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Leaving the Boyne valley behind, historical interest diminishes rapidly as you cross into Westmeath . Topographically similar to Meath, Westmeath consists of rich pastures used primarily for beef and dairy farming. Mullingar , the central town, is a traditional stopover for people on their way west. If you wish to spend a night in the county, however, it is advisable to journey further to the historical town of Athlone , where the main road across the country meets the River Shannon as it flows through Lough Ree on its long journey south. While Athlone is the centre for cruising the Shannon, the main attractions of Westmeath lie in its lakes to the northeast, around Castlepollard , an area definitely worth visiting. Although County Longford has little to offer in terms of either dramatic scenery or conventional tourist attractions, its rolling, fecund countryside does have a certain modest charm, and the area is beginning to attract young, affluent Dubliners who are buying up and renovating the county's many abandoned cottages (the result of generations of emigration). The main route into the counties is the N4, following the Royal Canal, and the borders of counties Meath and Kildare, out from Dublin to Mullingar and then Longford town . As the road enters Westmeath the N6 turns off, to cut across the south of the county to Athlone. Heading out from Meath, roads from Navan and from Kells converge at Delvin, to run on together towards Mullingar.
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