Visit the Sperrins for a magical holiday experience

A region shaped by Celt, Norman, Plantation settler and many more

The Sperrin hills and plains of Counties Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry offer wonderful history and heritage, great literature, music and dance, and lots of fun!

A visit to the magical Sperrins Region, straddling Counties Tyrone and Derry/Londonderry, offers a wonderful opportunity to sample many diverse cultural and heritage backgrounds.

Add in some great archaeological treasures and visitor centres, fine scenery and loads of entertainment options, and you have a very unique holiday destination.

The Sperrin hills and plains have been populated by many different peoples down through the millennia, from the Stone Age right up to the present day. You will find exploring this region, its rich history and culture a fascinating experience.

Meet the friendly local people and hear their tales of folklore and history. Listen to the beautifully distinctive dialect, which is peppered with Irish, Scots and 17th century English words and phrases that reflect the varied heritage of the area.

When you visit and tour these parts, you will hear how the Celt, Norman, Viking, Plantation settler and Huguenot refugee have all contributed to the make-up of the Sperrins today.

You will marvel at remarkable archaeological remains stretching back 9,000 years. These include stone circles used in forgotten rituals that can be seen at Beaghmore, and megalithic burial monuments like the court tomb at Creggandevesky and the wedge tomb at Loughmacrory.

The Sperrin region is dotted with forts of varying sizes and names, dwellings that remind you of the Iron Age civilization.

For a more recent journey into local history, why not visit mediaeval castles such as Harry Avery's at Newtownstewart? Or seek out Plantation Bawns, like those at Bellaghy and Brackfield, near Claudy, that recall the Plantation of Ulster by Scottish and English people in the 17th century.

Seamus Heaney
When you're at the Bellaghy Bawn, don't forget to check out the special exhibition on the life works of Nobel Prize-winning poet, Seamus Heaney who was born in the area. Of course many other famous writers, including playwright Brian Friel and authors, Benedict Kiely and Flann O'Brien, also came from the Sperrins.

When it comes to matters cultural, this region is a vast reservoir of heritage and tradition. You will be enthralled by the many different musical styles and dance forms, with Irish and Scottish roots, and by the folklore and tales!

A visit to one of the fine visitor attractions in the area is well worthwhile. For instance, you will get a great insight into emigration from Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries at the award-winning Ulster American Folk Park outdoor museum in Omagh.

Mention of America prompts a suggestion to visit the ancestral origins of the 28th President of the U.S., Woodrow Wilson at Dergalt near Strabane.

You can learn all about local wildlife and the geological composition of the area at the Sperrin Heritage Centre set in the scenic Glenelly Valley.

All the time you're exploring the sights and wonders of this area, be sure to take in the beautiful scenery, avail of the varied facilities for different activities and sample the local hospitality. This is a magical place... let the adventure begin!

For county profiles, suggested drives and great holiday ideas, click here


FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on any of the items featured above, or on the county in general, please contact:

Sperrins Tourism Ltd
The Manor House
30 High Street
Moneymore
BT70 45 7PD
Tel: 0044 (0)28 8674 7700
Fax: 0044 (0) 28 8674 7754
Email: info@sperrinstourism.com
Web: www.SperrinsTourism.com

Flavour of Tyrone
Killymaddy Tourist Information Centre
190 Ballygawley Road
Dungannon
Co. Tyrone BT70 1TF
Tel: 0044 (0)28 8776 7259
Fax: 0044 (0)28 8776 7911

Email: info@flavouroftyrone.com
Web: www.flavouroftyrone.com