Bird-Watching
The Sperrins are home to golden plovers, peregrines, ravens, grouse, and hen harriers. Sawel Mountain, the highest of the Sperrins, is a great place to take out your binoculars and field guide.
Cycling
The Sperrin countryside is ideal for cycling. Bicycles can be rented by the day or week from the An Creagán Visitors’ Centre. Bike rentals run roughly £10 a day, £35 a week.
Fishing
The Foyle System of rivers, from Derry to Omagh and Limavady to Dungiven, makes this a promising area for brown and sea trout (April–early July and September) and a variety of salmon (Mar–Sept). Some good coarse fishing is also available north and west of Omagh, on the Baronscourt Lakes and on the Strule and Fairy Water rivers. The necessary permits, equipment, and good advice are available from C. A. Anderson & Co., 64A Market St., Omagh, BT78 1EN (tel. 028/8224-2311); and Mourne Valley Tackle, 50 Main St., Newtownstewart, BT78 4AA (tel. 028/8166-1543).
Golf
Several 18-hole courses are located in County Tyrone, all within a modest drive from the heart of the Sperrins: Strabane Golf Club, 33 Ballycolman Rd., Strabane, BT82 9PH (tel. 028/7138-2271; www.strabanegolfclub.co.uk), with green fees of £13 to £20; Newtownstewart Golf Club, 38 Golf Course Rd., Newtownstewart, BT78 4HU (tel. 028/8166-1466; www.newtownstewartgolfclub.com), with green fees of £18 to £25, dropping to £12 to £18 in winter; Omagh Golf Club, 83a Dublin Rd., Omagh, BT78 1HQ (tel. 028/8224-3160; www.omaghgolf.co.uk), with greens fees of £20 to £25; and Killymoon Golf Club, 200 Killymoon Rd., Cookstown (tel. 028/8676-3762; www.killymoongolfclub.com), with green fees of £15 to £25.
Horseback Riding
For private lessons or country trail rides, contact the magnificently named Tullywhisker Riding School, 51 Brocklis Rd., Strabane, BT82 9LZ (tel. 028/8165-8015).
Walking
Whether you’re on foot, wheels, or horseback, be sure to traverse the Glenshane Pass between Mullaghmore (545m/1,788 ft.) and Carntogher (455m/1,492 ft.), and the Sawel Mountain Drive along the east face of the mountain. The vistas along these routes through the Sperrins will remind you of why you’ve gone out of your way to spend time in Tyrone.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
