Coleraine

Coleraine brings together the town’s history and topics that can be explored in different ways: at the Town Hall and Coleraine Museum, along Heritage Trails, and in the riverside landscape of Mountsandel Wood. When planning your trip, it helps to decide whether you would like to focus on historic buildings, the history of earlier emigration, or archaeological traces.

Town History and Coleraine Museum

At the heart of the town is Coleraine Town Hall, built in 1859. The building is made of warm, golden sandstone and designed in a restrained Italian style. It is also the accredited exhibition venue of Coleraine Museum. Exhibitions, events and talks inspired by the museum’s extensive collection are held there in rotation. The collection includes books and documents belonging to the renowned folklorist Sam Henry. The monthly Coleraine Specialty Market is also supported by the Town Hall. If you are planning to visit the market, check the specific date.

The Coleraine 400 Heritage Trail explores the historic town centre and Coleraine’s history as a fortified town during the Plantation under King James I in the early 17th century. The trail is available in Ulster Scots, Irish, Polish and French. You can explore the historical theme in one of the available language versions.

The Coleraine Heritage Trail is a leisurely walk that explores the town’s history through a number of historic buildings. The trail includes a map and suggested route starting at Coleraine Town Hall. An accompanying 3D map and audio feature can be accessed at the Coleraine History Hub in the Diamond Centre.

A Regional Story from 1718

The 1718 Heritage Trail tells the story of families from the wider Bann Valley who emigrated to New England in 1718. The places they came from included Coleraine, Aghadowey, Macosquin, Dunboe, Ballywillan, Garvagh, Kilrea and Ballymoney. Economic pressure and the search for religious freedom shaped this story of emigration. The trail therefore looks beyond individual buildings in the town centre and takes in several places across the region.

Mountsandel Wood and the River Bann

South of Coleraine, Mountsandel Wood stretches for approximately one mile along the eastern bank of the River Bann and covers around 21 hectares. Two linear paths can be combined to form a circular route. The woodland path from Mountsandel Fort leads to the banks of the River Bann and runs close to the weir at The Cutts. Swans, kingfishers and herons nest along the riverbank at Mountsandel. The paths and riverside landscape reveal different aspects of the area, without implying that the two types of route are the same.

Mountsandel Wood is also known for its early settlement history: Ireland’s earliest known human settlement is dated there to between 7600 and 7900 BC. The earthwork fortification at Mountsandel is believed to date from the Norman period. If you are interested in history, you can find prehistoric settlement and a later fortification here alongside the natural riverside setting.

Campus Paths and Getting There

The woodland trail on Ulster University’s Coleraine campus offers another way to experience the area’s landscape. It connects mature woodland with landscaped gardens and trees in the arboretum. The trail has paths ranging from 1.5 to 3 km in length. The campus is an eight-minute walk from University Rail Halt; this information may help you find your way between the campus and the railway station.

For travel via Coleraine Bus and Train Station, the parking figures are also specific: the station has 74 car parking spaces and 32 bicycle spaces. Together with the variety of historical and landscape themes, this gives you a range of ways to shape your stay in Coleraine.

Discover more destinations: Portstewart, Portrush, Portballintrae, Aghadowey.

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