Davagh Forest Dark Skies Extended Loop
County Tyrone
Davagh Forest sits high on the Sperrin moors and shares its car park with the OM Observatory and Dark Sky Park, the only International Dark Sky Park on the island of Ireland. The extended forest loop strings together the Beaghmore Stone Circles access paths and the upper Davagh mountain bike network's walker cut through, rolling between spruce plantation, heather clearings and panoramic viewpoints. It is a firmly dog friendly route, on lead, and dusk walks are a rare treat under some of the darkest skies in Europe.
Dogs need to stay on a lead throughout because of shared mountain bike trails, scattered moorland sheep and the sensitive monument corridors at Beaghmore. Surfaces are compacted forest road, gravel bike track and short moorland grass, sturdy trainers or light boots fine in dry weather. Parking is free at the OM car park with toilets, an exhibition and a small cafe; the stone circles site a short drive north has its own free layby parking.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 9.0 km (5.6 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 3 hr
- Walk Type
- Forest, Moorland, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- None
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Toilets, exhibition and small cafe at the OM Observatory car park.
- Parking
- Free car park at the OM Observatory, around 80 spaces, fills on dark sky evenings.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What’s Nearby?
Walk2.8 mi awayDavagh Forest Dark Skies Loop
Northern Ireland
A Sperrins forest walk through one of Northern Ireland's dark sky discovery areas, with moorland views and good trails.
Walk12.7 mi awayGortin Glen Forest Park Circular
County Tyrone
A dog friendly Sperrin forest park with layered waymarked trails, red squirrels and viewpoints over the Owenkillew valley.
Walk21.9 mi awayRoe Valley Country Park Circular
County Londonderry
A dog friendly riverside country park with waterfalls, gorge paths and old linen mill ruins threaded along the Roe.
Walk27.8 mi awayBinevenagh Summit Walk, Limavady
County Londonderry
A dog friendly short mountain walk to a dramatic basalt escarpment above Magilligan with huge views over Lough Foyle and Donegal.
Walk31.1 mi awayDownhill Beach and Mussenden Temple Walk
County Londonderry
A dog friendly coastal clifftop walk to Mussenden Temple and down to Downhill Beach on the Derry coast.
Walk32.6 mi awayPort Path: Portstewart to Portrush
Northern Ireland
A Causeway Coast cliff walk from Portstewart Strand to Portrush with Atlantic views and dramatic headland scenery.
