or whatever it was, in and it was shoulder to shoulder. I am very sensitive about people crowding my personal space, and it was pretty uncomfortable at moments. Mostly it was pretty tolerable but overall I was very glad I went there.

We were fortunate enough to visit Newgrange before it opened to the public that day for tours. I'm not sure how many people normally are in a group there, but I would agree that if you have ANY issues with closed spaces to consider being as close to the end of the group as it enters as possible. If you are among the first to enter, you will also be waiting the longest in the little chamber as the rest of the group comes along the passage.

Now this is just my feeling on it, so other people may have completely different perspectives on the experience. I don't recall how long the passage was, but I don't recall it being THAT long. I didn't think of it as that low, either, but I am also short. In fact, I thought it felt less confining because you have light at your back as you go through. Note that if you are carrying a purse or bag, the guides may tell you to carry it in front of you so that it does not scrape the sides of the passage.

The chamber at the end where you stand is not that large, so there's a good chance you will be standing very close to the people on either side of you. On our tour they did do a segment where they turn off the overhead lighting. You will be standing in the dark for a few seconds during that demonstration. I'm not sure if that bothers you, but I thought I should let you know that it's a possibility.

I am not claustrophobic, but I was one of the first people who went into the structure in our group. By the time we left, I was happy to have some fresh air in my face. Again, the people who enter last shouldn't have that kind of problem, and they're also the first ones back out the door. If you follow that strategy, you should be in good shape!

Good luck and have a safe trip!!

Thank you everyone! I am getting some good insight here. I have been searching for information and youtube videos. I just checked my RS book and he says it is a 60 foot passage and occasionally you will have to duck or turn sideways. He does not say how big the central room is however. It appears the 1.5 tour is 30 min bus ride (15 min each way) 30 min guided tour (part of this must be inside) and 30 min to walk around on your own. I am still on the fence...lol...I think my husband has decided he is not going in however. I am thinking I might be okay if I am the last one in and the first one out and we don't stay in there very long. I do better if I have an "escape route."

My brother is pretty claustrophobic. When we went he was the last one in but had to ease out pretty quickly and because it is not lit very well in there did not really get a glimpse of the inside. They divided our tour in to 2 groups but it was still pretty much shoulder to shoulder in the chamber. My tour also went to another burial chamber where we walked around outside as well as the Hill of Tara. He enjoyed the day even though he did not go inside.

There is plenty to do in the area if you change your mind.

I first learned that I was challenged by tight spaces on a trip to Chichen Itza about 30 years ago. I wanted to see the red jaguar. I barely made it through the door when I realized it was not going to happen. Having no idea how it was going to be farther inside, I turned around and exited out past the people behind me. I'm sorry I missed it then, and that I will miss it in the future.

There is only one other time this has happened to me and it was at Newgrange. Apparently it isn't all that unusual. The tour guide warned us about the possibility of getting freaked out. In fact, he said there's at least one person every tour who has a problem. So my husband brought up the rear and I was right in front of him. Sure enough, I couldn't handle it. The passage didn't bother me, it was the small, central chamber. So we exited and walked around the mound as others have mentioned.

It's odd because I've had no reaction at any other similar place I've been. For example, I've been to Font-de-Gaume in the Dordogne Valley and to Maeshowe on Orkney Island with no problems at all.

So I can confirm that if you think you might have issues, stay at the tail end of the group.

FWIW, one of my daughters thinks that there was very negative energy at Newgrange and Chichen Itza and that I was picking up on it. Being not much of a believer in that sort of thing, every time I hear something like that, I can't help but chuckle and think of Sergeant Oddball's (Donald Sutherland) "negative waves" in Kelly's Heroes.

I am quite tall, 6 feet, and I am always more concerned about what I am going to bump my head on. On the tour that I went with there was a couple from New Zealand and he was about 6'4". The two of us stayed towards the back when entering because we didn't want to block anyone's view inside. I had to duck the whole way in and then the two of us tall folks stood hunched over with our backs against a wall once we got inside. Since we entered last we also had to find some way of getting out of the way of the woman who came rushing out after getting about halfway in. I don't know why she even attempted it as she commented at the entrance that she was claustrophobic! So, my advice to you is if you know you have trouble with small spaces then definitely go in last in case you have to make a quick exit.

wow, I think I am getting nervous just reading all these comments. Thank you all for the heads up! I am a little surprised they don't emphasis the tight space more in the online information. I was really hoping that this one was of your "cover your behind statements" and it wasn't going to be all that bad :(

I think there is a really good chance neither of us will be going inside so I guess my next question would be, is the tour still worth going on? Is going inside the highlight of the tour?

Its been about four years since we were there. Been there twice. Not sure if it is still done but the two times we were there, once we were all in the chamber, the guide turned out the lights and used something like a pen light to show how the light would enter during the solstace, it wasn't long, maybe a couple of minutes, just something else to be aware of.

When I think back to our visit to Bru na Boinne (which was one of the highlights of our first trip to Ireland) I don't think of the passageway at New Grange as being the only worthwhile part of the experience. We really enjoyed exploring the mounds at Knowth as well (and you can't go inside, so claustrophobia isn't an issue). There was an excellent guided tour provided and the commentary was very interesting and informative! The museum, while not large, was also very interesting. We were lucky enough to have nice weather and found that just walking around the New Grange sight was an experience in itself. Since you have that whole extra day, I'd say go for it!

I would vote to do it. I found out the hard way climbing Sacre Coeur that I am claustrophobic, but I went to Newgrange last summer and loved it. We were split up so we didn't all go in at once. I stayed towards the back and didn't even go in the central room, but there is so much to see there. Even though I stayed close to the entrance, I could hear and also get a sense for how these people lived. Just getting an idea of the way they structured the mounds to capture the light (solstice) was fascinating, especially since I'd read about the way Manchu Pichu was structured. The carvings are very cool and standing on the top of the mound and seeing the other sites (Knowth) was awesome. The visitor center is well-done, as well.

In reading reviews for the Heart of Ireland tour, Bru Na Boinne is frequently mentioned as a "wow" moment and I agree.

Only you can know if you can handle this. The exterior is quite lovely, and this is a site that is truly historic. If nothing else, you can say that you were here. For me, this is always a huge travel plus. I can point to a place and say that I saw it in person!

Having felt a little stuffy inside (but again, I was one of the first people in our group inside), maybe stay toward the back of the group? That way you know that you have the option to leave when you feel the need.

But that's just me. I push myself to visit mountains, and I am terrified of heights. Despite many mountains, I am still afraid of heights, but I am also glad to have made the effort.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I think I will have to wait until I am there to make a decision. I will talk to the guide (to find out how much time we actually spend inside) and if I decide to go in I will definitely enter last and stay by the exit. Sometimes just knowing I can escape helps a lot. I use to say that I was only slightly claustrophobic but as I get older it seems to get worse. It is interesting that sometimes I am surprised when something bothers me and then again I am surprise when a situation does not bother me.

I was there in October.

They only take a few people at a time because the center is not huge You are only inside about 10 minutes as others are usually waiting to get in.

I am not a tiny person and I struggled to get through some of the passageway. It is narrow, you do have to duck at times, and yes they will turn the lights out. I don't remember being able to see the entrance once in the center and I was the closest to it.

I kept thinking that if someone is claustrophobic they might have a problem with this because once inside people are pretty well packed in.

That being said, it was fascinating. Most of the talk you will get will be outside. And what you will see inside will also be explained outside. You can always decide just before going in.

Frank II,
Thank you for your input. I am still torn at this point as to whether I will go in or not. I am a 5' 7", 140 pound female so I don't think my size will be an issue. And the fact they turn the lights off should not be an issue either. It seems that everyone says it is worth the journey in but I don't want to freak out mid way :) Maybe I will send them an email and ask how long it takes to go down the corridor, how long inside, etc.

If I remember correctly, it takes no more than a minute or so to get into the central area. And that depends on the speed of the person in front of you.

The best suggestion is to go last. This way if you are not happy you can always turn around and leave. Except for the central area, there is no way to pass anyone in the passageway itself. (The walkway itself is lit.)

At this point, my suggestion would be to not fret about it. There is nothing you can do until you get there. At that point, you can look at it and decide. Even if you don't go in, I would suggest going there anyway as it is a fascinating thing to see. But don't let this thing ruin your trip.

I am mildly claustrophobic and I managed ok .

I found the pathway in more stressful than the inner room , I was ok there .

I don't recall walk in taking more than a few minutes , and I also made a point of going in last .

The pathway is very narrow , we were instructed to carry our shoulder purses clutched to front of our chest , not hainging off shoulders as they did t want bags scraping the sides of passageways . . I was about your size ( an inch shorter , but I was also lighter too) and I found the passageways tight , I have no idea how larger folks manage !