Killeter to Gortin - Bollaght Mountain Trail

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Starting in the village of Killeter, this section of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT) follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, before picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage. You then ascend Bessy Bell, where panoramic views of the western Sperrins can be enjoyed. The route continues to reach Gortin Forest Park and the village of Gortin itself.

Details

n°30783431
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 59.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,286 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,250 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 418 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 50 m

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Killeter to Killen - Bollaght Mountain Trail (IAT)

    ↔6.22 km ↗103 m ↘80 m
    Starting in the village of Killeter, this 1rst section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, before picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.
    View the route
  2. 2

    Killen to Newtownstewart - Bollaght Mountain Trail

    ↔30.56 km ↗659 m ↘705 m
    This 2nd section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. You then ascend Bessy Bell, where panoramic views of the western Sperrins can be enjoyed. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.
    View the route
  3. E

    Netownstewart to Gortin - Bollaght Mountain Trail

    ↔22.23 km ↗525 m ↘475 m
    This 3rd section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. You then see panoramic views of the western Sperrins can be enjoyed. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.
    View the route

Notes

Start : Killeter can be accessed by leaving the A5 between Strabane and Omagh, west towards Castlederg. Follow signs for Enniskillen and then Killeter after passing through Castlederg.

Terrain : Country roads, hillside, forest

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Killeter is a small village with a shop Aand a post office. After this there are no opportunities for refreshments until reaching the village of Gortin at the end of the section. There are limited options for accommodation in Killeter and Gortin.

Dog Policy : Must be kept on a lead.

Note : The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.
Please be aware that this walking route passes through areas of open land such as hillside, working farmland and working forests. Livestock may be present, ground conditions may be uneven or wet underfoot and all forestry signage should be adhered to. Please refer to the ‘Walk Safely’ information that can be found in the useful information section adjacent.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking Killeter to Killen - Bollaght Mountain Trail (IAT)

Tourist office
↔6.22 km ↗+103 m ↘-80 m ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Strabane
Starting in the village of Killeter, this 1rst section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, before picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.

Walking Causeway Hill - From Killeter Village

Tourist office
Causeway Hill - From Killeter Village
↔15.35 km ↗+192 m ↘-189 m ◔4h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Strabane
An interesting walk on the southwestern edge of the Derg valley through scenic, seldom visited countryside. The highlight of this walk is the Causeway, an abandoned 1.5 mile stretch of the original Killeter to Pettigo Road.

Walking Killen to Newtownstewart - Bollaght Mountain Trail

Tourist office
↔30.56 km ↗+659 m ↘-705 m ◔10h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Strabane
This 2nd section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. You then ascend Bessy Bell, where panoramic views of the western Sperrins can be enjoyed. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.

Walking Mourneside - Sion Mills

Tourist office
Mourneside - Sion Mills
↔1.23 km ↗+5 m ↘-5 m ◔0h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Strabane
This walk along a beautiful stretch of the River Mourne is particularly colorful in autumn when the leaves are changing colour.

Walking Bessy Bell East

Tourist office
Bessy Bell East
↔10.48 km ↗+352 m ↘-351 m ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Omagh
An interesting walk through farmland onto a small rounded mountain with views all around of the Sperrin Mountains.

Walking Netownstewart to Gortin - Bollaght Mountain Trail

Tourist office
↔22.23 km ↗+525 m ↘-475 m ◔7h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Omagh
This 3rd section of Bollaght Mountain Trail, part of The International Appalachian Trail (IAT), follows quiet country roads, areas of woodland, picking up the Ulster Way on the northern slopes of Bollaght Mountain. You then see panoramic views of the western Sperrins can be enjoyed. The route is waymarked from here using yellow on blue Ulster Way signage.

Walking Castle Archdale (Blue Route) - Lisnarick

Tourist office
Castle Archdale (Blue Route) - Lisnarick
↔1.83 km ↗+25 m ↘-25 m ◔0h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Fermanagh
One of a variety of walks along the lough shore passing the deer park enclosure, wildfowl ponds, wildflower meadow and butterfly garden. Evidence of the WW2 can be found throughout the park in flying-boat docks, ammunition dumps, Slit trenches, etc. This is because Lough Erne played an important role as the most westerly flying-boat station, from which aircraft protected the allied convoys from the U-Boat threat in the North Atlantic. There is also a family cycle trail waymarked around the park.

Walking Strabane Towpath - Strabane and Ballymagorry

Tourist office
Strabane Towpath - Strabane and Ballymagorry
↔2.69 km ↗+3 m ↘-3 m ◔0h 45 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Strabane
A walk along a canal in the process of being restored. Excellent views of the River Foyle and across to Donegal can be gained from the most northern point of the walk.

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