A Gothic-revival castle set deep in forest in the Sperrin foothills, with waymarked trails that climb from the banks of the River Faughan up towards Meeny Hill — a proper quiet, free country walk with a fairytale silhouette in the trees.
What you'll see and do — the Gothic-revival castle (admired from the grounds — see the must-know below), a walled garden to the south of the house, and waymarked forest trails along the River Faughan and up the wooded slopes, with more than 15 tree species said to be planted here, some thought to be well over 100 years old.
The walk — the main circuit is around 2.2 miles, graded moderate with some short, steep climbs, and over four kilometres of forest roads and paths in all — rising roughly 200 metres from the river to the higher slopes.
How long — allow 1 to 2 hours for the loop; longer if you stop by the river or take the higher paths.
Getting in — free to walk in, and free to park. No booking — it's a working forest, so you just arrive.
Bring & food — sturdy footwear (the surface can be muddy and uneven), a coat, and a picnic; there are picnic facilities at the car park but no café on site, so bring your own.
Wildlife — the Faughan is good for otters, herons, dippers and kingfishers if you keep quiet and watch the water.
The castle is private. The building itself isn't open to the public — you come for the forest, the river and the trails, and admire the castle from the grounds, not the inside.
It's a working forest. Paths can be diverted or closed for forestry work, so check the Forest Service site if you're travelling far, and take care near the river.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — it's free to walk in
Learmount Forest is free to walk into and free to park — there's no ticket and no booking. From the car park you follow the waymarked trails through the forest and along the river. It's open year-round in daylight hours. This is a genuine working forest, so paths can occasionally be diverted or closed for forestry work — check the Forest Service page if you're coming a distance. The castle building is private and isn't open to visitors, so the day out is the forest, the walled garden and the trails.
Free car parkPicnic spotsWaymarked trailsRiver FaughanDogs welcome (under control)
Two to remember:
The castle is private — you enjoy it from the grounds, not inside. And this is a forest walk rather than a visitor centre, so there's no café or shop on site: bring what you need, wear proper footwear, and take care on the steeper, riverside stretches.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Sturdy shoes or bootsThe trails vary in width and can be muddy, slippery and uneven, with some short steep climbs — grippy footwear makes the loop easy.
🧥A coat and layersYou're up in the Sperrin foothills, so the weather turns quickly — a light waterproof means rain is never a reason to turn back.
🧺A picnic and a flaskThere are picnic spots at the car park but no café on site, so bring your own food and something warm to drink.
🔭Binoculars, if you have themThe River Faughan is good for herons, dippers and kingfishers — a quiet pause by the water often pays off.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to walk in and free to park. There's no ticket and no booking for a normal visit.
Hours
Open year-round during daylight hours. As a working forest, sections can be diverted or closed for forestry operations — best to check the Forest Service page if you're travelling a distance.
What you'll see
The Gothic-revival Learmount Castle (from the grounds), a walled garden to the south of the house, and waymarked forest trails running from the River Faughan up the wooded slopes towards Meeny Hill, with more than 15 tree species said to be planted here — some thought to be well over 100 years old.
The castle
Learmount Castle is a private building and is not open to the public. You visit the surrounding forest, the trails and the grounds, and admire the castle from outside.
The walk
The main circuit is roughly 2.2 miles, graded moderate with some short, steep climbs and descents, over paths of varying width that can be uneven and slippery. In total there are over four kilometres of forest roads and paths, rising around 200 metres from the river to the higher ground.
Cycling
Cycling is allowed but restricted to a designated route — check the on-site signage before you set off.
Food
No café or shop on site. There are picnic facilities at the car park, so bring your own food and drink. Park and Claudy have local shops nearby.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome — keep them under close control, especially near the river and any livestock in the working forest.
Accessibility
This is a forest trail with uneven, sometimes muddy surfaces and steep sections, so it isn't ideal for wheelchairs or standard buggies. An all-terrain pushchair and sturdy footwear will help on the gentler, lower stretches.
How long
Allow 1 to 2 hours for the main loop, more if you linger by the Faughan or take the higher paths.
Questions
Before you go
Is there a charge?
No — Learmount Forest is free to walk into and free to park. There's no ticket and no booking for a normal visit; you just follow the waymarked trails from the car park.
Can we go inside the castle?
No — Learmount Castle is a private building and isn't open to the public. You come for the forest, the river and the trails, and admire the Gothic-revival castle from the grounds, not the inside.
How hard is the walk?
The main circuit is about 2.2 miles, graded moderate, with some short, steep climbs and descents and paths that can be muddy and uneven. If you're happy with a normal country walk you'll manage it — just wear proper footwear.
Is it good for buggies and wheelchairs?
It's a forest trail with uneven, sometimes steep and muddy sections, so it isn't ideal for wheelchairs or standard buggies. An all-terrain pushchair copes better on the gentler lower stretches near the river.
Is there food on site?
There's no café or shop — it's a forest walk, not a visitor centre. There are picnic facilities at the car park, so bring your own food and drink; Park and Claudy have shops nearby.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome. Keep them under close control, especially near the River Faughan and any livestock, as this is a working forest.
Getting there
Learmount Forest, Learmount Road, Park, near Claudy, Co. Londonderry — in the Sperrin foothills. From Claudy, take the B74 towards Feeny for about three miles, then turn onto the Clagan or Altinure Road for the forest at Park village. Free parking on site.
Learmount Castle is thought to date from around 1830, when Henry Barré Beresford had a Tudor-Gothic house built here — the architect is said to have been John B Keane, who wrapped the new castle around an older Montgomery house of about 1710. With its gables, pointed finials and battlemented tower, it's a fine piece of the romantic castle-building that swept Ireland in the nineteenth century, standing among the trees above the River Faughan.
The Beresfords were major landowners, but the family's later years were unlucky, and the estate was sold in the 1940s. The forest around it passed to the Forest Service, which laid out the walking paths and opened the woods to the public. Today the castle itself is private, while the forest, the walled garden and the miles of trails belong to everyone who comes to walk them — a quiet, free day out in the Sperrin foothills. Get the boots on and go and live it.