New Beaghmore walk offers glimpse of historic landscape

A NEW walk from the historic Beaghmore Stone circles to the OM Observatory at the nearby Davagh Forest offers a glimpse into our ancient past.

The OM Walk is around two kilometres straight through the peatland. It’s disabled friendly, and very easily accessible with wide pathways and a well maintained wooden boardwalk.

Add in the great views over the near Sperrin Mountains and this dander is one to put on the list for now or when the weather improves next spring.

Starting from either the Beaghmore Stone circles or Davagh Forest, you’ll get the added bonus of regular information panels which provide an insight into this area in the dim and distant pass, as well as offering some knowledge on our solar system.

For instance, communities were living here approximately 6000 years ago during the Neolithic period. The stone monuments such as the Beaghmore Stone circles were probably built around 3500 years ago during the Bronze age.

There’s another panel which encourages us to imagine being in this area millions of years ago when the newly formed Sperrins were as high as the Himalayas.

The impact of the ice-age is also examined, and you can use a QR code on a phone to find out more at various locations along the route.

Flowing streams add to the diverse landscape, and it would be a good place to visit on the dark moonlit night when the view of the night-sky would be unrivalled anywhere.

The walk starts or finishes at the new OM Observatory, and also offers a nice trek through part of Davagh Forest. It’s now run by Mid-Ulster Council and is certain to become very popular in the future.