LOVE NORTHERN IRELAND!

County Derry, officially known as Londonderry, is perched on the north-west coast of Northern Ireland with the maiden city, Derry, at the mouth of the River Foyle. Covering an area of some 798 square miles, the Derry landscape is varied and breathtaking. To the south are the forested glens of the Sperrin Mountains while to the north and east is the spectacular coastline of Benone Strand, Ireland's longest beach, (above left). The river Foyle offers many opportunities for water sports and is renowned for salmon fishing. It is over this river that you will find europes only double decker bridge.

Derry/Londonderry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland. They are approximately 1.5km in circumference and form a walkway around the inner city providing a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its renaissance style street plan to this day. The walled city cultural trail uses the walk around the City Walls as a means of uncovering the wealth of history and culture as well as music, exhibitions and shows in and around the city. The picture top right shows some of the many murals depicting the history of this city of two starkly portrayed cultures.

Mussenden Temple

The temple was built in the 1770's and is situated on a cliff top with magnificent views over Downhill and Benone. It was built by Bishop Earl Fredrick Hervey and the gaunt remains of his resplendent mansion also remain. The temple, ruins and the attractive palace grounds are now in control of the National Trust and are open daily. This is a great place if you like to walk, want to see one of the most stunning locations for a "temple" and admire the coastlines of Derry and Antrim. Most of the buildings are in ruins, but the site is well cared for by the National Trust.

Dungiven Castle (bottom left) was the ancestral home of the O'Cahan clan who ruled the area between the 12th and 17th Century. Finvola, Gem of the Roe, daughter of Chieftain Dermot O'Cahan, married Angus McDonald and moved to Scotland. Folklore has it that when she died a Banshee wailed until her body was brought home to Dungiven and even to this day the Banshee can be heard in the depths of a winter night... The River Roe flows from the hills above Dungiven down through the Roe Valley through the Town of Limavady and 1 mile west of Limavady is one of the best surviving prehistoric earthworks in the province, The Rough Fort, pictured bottom right.