County Tyrone

Northern Ireland
County Tyrone
Photo by Heather Stewart
Photo by Sarah Buchanan
Photo by Sari Murray
Photo by AM Forte
The Tyronecountryside is dominated by the heather clad slopes of the picturesque SperrinMountains, best described as wild, untouched and beautiful. Spanning 40 milesthe Sperrin Mountain Range is the largest in Ireland, attracting keen walkersand climbers throughout the year. Here walkers can expect rolling hills,peaceful valleys and Northern Irish wildlife. The Sperrins consist of 10summits above 500 metres with the highest being Sawel Mountain reaching 678metres.

From comfortable hotelsto self-catering cottages Tyrone has accommodationto suit all needs, wants and desires. The popular main towns of Omagh andCookstown make for a good base to stay in to allow you to explore all of thenatural beauty that Tyrone has to offer.

Main Street in Omagh,located in the heart of the town is perfect for a great night out with friends,with ample bars and clubs to choose from each offering visitors their ownunique form of Northern Irish hospitality, accompanied with delicious food and localcraft beers. There is live entertainment throughout the weekend making a nightout to Main Street a must while visiting Tyrone.

For those of you seekingan adventurous outdoor holiday in Northern Ireland then Tyroneis certainly an area to consider visiting. Todds Leap Activity Centre is wellworth a visit for an action packed weekend in Tyroneand is perfect for a large group of friends seeking an activities holiday. Thecentre is also popular with stag and hen parties looking for something a littledifferent. With a challenging off road course over 8 miles long, paintballing,climbing walls and zip lines there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Tyronehas two popular mountain bike centres for those of you seeking a mountainbiking holiday in Ireland. The national centre near Davagh Forest located near Cookstownis a beautiful and unspoilt rural landscape awash with rolling hills andsweeping forests. With a mixture of walking and biking trails, Davagh Forestwill certainly keep you occupied for many hours. The trails on offer at DavaghForest cater for all mountain biking abilities with the 16km red trail popularamong man seasoned mountain bikers.

The local trails at Blessingbourneon the Fermanaghborder offer mountain bike trails and a pump track which offers a suitablealternative for mountain bike fans. Full of technical trails catering for allages, a fun packed day awaits, with self-catering cottages nearby making thearea perfect for a biking weekend to remember with friends and family.

If it’s a family holidayin Tyrone that you are after, be sure to getyourself along to the world famous Ulster American Folk Park which is located justoutside Omagh. Take the family and immerse yourself in the history of Irishemigration with this museum helping to bring to life the stories of Irish whohad to emigrate in years gone by. Follow the emigrant trail as you journey fromthe thatched cottages of Ulster to the log cabins of the great Americanfrontier. With costume visitor guides offering insight into traditional Irishcrafts and recipes coupled with emigrant tales of sorrow, a visit to the UlsterAmerican Folk Park should be top of your list of things to do when visiting Tyrone.Be sure to sample some famous Irish soda bread cooked fresh on the griddle inthe various cottages located throughout the park.

BeaghmoreStone Circles add a tale of legend to a trip to Tyrone.Dating back to the Bronze Age, they were discovered during peat cutting in the1940s with the site is made up of seven stone circles. This site is worth avisit where you can get a real feel of the ancient history of Tyrone.It is raw and natural, unspoilt by commercialism, offering a truly uniqueexperience. Bring a picnic and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that this areaoozes.

Nature enthusiasts take note ofPeatlands Park, established to promote peatland awareness it is located closeto the southern shores of Lough Neagh and is the first of its type in theBritish Isles. Amongst the various attractions in the park is an outdoorturbary site where visitors can observe traditional Irish turf cuttingtechniques. While here, be sure to venture of and explore the surrounding areaof Lough Neagh, the largest lake on the island of Ireland and indeed theBritish Isles. Enjoy the magnificent scenery and secluded bays that have madethis area a popular spot for those seeking a more understated and tranquilbreak to Northern Ireland.