Cookstown: Heritage, Forest Trails and Starry Skies

When planning a stay in Cookstown, it is worth first deciding what matters most to you: cultural history, nature, outdoor activities or a cultural programme. The options range from prehistoric stone circles and a historic family home to forest trails, a lakeshore and stargazing. If you are looking for a hotel in Cookstown, the distinctions below can help you refine your travel plans. Consider whether fixed route lengths, a seasonal experience or a particular cultural theme is your priority.

Stone Circles and Historic Houses

The Beaghmore Stone Circles consist of seven stone circles, ten stone rows and twelve cairns. The area indicates settlement from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. Here, different structures meet a long archaeological timespan: the numbers describe the features of the site, while the dates refer to the settlement of the area.

Killymoon Castle reflects a different historical period. The present castle was built in 1802, after the earlier castle was destroyed by fire in 1801. The sequence provides a brief chronology: the destruction of the former building was followed by the construction of the present castle.

Lissan House was home to the Staples family for almost 400 years. In spring 2012, the house opened its doors, featuring interactive exhibitions and original furnishings belonging to the family. These exhibits added a vivid perspective on the house to the insight into the family’s history. The grounds also have a challenging adventure playground for children.

Forest Trails and Lakeside Routes

The circular route through Cabin Wood takes about 30 minutes and is suitable for pushchairs. Red and fallow deer live in the surrounding parklands and may also venture into Cabin Wood. For planning purposes, the route combines an approximate duration with a nature theme, without making a wildlife sighting a certainty.

A 4.15-kilometre trail runs around Lough Fea. There is also a children’s play area and toilet facilities at Lough Fea. Route planning here is based on a distance, while Cabin Wood is described in terms of an approximate duration. These are different points of reference: choose according to whether you prefer to plan around a time estimate or a distance in kilometres.

Davagh Forest has hiking and mountain biking trails for different ability levels. The Davagh Forest Trails include a red trail that is 16 kilometres long. Sections may be temporarily diverted during forestry work, so check which trails are suitable for your plans before setting out. At 16 kilometres, the red trail is considerably longer than the 4.15-kilometre loop around Lough Fea.

Starry Skies and Cultural Programme

Davagh Forest is an International Dark Sky Park, and the OM Dark Sky Observatory is located in the forest. The Stars and Stones experience combines exploring the ancient Beaghmore Stone Circles with observing constellations through a state-of-the-art telescope. It also includes an interactive Solar Walk. Stars and Stones is available seasonally from October to March. If you are planning to take part, this seasonal availability is an important distinction from the cultural offerings described as available year-round.

The Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre offers concerts, comedy, performances for children, dance, drama, and community and visual arts throughout the year. The programme combines stage events with a range of art forms. If a particular event will shape your trip, check the date of the event you want when planning.

Discover more destinations: Pomeroy, Stewartstown.

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