YOUR GUIDE TO DERRY’S RURAL HINTERLAND ...€™S RURAL HINTERLAND Ten minutes from the City lies...

YOUR GUIDE TO DERRY’S RURAL HINTERLAND

VISITOR MAP

www.discoverfaughanvalley.com

LET’S GO RURAL!

WELCOME TO THE FAUGHAN VALLEY DERRY’S RURAL HINTERLAND

Ten minutes from the City lies the

stunning Faughan Valley with a wealth

of woodlands, river valleys and ancient

monuments to explore.

Derry~Londonderry is fast gathering a

reputation as a world-class destination

and a city that offers something for

everyone, from the bright lights of the

centre to the natural delights of its

rural hinterland.

Nestled in the Faughan Valley you will find

a choice of top hotels, a range of four

and five star self-catering cottages and

apartments, as well as B&B retreats that

offer an ideal base from which to explore

both urban and rural Derry.

The rich and diverse landscape contains

some of Ireland’s oldest forests and

preserved habitats such as the protected

Oak and Ness Woods – areas which

offer magical waterfalls, ponds and

wildflower meadows.

The region offers something for all ages

and tastes. From its range of natural

woodland habitats and prehistoric

monuments, bustling Plantation towns,

stately homes and gardens, to its offering

of adrenaline fuelled activities.

With first class accommodation, a plethora

of activities and new trails showcasing

an abundance of natural wonders and

ancient gems, the region is the North

West’s best kept secret.


In Derry~Londonderry, it just couldn’t be easier to mix and match

the cosmopolitan buzz of the city with fabulous days out in the

beautiful natural world on its doorstep.

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DERRY~ LONDONDERRY

DAY 1

Start your day the nature way! The picturesque Faughan Valley provides a beautiful backdrop for a memorable woodland family trek with City of Derry Equestrian Centre, located at the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains. A hearty lunch in the 4-star Belfray Country Inn, with its famous midday carvery served daily until 3.30pm, will set you up well for the afternoon. Perhaps then let the kids run carefree, with an abundance of walks in Claudy Country Park ensuring plenty of exercise for the adults too!

Tired out and need to relax after all that fresh country air? Spend the evening unwinding at the 4-star Best Western White Horse Hotel’s state-of-the-art leisure complex, with 20 metre swimming pool and children’s play pool, to keep the whole family happy.

DAY 2

Starfish, crabs and lots more… the River Watch Aquarium & Visitor Centre at Prehen is a fantastic way to start the day. Stay with the aquatic theme and go for a fun-filled family paddle down the River Foyle with Inish Adventures. Stop at the Foyle Marina for some refreshments before continuing your paddle to Culmore Point. Switch to pedal power in the afternoon and rent bikes with Claudy Cycles. Take time to enjoy the local cycle ways and test the family’s endless energy levels.

DAY 3

Get your engines started with an activity-packed morning at Campsie Karting and a choice between karting, paintballing or crazy golf – you might even want to try all three! The excitement is sure to leave you famished. Pick up a tasty picnic at the Best Western White Horse Hotel and spend a blissful afternoon at Northern Ireland’s highest waterfall and the visitor centre at Ness Woods.

3 DAY FAMILY BREAKFun times with the kids

Faughan Valley breaks – Take 3 Pick a wish list for your stay in Derry’s rural oasis

that will create memories to last a lifetime. Be inspired by our specially tailored

itineraries appealing to a wide range of tastes to provide you with the best possible

visitor experience. Be entertained and energised but above all, enjoy!

DAY 1

Kick off your visit in style and take to the skies for a unique flying experience with Cutting Edge Helicopters. Bring your feet back to the ground and enjoy a delicious lunch at The Green Cat Bakery in Eglinton, sampling their homemade chutneys.

Burn off any excess calories in the afternoon with a challenging hillwalking experience in the higher peaks of the Sperrin Mountains under the guidance of outdoor adventure experts, Far and Wild.

After working up a healthy appetite, look forward to dinner at the award-winning 68 Clooney restaurant at the Best Western White Horse Hotel.

DAY 2

Start your day at Oakfire Adventures where you will experience the highs and lows of Zorbing and enjoy this adrenaline – charged fun fest. Choose from Harness or Hydro Zorbing and take a high speed tumble down a purpose built hill. Push yourself to the edge of your limits as you get harnessed to the Giant Swing, three people at a time and experience the adrenaline equivalent to jumping head first off a cliff, but with a twist. Cocooned and raised slowly towards the sky by your feet you will be facing head first at a height of 60ft. The rip cord is pulled sending you flying towards the grounds.

Time to refuel with a barbecue lunch which can be provided on –site for groups.

Keep the energy levels up with a Grand Prix experience at Campsie Karting or head out for a wet and wild afternoon of Kayaking, Banana Boat Adventures or Canoeing with Inish Adventures.

TWO DAY ACTIVITY BREAKAdrenaline rush experience

DAY 1

Start your day with the self-guided Plantation Villages and Houses Trail which includes a trip through history to the unique Ashbrook House which is still lived in by the same family for over 400 years and relive history at Prehen House. Tours by appointment only. Ecological and archaeological interpretation is available from Landscape and Countryside Tours.

Spend the afternoon in the award-winning Beech Hill Country House Hotel for a spot of local cuisine in the Ardmore Restaurant using produce created from their walled garden and, sample some of the finest local produce. Finish off your evening with a tour of the Base One Europe Museum dedicated to the US Marines based there during WWII, and explore 6km of walking trails all within the hotel site.

DAY 2

Explore the great outdoors with a full day’s guided or self-guided cycle tour from Eglinton to Park Village with Cycle Sperrins. Tantalise your tastebuds with some local produce along the way, such as, 54 Main Street’s award-winning O’Kane’s pork sausages on sour dough. Swing by Park village and take a tour of Tamnagh Foods to sample their handcrafted Dart Mountain Cheese named after the local landmark mountain.

3 DAY RURAL RETREATEscape to the country

With an abundance of outdoor activities to

take advantage of in the Faughan Valley,

spend your third day experiencing something

you love or learning a new skill.

Choose from a day’s trout and pike fishing at

Oaks Fishery with its 15 acre spring-fed lake,

or perhaps you fancy a round of golf at the

par 69 18 hole Faughan Valley Golf Club.

Take a sail on the “Whiskey Mac” yacht with

Inish Adventures and your own personal

skipper to take charge or teach you how to

moor the yacht. Enjoy a picnic or barbeque

aboard whilst taking in the breathtaking views

of Ireland’s most beautiful coastlines

in Co Donegal.

DAY 3

Other great options include a half day’s trek

on horseback which will take you through

the idyllic rural countryside with City of Derry

Equestrian Centre.

And, who wouldn’t opt to round off the day

with some pampering at Beauty @The Best

Western White Horse Hotel? Treat yourself

to one of the hotel’s spa packages which

include a two course meal and a choice of

massage, facial, manicure and hot stone

treatments to soothe any tired or aching

muscles. Now that’s what we call having a

good time!

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City of Derry Airport

Muldonagh Hill

Slievekirk

Ashbrook House

Faughan Anglers

Prehen House

Riverwatch Visitor Centre and Aquarium

Claudy Cycle Hire

Oakfire Adventures

Tamnagh Foods

Campsie Karting

Faughan Valley Golf Club

Cutting Edge Helicopters

City of DerryEquestrian Centre

Beech Hill / Base One Europe

Crockdooish

Altahullion Hill

Loughermore

Sperrin Mountains

Mu� Glen

River Faughan

River Faughan

River Faughan

EglintonPlantationVillage

BallygrollPrehistoricComplex

Ness/Ervey Woods

Brackfield Bawn

Claudy Country Park

CumberOld Church

StraidarranChurch

Learmount Castle & Forest

TireighterWedge Tomb

EnaghLough

Carnanreagh

Claudy

Feeny

Greysteel

Ballykelly

Park

Killaloo

The Cross

Drumahoe

Eglinton

Derry~Londonderry

ADDITIONAL TRAIL & ROUTES AVAILABLE IN THE FAUGHAN VALLEYFaughan Valley Cycleway: www.discoverfaughanvalley.com

Faughan Valley Heritage Trail: www.faughanvalleywalking.com

Download our Rural Trails App from Google play store

Heritage Locations

Picnic Area

Parking Facilities

Providers

Tourist Information

Airport

Hill

Cycle Sperrins Route 1

Cycle Sperrins Alternative Route

Faughan Valley Area

*Far and Wild, *Inish Adventures, *Landscape and Country Tours

*Please note these providers are not locatedon a specific location on the map as they operate tours throughout the Faughan Valley.

ASHBROOK HOUSE

Ashbrook - a “must see” country house

estate. The Historic 16th century property

has been continuously lived in by the

same family for over 400 years. From the

Plantation to the Siege, from Georgian

Ireland to the WWII U.S. Marines in Derry

- Ashbrook has played a part in every

important event in Derry’s history.

T: 028 7134 9223 www.ashbrookestate.com

1

CLAUDY CYCLE HIRE

Cycle through the unspoilt Faughan

Valley from as little as £12 per a day.

With a number of routes to choose

from, the Faughan Valley Cycleway will

take you through stunning landscape,

parks, forests and historic villages. Bikes

are also available at Visit Derry Tourist

Information Centre.

T: 028 7133 8128 www.claudycycles.co.uk

5

BASE ONE EUROPE

Explore the close links established by

the US Navy during the Second World

War with a visit to the Beech Hill Country

House Hotel where Base One Europe was

located. A museum room and woodland

trail have been created to tell the story of

the Bluejackets, Seabees and Marines.

T: 028 7134 9279 www.base1europe.com

2

CUTTING EDGE HELICOPTERS

Swap four wheels and take to the skies

for a bird’s eye view. Fly high with the

experienced pilots at Cutting Edge

Helicopters, allowing you to sit back

and enjoy every second of your unique

experience. Rural sightseeing has just

soared to a whole new level!

T: 028 7181 2555

CAMPSIE KARTING

Gear up for a great day out in Northern

Ireland’s only 4* indoor Karting, Paintball

and crazy golf centre. Campsie Karting

is open seven days a week from 11am to

9pm, ensuring hours of fun for all ages

whether you want to be a racing champ or

an all-action hero!

T: 028 7181 4500 www.campsiekartingcentre.co.uk

3CITY OF DERRY EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

Experience the joy you can get from horse

riding at City of Derry Equestrian Centre

located in the foothills of the scenic

Sperrin Mountains. Lessons, leisure hacks

and group bookings are available for all

ages and abilities. All you have to do is get

in the saddle!

T: 078 5020 8656 / 078 0331 2874 www.derryequestriancentre.co.uk

4

CLAUDY CYCLE HIRE

Cycle through the unspoilt Faughan

Valley from as little as £12 per a day.

With a number of routes to choose

from, the Faughan Valley Cycleway will

take you through stunning landscape,

parks, forests and historic villages. Bikes

are also available at Visit Derry Tourist

Information Centre.

T: 028 7133 8128 www.claudycycles.co.uk

5

FAUGHAN VALLEY GOLF CLUB

Tee-off with a great round of golf on a

Par 69 course, built on the gently rolling

banks of the River Faughan. Visitors are

always most welcome, with the emphasis

on friendliness rather than formality at

Faughan Valley Golf Club, which also

boasts some of the best views for

miles around!

T: 028 718 60707 www.faughanvalleygolfclub.co.uk

9

CUTTING EDGE HELICOPTERS

Swap four wheels and take to the skies

for a bird’s eye view. Fly high with the

experienced pilots at Cutting Edge

Helicopters, allowing you to sit back

and enjoy every second of your unique

experience. Rural sightseeing has just

soared to a whole new level!

T: 028 7181 2555 www.cuttingedgehelicopters.com

6

FAUGHAN ANGLING

Anglers are spoiled for choice with the

River Faughan providing some of the best

fishing Ireland has to offer. Fish for salmon

and sea trout from April 1 to October 20

with day tickets available. Oaks Fishery

also offers a tranquil location for fly, lure

and bait fishing on its spring-fed lake. The

home of ‘Big Mary’, a record breaking pike,

The Oaks is strictly ‘catch and release’.

T: 028 7126 7781 T: 02871 860916

www.faughan.org www.theoaksfishery.co.uk

10

CAMPSIE KARTING

Gear up for a great day out in Northern

Ireland’s only 4* indoor Karting, Paintball

and crazy golf centre. Campsie Karting

is open seven days a week from 11am to

9pm, ensuring hours of fun for all ages

whether you want to be a racing champ or

an all-action hero!

T: 028 7181 4500 www.campsiekartingcentre.co.uk

3

DART MOUNTAIN CHEESE (TAMNAGH FOODS)

Truly savour your time in the Faughan

Valley by sampling the unique flavours of

locally produced produce. Award-winning

artisan food company, Tamnagh Foods,

make cheeses that reflect the heritage of

the surrounding area. Tours and tastings

available by arrangement.

T: 0777 958 0542 www.dartmountaincheese.com

7

CITY OF DERRY EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

Experience the joy you can get from horse

riding at City of Derry Equestrian Centre

located in the foothills of the scenic

Sperrin Mountains. Lessons, leisure hacks

and group bookings are available for all

ages and abilities. All you have to do is get

in the saddle!

T: 078 5020 8656 / 078 0331 2874 www.derryequestriancentre.co.uk

FAR AND WILD

Get off the beaten track and soak up the

flavour of the countryside and local people

along hidden trails and old dry stone

walls with award winning Far and Wild

eco-tours and adventure activities. From

our bespoke Cycle Sperrins bike hire and

tours to kayak journeys, mountain-biking,

forest schools and stunning hikes in simply

brilliant locations, you’ll be left feeling

invigorated and wanting more. Itineraries

can be built to suit your family or group.

T: 0777 591 1198 www.farandwild.co.uk

8

High octane, eco-friendly outdoor

activities await thrill-seekers in the

Faughan Valley. Oakfire Adventures

maximises its unique terrain for

paintballing, zorbing and giant swing

for groups of eight or more. There’s

plenty to keep even the most unbridled

daredevil entertained!

T: 0800 121 6242 www.oakfireadventures.com









miles around!


9

PREHEN HOUSE

Prehen House is believed to have inspired

Emily Bronte’s classic novel, ‘Wuthering

Heights’. Relive its fascinating history,

romance and tragedy, and lots more.

Open for tours/events, Prehen House is

also featured on the Plantation Trail.

T: 028 7134 2829 www.prehenhouse.com

FAUGHAN ANGLING










T: 028 7126 7781 T: 02871 860916


10DART MOUNTAIN CHEESE (TAMNAGH FOODS)

Truly savour your time in the Faughan

Valley by sampling the unique flavours of

locally produced produce. Award-winning

artisan food company, Tamnagh Foods,

make cheeses that reflect the heritage of

the surrounding area. Tours and tastings

available by arrangement.

T: 0777 958 0542 www.dartmountaincheese.com

7

INISH ADVENTURES

Adrenaline junkies are well catered for

with sea kayaking, open boating, sailing,

and archery among outdoor adventure

pursuits that will keep you having fun

for hours, indeed days at a time. You’ll

be totally spoiled for choice as Inish

Adventures offer more than 20 land and

water-based activities.

T 00353 87 220 2577 / 0775 219 4414 www.inishadventures.com

11

FAR AND WILD

Get off the beaten track and soak up the

flavour of the countryside and local people

along hidden trails and old dry stone

walls with award winning Far and Wild

eco-tours and adventure activities. From

our bespoke Cycle Sperrins bike hire and

tours to kayak journeys, mountain-biking,

forest schools and stunning hikes in simply

brilliant locations, you’ll be left feeling

invigorated and wanting more. Itineraries

can be built to suit your family or group.

T: 0777 591 1198

LANDSCAPE & COUNTRYSIDE TOURS

The Faughan Valley boasts some of

Northern Ireland’s most impressive

countryside. Discover these diverse

landscapes and their histories in the

company of an experienced local ecologist

and walking guide Martin Bradley.

Martin’s walking trips also give visitors an

entertaining insight into rural traditions

and folklore

T: 0792 678 5706 E: [email protected]

OAKFIRE ADVENTURES

12

RIVERVIEW AQUARIUM AND VISITOR CENTRE

Learn about local river systems and

coastlines through videos, exhibitions

and aquarium tanks at the Loughs

Agency’s Riverwatch Aquarium and

Visitor Centre in Prehen. The tanks stock

freshwater and marine fish and, with

activity packs for the kids there’s plenty

to keep them entertained.

T: 028 7134 2100

www.loughs-agency.org

15

INISH ADVENTURES

Adrenaline junkies are well catered for

with sea kayaking, open boating, sailing,

and archery among outdoor adventure

pursuits that will keep you having fun

for hours, indeed days at a time. You’ll

be totally spoiled for choice as Inish

Adventures offer more than 20 land and

water-based activities.

T 00353 87 220 2577 / 0775 219 4414 www.inishadventures.com

11 LANDSCAPE & COUNTRYSIDE TOURS

The Faughan Valley boasts some of

Northern Ireland’s most impressive

countryside. Discover these diverse

landscapes and their histories in the

company of an experienced local ecologist

and walking guide Martin Bradley.

Martin’s walking trips also give visitors an

entertaining insight into rural traditions

and folklore

T: 0792 678 5706 E: [email protected]

OAKFIRE ADVENTURES

12

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

High octane, eco-friendly outdoor

activities await thrill-seekers in the

Faughan Valley. Oakfire Adventures

maximises its unique terrain for

paintballing, zorbing and giant swing

for groups of eight or more. There’s

plenty to keep even the most unbridled

daredevil entertained!

T: 0800 121 6242 www.oakfireadventures.com

13









miles around!


PREHEN HOUSE

Prehen House is believed to have inspired

Emily Bronte’s classic novel, ‘Wuthering

Heights’. Relive its fascinating history,

romance and tragedy, and lots more.

Open for tours/events, Prehen House is

also featured on the Plantation Trail.

T: 028 7134 2829 www.prehenhouse.com

14

FAUGHAN ANGLING










T: 028 7126 7781 T: 02871 860916



For further information on touring, accommodation or short breaks in Derry’s rural hinterland contact:

Visit Derry will be relocating early 2016 to a new address in Waterloo Place

44 Foyle Street, Derry, Co. Londonderry BT48 6AT

T: (028) 7126 7284 E: [email protected] www.visitderry.com

This information is available upon request in a number of formats including large print, Braille,

PDF, audio formats (CD, MP3, DAISY) and minority languages. For further information on alternative formats

please contact Tel 028 71 253253 text phone: 028 7137 6646 or e-mail [email protected]

YOUR GUIDE TO DERRY’S RURAL HINTERLAND ...€™S RURAL HINTERLAND Ten minutes from the City lies...

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Transcript of YOUR GUIDE TO DERRY’S RURAL HINTERLAND ...€™S RURAL HINTERLAND Ten minutes from the City lies...