Dungiven to Springwell Forest (S) - Dungiven to Castlerock Trail

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This hike is the first part of a two-day trek from Dungiven to Castlerock. Surrounded by forest, climb hills and mountains in search of breathtaking views.

Note: The start of this route has been reworked after claims by Benbradagh landowners to delete routes going through their private land. The route now follows the B64 west of Benbradagh instead of following the North Sperrin Way through it. Take care with traffic.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Dungiven to Castlerock Trail

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.49 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 9h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,959 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,473 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,273 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 236 ft
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Description of the walk

Start: Dungiven junction between Chapel Road (A6) and Curragh Road. (Nearest postcode BT47 4RT)

(S) Follow Chapel Road (B64) to the north and follow it into a left bend where it becomes Main Street.

(1) At the junction with Garvagh Road, turn right and follow the road (which becomes Legavallon Road) out of Dungiven.

(2) Cross Derryware Bridge and follow Legavallon Road (B64) northeast for around 7 km. Take care with traffic during this section.

(3) 200 metres after a junction with Drumzurn Road (on your left), Legavallon Road turns slightly to the right (to the east). Stop following Legavallon Road and turn left onto a track that descends past Legavannon Pot to reach Kilhoyle Road after 2.2 Km or so.

(4) Turn left onto Kilhoyle Road and follow it West for 2.9 Km to a junction.

(5) Turn right (North-West) onto the Gortnarney Road for a short distance.

(6) Then turn right again (North-East), following the fence line steeply to the summit of Donald’s Hill, an effort of around 1.2 Km.

(7) At 399m Donald’s Hill provides a panoramic view of the Roe Valley from Lough Foyle to Dungiven. Wind turbines can be seen to the west at Altahullion Wind Farm. It is important to carefully follow the waymarker posts over the mountain’s open terrain on this section.

Follow a raised track North-East over blanket bog and heather. After 1.5 KM you reach Temain Road.

(8) Cross a stile, turn right (East) and follow the road for a short distance.

(9) Turn left and walk North-East across open mountain terrain for 1 Km or so to Rigged Hill and the ten wind turbines overlooking the Roe Valley.

(10) Pick up a forest road North and descend through Cam Forest for around 5 Km.

(11) Cross a stile to leave the forest and follow a track left (West) for 1.7 Km as far as a junction.

(12) Turn right (North) and walk along this surfaced track for a few 350 m to the B66.

(13)Turn right and continue carefully East for a short distance.

(14) Turn left (North) onto a track into the northern section of Cam Forest and climb steeply through the trees to a clearing with good views. Take a while to look back towards the headlands of Donald’s Hill and Benbradagh, with some of the higher Sperrins peaks beyond.

Continue North into the trees, descending steadily to the A37 Coleraine-Limavady road, around 2.5 Km from the B66. On the way ignore path left and right. You will be in front of a small Car Park on the other side of the road. (Nearby postcode BT51 4JP). (E)

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 325 ft - Curragh Road - Dungiven
  2. 1 : mi 0.32 - alt. 299 ft - Junction with Garvagh Road - Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 0.89 - alt. 236 ft - Derryware Bridge
  4. 3 : mi 5.47 - alt. 604 ft - Track
  5. 4 : mi 6.83 - alt. 722 ft - Kilhoyle Road
  6. 5 : mi 8.62 - alt. 509 ft - Gortnarney Road
  7. 6 : mi 8.77 - alt. 515 ft - Junction - Fence line
  8. 7 : mi 9.48 - alt. 1,273 ft - Donald’s Hill
  9. 8 : mi 10.42 - alt. 1,079 ft - Temain Road
  10. 9 : mi 10.57 - alt. 1,132 ft - Rigged Hill - Cam Forest
  11. 10 : mi 11.18 - alt. 1,122 ft - Forest road
  12. 11 : mi 14.25 - alt. 623 ft - Track
  13. 12 : mi 15.29 - alt. 702 ft - Junction - Surfaced track
  14. 13 : mi 15.51 - alt. 738 ft - B66
  15. 14 : mi 15.61 - alt. 758 ft - Track - Cam Forest (northern section)
  16. E : mi 17.49 - alt. 787 ft - A37 Coleraine-Limavady road

Notes

Start: Dungiven is situated along the A6 between Maghera and Londonderry. Car parking is available in Dungiven

End: Small car park along A37 Coleraine-Limavady road (Nearby postcode BT51 4JP). Coordinates Lng : -6.81604 - Lat : 55.07777

Terrain: Rural roads

Public Transport: Translink

Facilities: Refreshments are available at the start of the route in Dungiven. However this is a long route with no refreshment stops along the way – walkers should carry provisions accordingly.
There are a few B&Bs and Guesthouses in Dungiven at the start. There is also no accommodation along this section of the route so walkers should arrange collection for accommodation off-route in Limavady or Coleraine area.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Other walks in the area

Walking Dungiven to Castlerock Trail

Tourist office
↔36.58 mi ↗+3,222 ft ↘-3,478 ft ◔2 days ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Limavady
This two-days trek from Dungiven to Castlerock brings you in some areas surrounded by forest, climb hills and mountains in search of breathtaking views.

Walking Banagher Glen

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Banagher Glen
↔3.83 mi ↗+443 ft ↘-443 ft ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Limavady
Short walk through the steep wooded Banagher Glen, one of the oldest ancient oak woodlands in Ireland to Altnaheglish Reservoir and Banagher Dam. Surfaced road from car park to dam with some very steep sections. Banagher Nature Reserve is one of 50 similar reserves in Northern Ireland

Walking Boyd's Riverside

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↔1.83 mi ↗+16 ft ↘-16 ft ◔0h 50 ▲Easy
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A short riverside walk along the middle stetches of the Roe which also passes through farmland and quiet country roads.

Walking Banagher Forest

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↔7.35 mi ↗+994 ft ↘-971 ft ◔4h 15 ▲Easy
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During this walk, let's discover stunning views between forest and water. Let's breath the refreshing air in Banagher Forest around Streeve Mountain.

Walking Glenshane Forest - Dungiven

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↔7.69 mi ↗+1,073 ft ↘-1,076 ft ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Limavady
A challeging route through Glenshane Forest climbing to a mass rock and then looping back across open mountain past the source of the River Roe, Glenshane and Corrick Mountain. Follows part of the Ulster Way. No dogs as sheep graze open mountain.

Walking Hudy's Way - Moneyneany

Tourist office
↔5.90 mi ↗+472 ft ↘-502 ft ◔3h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Magherafelt
Hudys Way is a public right of way that has been developed by the Sperrins Gateway Landscape Parntership. Enoy open countryside and quiet country lanes on this walk.

Walking Errigal Glen Trail - Garvagh

Tourist office
Errigal Glen Trail - Garvagh
↔2.26 mi ↗+184 ft ↘-174 ft ◔1h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Coleraine
This waymarked trail (follow green waymarkers) starts and finishes at the Errigal Bridge entrance to Errigal Glen on Temple Road. The route follows the fast flowing Agivey River through the steep-sided and well-wooded Glen. The Errigal Glen Trail follows woodland trail, country roads, forest road and open hillside. On this walk, points of interest include Errigal Old Church and Souterrain and Gortnamoyagh Inauguration Stone.

Walking Drumnaph Ruachan Trail

Tourist office
Drumnaph Ruachan Trail
↔0.71 mi ↗+36 ft ↘-36 ft ◔0h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Magherafelt
Drumnaph Community Nature Reserve consists of a mix of habitats and three walking trails to choose from. The Woodland Trust owns approximately 80 acres of Drumnaph Wood, which is located to the eastern side of the reserve. This section contains both ancient woodland and newly planted woodland as well as some wetland habitats. In early 2012 an opportunity arose to secure the purchase of an additional 130 acres in the western section of the reserve, which includes a patchwork of ecological habitats including ancient woodland, wildflower meadows, ancient grazing habitats and wetlands.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.