One particularly impressive area is County Tyrone which has an abundance of unique places for you to scope out from forests and mountains to beautiful gardens and castles.
Here are the 9 places of natural beauty in Tyrone you should visit at least once. Check out the relevant websites for seasonal opening times.
5. Moor Lough Napple Road, Strabane
Moor Lough is a peaceful route in Strabane’s countryside, one of the best ways to observe the Sperrin Mountains and another ideal walking location and fishing spot. Moorlough has an accumulation of beaches and a segregated paddling pool available for you to enjoy. If you are a fan of the traditional Irish love song The Moor Lough Shore recorded by artists such as The Boys of The Lough, Dolores Keane, The Corrs and Sinéad O’Connor this is the place to visit, supposedly it is written by local Strabane poet Devine in 1886. Find our more information here: www.discovertyroneandsperrins.com/attraction/moor-lough/ Photo: Image from discovertyroneandsperrins.com
6. Parkanaur Forest Park, Parkanaur Road, Dungannon
Previously a a part of the Burgess Estate, Parkanour Forest Park is a unique woodland combining mixed conifer, broadleaved trees and a wildlife pond. If you are quiet, you will get to wiitness the Parkanour deer herd which are managed by the Forestry service. The males will regrow their antlers in Autumn in time for the rut. Find our more information at outmoreni.com/place/parkanaur-forest-park/ Photo: Image from visitmidulster.com
7. Drum Manor Forest Park, Drum Road, Cookstown
Drum Manor Forest Park can be found situated close to Cookstown and is attached to the eighteenth century demnesne with a shrub, butterfly and Japanese garden, ponds and mixed woodlands for you to walk around. The house was originally built in 1829 but was then remodelled in 1869 by the designs of William Hastings taking the name of Drum Manor by the 1970s the house was semi-derilict and demolished to create the beautiful Japanese garden you see today. However, you can still see around the beautiful outskirts of the building and it is the perfect place to go for a walk and stop for photos. Find our more information here: https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/drum-manor-forest-park-p675751 Photo: Image from discovernorthernireland.com
8. Castlederg Castle Castlesessagh, Strabane
These castle ruins maintain a strategic position on the River Derg, commanding a fording point between the O’Neill and O’Donnell Lordships since Medieval times. The rivalry between Henry Óg O'Neill and the O’Donnell’s was on-going until the 16th century when they decided to join forces defending Ulster against Elizabethan armies, the break up of the Gaelic order in Ulster meant a scheme of plantation. Today, on the Northern Bank of the derg the remainders of two castles can be seen, taking a rectangular shape with square flankers on each corner. Find our more information here: discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/castlederg-castle-p677361 Photo: Image from discovernorthernireland.com