Walked by Helen Fairbairn
NORTHERN IRELAND
4.2 miles/6.7km 2.5 hours Easy 44m (return)
Beaghmore Stone Circles are Northern Ireland’s most extensive and impressive prehistoric site. An immensely atmospheric spot set deep within the remote countryside of County Tyrone, the complex includes seven stone circles, 10 stone rows and a dozen burial cairns, some still with human remains.
The best way to visit the site is via the newly created Solar Walk, which starts and finishes in nearby Davagh Forest Park. The Solar Walk links the modern astronomic observatory with the ancient alignments at Beaghmore, which may have been created to celebrate the sun and moon almost 5,000 years ago.
The walk is just over four miles return and follows a mixture of gravel track, paved pathway and wooden boardwalk. The smooth surface makes it accessible to all-comers, while information panels highlight points of astronomic and historic interest along the way.
1 START
Davagh Forest is Northern Ireland’s only International Dark Sky Park, and home to the new OM Observatory.
The Solar Walk starts beside the Observatory’s visitor centre, offering a great opportunity to begin your day by enjoying the space exhibition inside and learning more about our solar system. The building also houses a modern telescope used for night-time observations of the sky. Time a visit for the new moon on 12 December, or the Winter Solstice on 22 December.
2 0.3 MILES
Follow the marked Solar Walk on to a paved pathway, and begin to head south-west through the forest park. Soon you pass a children’s play area on the right, though this might be best left for your return at the end of the route.
Follow the signed trail through mature pine trees for almost a kilometre to reach the forest edge.
3 0.8 MILES
After exiting the forest, the trail continues south-west ac
