Aghadowey: Forests, Churches and Crafts

This gives the area a profile that ranges from landscape and history to craft and sporting interests.

Four small forest areas

Aghadowey Forest is a group of four small forest areas north of Garvagh: Scotch Cah, Irish Cah and two areas called Ballycaghan. The name Ballycaghan appears twice because it refers to two of the four areas. If you include woodland landscapes alongside churches, crafts and sport as travel themes, this group offers a distinct, clearly named focus.

Churches with different historical associations

Several historical periods come together at St Guaire’s Parish Church. The present church building dates from 1797; the older of its two bells bears the date 1695, making it 102 years older than the building. According to tradition, St Guaire founded a monastery at the site in the 7th century. The building date, bell date and monastery tradition therefore represent different historical associations: a church building, an older bell and an early tradition.

A different historical facet is offered by Aghadowey Presbyterian Church, where a blue commemorative plaque for Reverend James McGregor was installed in 2014. Unlike the building and monastery traditions associated with St Guaire’s Parish Church, this plaque commemorates a named individual. This allows you to distinguish between architectural and local history on the one hand and a specific memorial on the other.

Pottery on the Causeway Craft Trail

The Causeway Craft Trail includes a visit to potter Adam Frew’s studio and invites visitors to watch artists and craftspeople at work. Frew’s studio is set in the rural landscape of Aghadowey, beside his home, and was converted from a barn. He makes functional porcelain pieces and large one-off works; his pieces are wheel-thrown. The trail therefore focuses not only on finished objects but also on the process of making them. Those interested in the craft can consider both aspects as part of the same theme.

Golf and motor racing

Brown Trout Golf Club and Aghadowey Oval offer different sporting experiences. The golf club’s signature hole is the second, where players must hit 170 yards across the River Agivey. This identifies one specific, precisely described section of the course. The history of Aghadowey Oval dates back to the 1970s; in 2014, it was used for hot rod, stock car and banger racing. Its longer history and the specific year of use offer two different time perspectives on the racing venue. For context, the golf detail describes a single playing situation, while the information about the oval concerns its history and specific types of motor racing in a particular year.

Aghadowey Oval has an elevated spectator area overlooking the track, toilets and track lighting. Check before visiting whether these facilities are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Portballintrae, Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush

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