Local Walks

Benone Strand

Benone Strand is one of Ireland’s longest beaches with beautiful golden sand and majestic cliffs offering panoramic views to Inishowen, the North Coast and Scotland.  It is a Blue Flag award winning beach and has one of the largest dune systems in the UK and Ireland, the beach and dune land are recognised as having European importance and are part of a Special Area of Conservation.

Banagher Glen

Banagher Glen is a secluded, steep wooden glen leading to Altnaheglish Reservoir and Banagher Dam.  It has one of the oldest ancient oak woodlands in Ireland and Banagher Glen is a Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation and offers a 14 km circular walk through extensive forest.

 Benbradagh Mountain

Benbradagh Mountain to the south falls within the Sperrin’s Area of Outstanding Natural beauty with fantastic views at the top which includes Donegal and the Antrim Mountains.  A road runs through the mountain which was built by the American Army and at the top was a key US Army Signals base.

Dungiven Castle

Dungiven Castle was the ancestral home of the O'Cahan clan who ruled the area between the 12th and 17th Century. Finvola, Gem of the Roe, daughter of Chieftain Dermot O'Cahan, married Angus McDonald and moved to Scotland. The folklore says that when she died a Banshee wailed until her body was brought home to Dungiven and laid to rest. Some say even to this day the Banshee can be heard crying for Finvola in the depths of a winter night...

Dungiven Castle is surrounded by wild woodland and Ponds which attracts all sorts of wildlife.

Dungiven Priory and O’Cahan’s Tomb

The ancient Augustian Priory was founded by the O'Cahan Clan in 1100AD and occupies a pictorial site 200ft above the river Roe. The chancel contains the ornate 15th century tomb of Cooey-na-gall, a local O'Cahan Chieftan, who died in 1385. Danny Boy, one of the most recorded melodies ever composed was originally called O'Cahan’s Lament. The original version begins with an O'Cahan bard Rory Dall O'Cahan lamenting the passing of his great Chief, Cooey na Gall O'Cahan whose death brought to an end the line of O'Cahan chiefs of Ulster.

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