County Derry - Environment

1. Parks

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Binevenagh Forest

Mature conifer and broadleaved woodland. Binevenagh Lough is close to the headland. Panoramic views over lough Foyle and Donegal mountains. Rich in interesting artic and alpine plants.

Easiest approach to Benevenagh is up a lane off the road built by eccentric 18th century Bishop of Derry.

Shortly after entering the forest there is an obvious entrance just over a bridge, and room to park a car. Beyond the gate go uphill, bearing L always, to emerge on to a hard road and head for the summit of Binevenagh for one of Ulster's finest, widest vistas along the ridge - of Magilligan Strand, Lough Foyle and the hills of Inishowen.

Scientists come looking for unusual fossils in the hill streams further round for the hill. There is a small artificial lake up here. Pass it on the west side. Then the Ulster Way descends NW along the edge of the scarp. Once back in the woods, the path is clear.

Distance 3 miles (5km)
Minimum Time 2 hours

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2. Bird Watching

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Birdwatching - Lough Foyle

Lough Foyle is one of the two great magnets in the county. It is wide and shallow, bordered by mudflat, saltwater marsh, and polder - enhanced by shell and shingle ridge and mussel bed. Whooper swan, pale-bellied brent goose, wigeon and bar-tailed godwit winter in internationally significant numbers. Nationally important concentrations of Bewick's swan, Greenland white-fronted goose, curlew and redshank also overwinter here. Average winter wildfowl count exceeds 25,000 and waders reach 15,000. Winter stubble feeds flocks of finches, larks and buntings and so attracts raptors - buzzard, kestrel, merlin, peregrine, sparrowhawk and, rarely, gyrfalcon. Gales from the north-west blow in storm petrel, arctic and great skua. Inland somerset, Springwell and Cam forests plus Ness Wood and Roe Valley Country Park hold goldfinch, siskin and blackcap plus grasshopper, sedge, willow and wood warbler, crosshill and long-eared owl. South-east: Lough Neagh/Lough Beg - Ramsar-designated, the second magnet.

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3. Tourist Attractions

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The Tower Museum

The Tower Museum tells the story of Derry, chronicling the history of the city from its geological formation through to the present day. There are special features on Celtic Monasticism, the Plantation and the Siege of Derry.

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4. Sightseeing Tours

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Guided City Tours

Derry has an intricate and complicated heritage and the city's rich and varied past is a dramatic tale. A guided tour of the city is one of the best ways to obtain knowledge of the city's past and present. Following any such tour a visit to the Tower Museum will enlighten you further with an entertaining medley of modern hi-tech exhibitions recounting the "Story of Derry". Open : 9:00am - 5:15pm / Mon - Fri

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5. Nature Reserves

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Ballymaclary Nature Reserve

This reserve contains some dune slack communities uncommon in Northern Ireland. There is one particular moss (Rhytidium regosom) which flourishes in these dunes that has not been found anywhere else in Ireland. Low lying dune slacks periodically flooded in winter has a rich and varied range of summer flowering plants, including large numbers of the otherwise rare Marsh Helleborine. Management activities include grazing and scrub cutting. Around Ballymaclary the shoreline is currently eroding, but this is part of the overall cycling of sediments in the Magilligan/Tunns Bank system. Ballymaclary reserve is entirely within a danger zone on Mod property and therefore is not normally accessible by the general public. However from time to time guided walks through the area are led by the Warden from whom further details can be obtained. Access can only be arranged through the warden.

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6. Beaches

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Benone Beach and Tourist Complex

The visitor cannot visit the Limavady district without seeing Benone Strand with its golden sands stretching for miles on both sides. Close by, the Borough Council had developed the Benone Tourist Complex, at present comprising of a magnificent 9 hole par 3 golf course, which offers a challenge to both the beginner and the expert, four porous concrete tennis courts, a transit caravan park with laundry and showering facility and a community hall which caters for various indoor games and activities. Part of the complex has been designated as a Nature Reserve and here one can savour the natural beauty of the fauna and flora or just simply enjoy a stroll through the duneland walks. A natural history exhibition incorporating many fine local specimens has been set up in the main building and it is hoped that its excellent educational value will entice teachers to bring along their pupils for a visit. Complementing the Complex is a unique play park featuring modern play equipment and a water activities area, designed to suit all ages of children. A golf practice range, putting green and outdoor bowling green are also in operation. So all in all Benone promises to provide fun and leisure enjoyment for all the family.

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7. Open Farms

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8. Islands

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Church Island

Church Island, on Lough Beg has the ruin of an old church, complete with spire which was added by the Bishop of Bristol in the late 1600's. Around the church is an old cemetery, a holy well and the site of an old monastery. On a summer's day Church Island can be reached on foot across the Nature Reserve. Guided tour by arrangement.

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9. National Parks

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Sorry we have no National Park Listings for Derry

10. Wildlife Parks

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Sorry we have no Wildlife Park listings for Derry.

11. Rivers

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The Foyle System

The Foyle has four main tributaries; the Mourne, Derg, Strule and Finn, all fast flowing rocky rivers, and while the best time is mid-June to October there are sping fish to be caught from March to April.

The upper reaches of these rivers and also the owenkillew and Glenelly in particular, provide classic spate river fishing from mid-July, similar to many waters in the west of Ireland and Scottish highlands. The nearby Roe and Faughan are also fine spate rivers.

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12. Lakes

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Lough Beg

The Strand on the west shore of Lough Beg is a large expanse of wet grassland that is flooded each winter and which has never been agriculturally improved. The nature reserve, with Church Island as its focal point, comprises 300 acres of this habitat.
In spring and autumn, migrating birds on their way through may pause on their journey to rest and feed. Black-tailed godwit, green sand piper, wood sandpiper, greenshank and knot are seen every year.
In early summer the sky above the nature reserve is alive with the calls of breeding waders. It is possible to hear the drumming of snipe, the poping whistles of redshank and the peewit calls of lapwing, all of which depend on this soft, wet ground to rear their families.
Many rare plants including pennyroyal and the Irish Ladies' tresses orchid share this habitat with the birds.
Winter brings floods and with them hundreds of wildfowl to feed on the inundated grasslands.
Church Island , formerly known as Inish Toide, was the site of a pre-viking monastery. This island has an eighteenth century spire, a ruined medieval church and an old graveyard.

Limited parking along the roadside verges. It is usually dry enough in summer to walk to Church Island, though care must always be taken as drains and pools can be treacherous.

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12. Mountains

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Binevenagh Mountain

A forest road leads to a "flat" summit where visitors are usually surprised to find a man-made lake stocked with trout. There are car parks and picnic tables and the forest clad mountainside is a habitat for several rare species of fauna and flora.

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14. Water Falls

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Ness Wood Country Park

Ness Wood is a remnant of extensive natural oakwoods, now commemorated by over 1,000 place names in Ireland containing the word 'Derry'. This is an anglicized form of the irish for 'Oakwood'. The earliest evidence of local human settlements are the Bronze-Age remains at Slaughtmanus, Ballygroll and Mullaboy.

The steep-sided nature of Ness restricts the removal of timber and this, combined with vigorous natural regeneration, has ensured the continued survival and predominance of native species. These are mainly the oak, birch, rowan and holy, along the ash, hazel, alder, willow and elm.

It comprises of 50 hectares of mixed woodland known as Ness, Ervey and Tamnymore, in the sheltered Burntollet Valley. The main feature of the Park is a spectacular waterfall (the highest in the province), from which the Park derives its name, based on the Irish 'an Ias' or Ness meaning waterfall. After the last ice age, ten thousand years ago, the old Burntollet River course was choked by glacial boulder clay deposits. In eroding a new channel through the underlying metamorphic schist rocks, the river has created the magnificent waterfall, gorges, potholes and rapids which are features of Ness Wood today.

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15. Woods and Forests

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Binevenagh Forest

Mature conifer and broadleaved woodland. Binevenagh Lough is close to the headland. Panoramic views over lough Foyle and Donegal mountains. Rich in interesting artic and alpine plants.

Easiest approach to Benevenagh is up a lane off the road built by eccentric 18th century Bishop of Derry.

Shortly after entering the forest there is an obvious entrance just over a bridge, and room to park a car. Beyond the gate go uphill, bearing L always, to emerge on to a hard road and head for the summit of Binevenagh for one of Ulster's finest, widest vistas along the ridge - of Magilligan Strand, Lough Foyle and the hills of Inishowen.

Scientists come looking for unusual fossils in the hill streams further round for the hill. There is a small artificial lake up here. Pass it on the west side. Then the Ulster Way descends NW along the edge of the scarp. Once back in the woods, the path is clear.

Distance 3 miles (5km)
Minimum Time 2 hours

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16. Walks

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Binevenagh Forest

Mature conifer and broadleaved woodland. Binevenagh Lough is close to the headland. Panoramic views over lough Foyle and Donegal mountains. Rich in interesting artic and alpine plants.

Easiest approach to Benevenagh is up a lane off the road built by eccentric 18th century Bishop of Derry.

Shortly after entering the forest there is an obvious entrance just over a bridge, and room to park a car. Beyond the gate go uphill, bearing L always, to emerge on to a hard road and head for the summit of Binevenagh for one of Ulster's finest, widest vistas along the ridge - of Magilligan Strand, Lough Foyle and the hills of Inishowen.

Scientists come looking for unusual fossils in the hill streams further round for the hill. There is a small artificial lake up here. Pass it on the west side. Then the Ulster Way descends NW along the edge of the scarp. Once back in the woods, the path is clear.

Distance 3 miles (5km)
Minimum Time 2 hours

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17. Gardens

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Wilson Daffodil Garden

The worlds largest collection of daffodils with over 1800 varities, is to be found on the campus of the University of Ulster at Coleraine along the banks of the river Bann. A glorious sight in March and April. Rare collection of Irish-bred daffodils and narcissi. Garden is memorial to the daffodil breeder Guy Wilson. Wheelchair access from sports centre carpark. Full bloom mid-April.

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18. Scenic Drives

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Bishop's View

The scenic Bishop's Road across Binevenagh mountain is joined from the A2 north of Limavady by taking the B201 for a mile and then turning left. The Earl Bishop built the road to improve access to Limavady from his palace at Downhill. After 5 miles stop at the Bishop's View for the panorama over the plain. A lovely 7 mile golden strand sweeps round to Magilligan Point where where a martello tower, built in Napolonic days, commands the approach to Lough Foyle. Swirling air currents around the point can waft gliders as high as 20,000ft and the Ulster Gliding Club is based at Bellarena nearby.

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19. Visitors Centre

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Benone Beach and Tourist Complex

The visitor cannot visit the Limavady district without seeing Benone Strand with its golden sands stretching for miles on both sides. Close by, the Borough Council had developed the Benone Tourist Complex, at present comprising of a magnificent 9 hole par 3 golf course, which offers a challenge to both the beginner and the expert, four porous concrete tennis courts, a transit caravan park with laundry and showering facility and a community hall which caters for various indoor games and activities. Part of the complex has been designated as a Nature Reserve and here one can savour the natural beauty of the fauna and flora or just simply enjoy a stroll through the duneland walks. A natural history exhibition incorporating many fine local specimens has been set up in the main building and it is hoped that its excellent educational value will entice teachers to bring along their pupils for a visit. Complementing the Complex is a unique play park featuring modern play equipment and a water activities area, designed to suit all ages of children. A golf practice range, putting green and outdoor bowling green are also in operation. So all in all Benone promises to provide fun and leisure enjoyment for all the family.

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