Touring Tyrone

County Tyrone’s eastern edge sits on Lough Neagh and in the west stretches to Ireland’s county Donegal. Within this area are the Sperrin Mountains (shared with county Derry), the Murrins, a number of forest parks, wooded valleys, and many prehistoric remains, including over a thousand standing stones. The Murrins is an area of heath, blanket bog, and small lakes. Bronze age man lived in the area, and remains were found by turf cutters.

The Sperrin mountain range once supported large forests; now woods are mostly found in the river gorges. Moorland—blanket bog and heather—serves as pasture for sheep while farms are found lower down the mountains. At the Sperrin Heritage Centre exhibitions, computers, and AV presentations teach about the local flora and fauna and the history and culture of the area.

Near the Sperrin Heritage Centre is the Goles Stone Row, 11 stone age upright stones arranged in a straight line and orientated in a north-south direction. Details are available at the site. On the B48 west of the heritage centre is the Clogherny Wedge Tomb, a Scheduled Historic Monument, c BC 2000. The well-preserved wedge tomb is surrounded by a stone circle of 11 tall schist stones.

Lough Ash Wedge Tomb, near Lough Ash and the village of Dunamanagh in the north-west edge of the Sperrins, is a wedge-shaped tomb dating from about 4000-4500 years ago. There is one capstone, and a double portal leads to a single burial chamber. Found in the tomb were bones and artefacts.

On Lough Neagh is the Ardboe Cross, a national monument, thought to be Ulster’s first high cross. The 18-foot high cross has 22 panels depicting Old Testament scenes on one side and New Testament on the other. Its location at the entrance to a graveyard next to the ruins of a 17th century church marks the site of 6th century Ardboe Abbey, now gone. The Kinturk Cultural Centre tells the history of Lough Neagh’s fishing and eel industry and has displays of boats and equipment. You can take a boat cruise from here or other places on the lake.

The former linen centre, Cookstown, uses a restored railway station as a museum to show off its local heritage information. It also serves as a tourist information centre. The town’s main street is broad and long. Along it is Holy Trinity church built in 1860 and an 18th century courthouse.

Five miles from Cookstown is the Wellbrook Beetling Mill (National Trust) A tour includes information on the production of linen and the history of Ireland’s linen industry. Original machinery offers a ‘hands-on’ demonstration of beetling, the final stage in its production. There are walks through the glen in which the mill, one of a former group of six, is found.

South-east of the town is Drum Manor Forest Park, an 18th century demesne. Shrubs, woodlands, walks, ponds, an arboretum, and Japanese and butterfly gardens make for a varied outdoor attraction. Tullaghoge Fort, south of the town of Tullaghoge, was the site of the coronation of the O’Neill kings from the 12th to 17th centuries.

Near Pomeroy village, Pomeroy Forest offers nature trails while nearby Altmore Fisheries and Open Farm has a thatched cottage museum, two working waterwheels, rare breeds of domestic fowl, farm tours, and fly fishing/bait fishing lakes. Killycarnan House, in the south near Augher is a multi-gabled Victorian villa, dated1859. It’s built of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings.

South of Cookstown in the town of Coalisland, the Cornmill Heritage Centre gives information on the industrial history of Coalisland in exhibits and AV presentations. Further south, the county town of Dungannon is the home of the Tyrone Crystal factory where visitors can watch glass being blown and finished as fine crystal. This is an agricultural area where dairy farming and fruit growing are highlighted.

Three miles west is Castle Caulfield, the ruins of a mansion built in 1619. On the Moy road is Dungannon Park, 65 acres with a 12-acre lake, woodlands, walks, and an 18th century dam. West of Dungannon is Parkanaur Forest Park with white fallow deer, nature trails, oak and beech trees, a Victorian garden, and a wishing well. To the south on the county border at Caledon is the Dyan Corn Mill And Cottages, a complex of buildings that includes a mill, corn store, and two restored cottages. There are walks offered through the historic village, a conservation area.

Between Dungannon and Cookstown by an old graveyard is the 10th century sandstone Donaghmore High Cross. It once belonged to a nearby monastery. Donaghmore’s Heritage Centre has a collection of old photographs, school books, and documents of local interest.

Heading west on the A505 from Cookstown leads to Creggan, an area rich in prehistoric remains. In this area are seven bronze age stone circles and megalithic tombs known as the Beaghmore Stone Circles. They date back 6000 years. The Loughmacrory Wedge Tomb is a burial chamber with a three stone doorway and a flat roof. It is thought to be 4000 years old.

At Creggan is the An Creagan Visitor Centre with interpretive displays, the archaeological history of the area, bog trails, and walks. The Aghascrebagh Ogham Stone and Standing Stone are nearby. The Ogham stone is believed to have been a burial marker. Also near Creggan on the road from Carrickmore is the Athenree Portal Tomb with one of the largest capstones on an Ulster portal tomb.

The Cregganconroe Court Grave is a chambered cairn grave of Neolithic age. It has not been excavated.The Creggandevesky Court Grave dates from 4-6000 years ago. Bones, jewellery, and pottery were found in its three burial chambers. North of An Creagan is the Dun Ruadh Burial Cairn and Visitor Centre. The large circular burial cairn is surround by a ditch and bank. There are 13 burials in the 4000-year-old cairn.

Near Creggan natural features include the Black Bog ASSI on the north of the Owenreagh river and the Gortin Glen Forest park north of the town. A five-mile drive provides views over the Sperrin Mountains, and an exhibition gives information. Sitka deer are on view. The Oak Lough scenic drive leads around lakes.

The county town of Omagh is located mid-county near the Strule River. Trinity Presbyterian church is one of the town’s oldest churches, founded in 1752. St Columbas parish church was built in 1777 with a tower and spire added later and further additions in 1820. Stained glass windows add beauty to the interior. The Methodist church was constructed in 1857. On the High Street, the Courthouse is a listed building with the courtrooms keeping their original character. The building is reputed to have a resident friendly ghost.

The Ulster American Folk Park is an outdoor museum about emigration to America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Thatched buildings, log houses, workshops, and a replica of a ship add details. Old crafts are demonstrated by costumed helpers. There’s an AV presentation and visitor centre. In the area, the Glenroan Portal Tomb, a scheduled historic monument, dates from BC 3000-2500. It’s a single chambered tomb with a capstone across the entrance.

In the far south of the county off the A4 south of Omagh is the town of Cloghor. On top of a steep hill, the Knockmany Passage Grave is protected by a modern covering. The prehistoric stones are carved with zigzags, spirals, and circles. The spot provides views across the Clogher Valley. Saint Macartan’s Cathedral, on a hillside, was built in 1740-45 in the cruciform style with pedimented gables to the transepts and chancel. The listed building has a square belfry tower with a balustrade. Two stone crosses of the 9th and 10th centuries are in the graveyard and a 7th century cross is in the outer porch.

On the county border in the west, Strabane is situated astride the River Mourne. St Patrick’s church of Ireland parish church (Badoney) was built in 1784. The Silverbrook Mills is a restored corn, flax, and sawmill complex with an interpretive display. Gray's Printing Press is an 18th century printing press, owned by the National Trust. There is a collection of 19th century hand-printing machines on site and an AV display. A local Strabane museum is in the former stationer’s shop.

South of Strabane is the Wilson Ancestral Home, connected by family to the 28th president of the US. Along the A5 is Sion Mills, a model village established by a flax milling operation. The terrace cottages and black and white half timbered buildings survive.

Continuing south along the A5 leads to ruined Harry Avery's Castle at Newtownstewart. The castle was an O’Neill stronghold from c1500. It is fronted with D-shaped twin towers, which are still in evidence along with some other ruined parts. Newtownstewart Castle was built in the early 17th century. A bronze age double cist grave and capstone were unearthed at the site.

West of Newtownstewart near the county border is Castlederg with the ruins of Castle Derg and a 15th century tower house belonging to the O'Neills overlooking the river Derg. St Patrick’s church in Castlederg is a cruciform church built in 1846. It was de-consecrated in 1978 and converted to youth club then restored as a church 1996. The Castlederg Visitor Centre has displays and exhibits on the local area and the Derg valley.

The Magherakeel Monastic Site along the Lower Strabane Road, at Castlederg is one of Ireland's most important ecclesiastical centres. The monastic site dates from the 6th century with only a small section of wall remaining from the St Caireall’s church. St Patrick’s Well Killeter is a well that legend says St Patrick stopped at to drink after leaving Lough Derg. Fivemiletown, sitting on the border with county Fermanagh, offers a Coach and Carriage Museum. Here is a stagecoach, a 1790 carriage, costumes, and horse-drawn farm machinery.