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1- Omagh |
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Omagh was host to the O’Neill era from the early middle ages up to 1602 when Mountjoy defeated the Earl of Tyrone. The town began to develop from the Plantation period onwards but most of the town was destroyed by the fire in 1742. By the latter quarter of the 18th century it became the County Town of Tyrone. |
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2- Cappagh Old Church and Graveyard |
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The main body of this church dates back to the 16th century but this site may have been used as a church site since the Early Christian Period. A bell associated with this parish, known as the “Cappagh Bell” is in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. |
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3- Gortin Glen Forest Park |
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A major recreational feature of the forest is the five-mile long drive, which offers some breathtaking views. A number of vista parks have been created where the motorist can pull in and enjoy the magnificent scenery. This forest also offers an off- road cycle trail and walking trails. |
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4- Gortin Lakes Picnic / Amenity Site |
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These two lakes are known in geological terms as “kettle hole” lakes left by uneven melting of glaciers. A path encircling the lakes opens up spectacular vistas of the high Sperrins. |
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5- Gortin Village |
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Gortin is a small picturesque village nestling in the Owenkillew river valley. The village is an ideal starting point for exploring the surrounding hills and glens by bike or on foot, as well as offering welcoming hostelries to unwind after a days exercise. |
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6- Harry Avery O’Neill Castle |
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West of Newtownstewart can be found the Gaelic structure of Harry Avery O’Neill. An unusual structure, it is especially important in relation to the study of Irish medieval life as this castle was built in a part of Ulster which did not come under English rule until 1607. |
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7- Ulster American Folk Park |
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Ulster American folk Park tells the story of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th and early 20th Centuries and provides visitors with a “living history” experience on its outdoor site. Traditional thatched buildings, American log houses, and a full-scale replica emigrant ship help to bring a bygone era back to life. The Centre for Migration Studies is also on site. |
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8- Bessy Bell Hill & Wind Farm |
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It is believed that Bessy Bell was so named by Scottish settlers 400 years ago after a character in an old Scottish folk tale to act as a reminder of home. Today its wind swept slopes have a very different role to play, providing an ideal location for the supply of renewable energy. |
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9- Baronscourt Estate |
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Baronscourt, the home of the Duke of Abercorn’s family since the early 1600’s is among a handful of remaining old family estates of great historical and architectural interest. |
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10- Castlederg Visitor Centre ( Easter – October) |
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Learn of the legend of the lost piper or meet one of the districts oldest residents whose remains were unearthed at the old castle. Also to be discovered is Castlederg’s associations with Davy Crockett, Irish coffee and the famous hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander. |
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11- Davies Bawn Castlederg |
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This plantation fortification has been the focus of excavations, which have also revealed the remains of a fifteenth century O’Neill tower house. Today the ruins of the rectangular bawn dominate the landscape, with the remains of three-square flankers still visible. |
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12- The Derg Valley – St Patrick |
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According to tradition St Patrick travelled through the Derg Valley on returning from a period of Lenten Penitential Service at Lough Derg – today the location of one of Irelands most prominent ecclesiastical centres. |
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13- Bolaght Mountain |
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The Northern slopes of Bolaght Mountain provide an excellent viewpoint from which to survey the rich diversity of the Derg Valley, the Sperrins uplands and the hills of Donegal. Interpretation on the local landscape is available on site. |
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14- Sloughan Glen |
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This pleasant woodland walk along the Blackwater River takes the visitor steadily upwards to be greeted by the roar of its waterfall thundering over a rocky edge. |
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15- Pigeon Top Picnic Site |
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This site overlooking Omagh, offers spectacular panoramic views of the region. Close by in the town land of Cavanacaw a seam of gold is being mined. |
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