Sometimes all you need is the air that you breathe and a bit of room. With over forty miles of wide-open spaces and unspoilt natural beauty, the Sperrins are the ideal place for slowing down, getting away from it all and sucking in the fresh air.
Weekend wanders are what this place is made for. Northern Ireland's largest and least explored mountain range offers the perfect escape for walkers. So whether you’re after an army-like arm swinging mountain trek or a more gentle stroll, take one or all of the following walks in the Sperrins. All tastes are catered for in this neck of the woods - there’s plenty of them too by the way.
Go for glorious Glenelly Valley
The windswept, heather-clad slopes stretch from Castlederg in the west to Maghera in the east and from Limavady to Dungannon from north to south. The beautiful Glenelly Valley between Plumbridge and Draperstown is popular with hillwalkers and provides access to the highest peaks in the Sperrins range, including the king of them all, Sawel (678m).
Gorgeous Gortin Lakes and challenging Craignamaddy
There are a myriad of other great treks to tackle too ranging from the short half-mile jaunt around Gortin Lakes to the two-and-a-half mile Lough Fea. If you’re not too pressed for time take on the four-mile stretch of Ness, Ervey and Burntollet or the slightly longer Carntogher Way and you can always come back to march along the epic twelve-mile Craignamaddy Circuit.
Walk the stone circle circuit
Rich in beauty, the Sperrins is also wealthy in archaeological heritage and folklore. With narrow glens, deep valleys, sandy eskers and mysterious lakes, this area has always been a place of wonder and from time to time it throws up some clues to its mystical past.
The seven stone circles, ten stone rows and a dozen round cairns with human remains at the Beaghmore Stone Circles were discovered in the 1940s by some locals digging for peat and along these trails you’ll find little pockets of ancient remains like the Clogherny Wedge Tomb and the Glenroan Portal Tomb.
You’ll find out more about them at An Creagán, a visitor centre that doubles as a welcome retreat with a range of essential services onsite where walkers can unwind, recharge, relax and even stay the night.
Take a walk back into the local heritage
For something a bit more luxurious, make sure your trail passes the Ardtara Country House near the old linen-making village of Upperlands in County Londonderry. On your way there, you’ll come across a number of dams essential for storing water to wash, bleach, dye and starch the linen that built the towns and great houses of this area.
If your trial takes you to the west be sure to stop off at the fascinating Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh and walk through the tale of Irish emigration to the New World.
Just make sure you don’t leave us forever. When you come back, the Sperrins will still be here and you’ll need more than one visit to see it all.
Mysterious complex of 7 Bronze Age stone circles and alignments. It's where megalithic tombs and the mysterious Beaghmore stone circles stand as silent witnesses to the settlements that thrived here 6,000 years ago.
This well preserved and unusual monument is in an extensive area of blanket peat near the Butterlope Glen 4 miles north of Plumbridge. The wedge tomb is surrounded by an elegant stone circle of eleven tall schist stones.
Set in breath-taking surroundings you can recharge your batteries and enjoy one of the many walks and cycle trails on the grounds and take in the sights and sounds as you pedal or walk through the open landscape and forest trails. Or perhaps just enjoy the beauty, peace and quiet and relax in the picnic area by the community garden and pond.
If an award-winning gourmet break is on the top of your list, look no further than the elegant Ardtara Country House just outside the village of Upperlands, near Maghera. Luxurious from inception, the Victorian property was built by one of Northern Ireland’s wealthy linen barons and is in a picturesque setting amid woodlands and lakes.
Journey back in time at the Ulster American Folk Park, from the Old World of Ulster to the New World of America. Learn what life was like in rural Ulster, step on board the full-scale emigrant ship and enjoy craft demonstrations performed by guides in traditional costumes.
This short off-road walk leads around Gortin Lakes with superb views of the Sperrins landscape. The path has recently been upgraded - the firm surface is of a good and consistent standard throughout the walk.
Set in the wild scenic mountains of the Sperrins, Lough Fea is an idyllic lake which is ideal for walkers. Facilities include 4.1km circular walkway, picnic areas, children’s play park, toilet facilities and a unique landscaped garden.
