A wooded river gorge east of Derry, carved by the Burntollet after the last ice age — with the Ness Waterfall at its heart, said to be the highest waterfall in Northern Ireland, and it's free to walk in.
What you'll see and do — the Ness Waterfall dropping around 30ft through the gorge, the river walks along the Burntollet, boardwalks and footbridges over the water, oak woodland and rapids, plus a woodland-themed play park and picnic spots by the visitor centre.
The walks — waymarked trails from the visitor centre: a short flat, surfaced Meadow loop that suits prams and wheelchairs, up to the 3km Waterfall Route, which is graded difficult with steep steps and footbridges.
How long — allow 1 to 2 hours: the falls and river loop, then the play park and a picnic to finish.
Getting in — free to visit and free to park, open access all year. No booking, you just turn up.
Bring & food — proper shoes with grip for wet, uneven riverside paths; there's a coffee/take-out hub at the visitor centre, but bring a picnic to be sure, and there are picnic tables on site.
Parking — free car parks at the visitor centre and other entrances, with toilets (baby-changing and accessible) at the main one.
Dogs — welcome, kept under control and on a lead around the car parks, visitor centre and play area.
Mind children near the falls. The gorge and riverside paths are steep, with steps, drops and boardwalks that get wet and slippery — keep little ones close by the water and the waterfall.
The waterfall is fuller after rain. Come after a wet spell and it thunders; in a dry summer it can slow to a trickle, so time your visit if the falls are the main draw.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — and it's free.
Ness is a free public country park, open access all year round, with free parking at the visitor centre and the other entrances. There's no booking and no entry fee — you simply arrive and walk in. From the main car park, waymarked trails fan out: a short surfaced loop for anyone with a pram or wheelchair, and the longer, steeper route down into the gorge to the waterfall. Confirm exact car-park opening times on the day, as the lower car park is reported to close in the early evening.
Coffee hub at visitor centreToilets, accessible & baby-changeFlat Meadow loopPicnic tables & play parkDogs under control on leads
Two to remember:
The short Meadow Route is the flat, surfaced option that suits prams and wheelchairs — the waterfall walk itself is graded difficult, with steep steps and footbridges. And after heavy rain the Burntollet can run high, so paths and boardwalks near the water can be slippery — check conditions before you go with young children.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Proper shoes with gripThe riverside and gorge paths are uneven, and the steps and boardwalks get wet and slippery — grippy footwear for everyone, wellies for the little ones after rain.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingRain makes the falls thunder and the gorge glow, and the tree canopy gives shelter — a light coat means the weather is never a reason to stay in.
🧺A picnicThere's a coffee/take-out hub at the visitor centre and picnic tables on site — bring lunch and make an afternoon of it by the river.
🚼The buggy — for the flat loopAn ordinary pram is fine on the short surfaced Meadow Route and around the play park; the gorge walk to the falls has steps and isn't buggy-friendly.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit and free to park. No booking and no entry fee for a normal visit.
Hours
Open access all year round. Most car parks are open at all times, though the lower/main car park is reported to close in the early evening — confirm exact times on the day.
What you'll see
The Ness Waterfall (said to be the highest in Northern Ireland, dropping around 30ft), the wooded Burntollet river gorge with rapids and potholes, boardwalks and footbridges, oak woodland, waymarked walks, a woodland-themed children's play park and picnic areas.
The walks
Waymarked routes from the visitor centre: a short flat, surfaced Meadow loop suitable for prams and wheelchairs, plus longer routes up to around 3km. The Waterfall Route into the gorge is graded difficult, with steep inclines, steps and footbridges.
Food
A coffee/take-out hub at the visitor centre rather than a full café. Bring a picnic to be sure; there are picnic tables on site.
Toilets
Toilets at the main car park, with accessible and baby-changing facilities.
Dogs
Dogs welcome, kept under control and on a lead around the car parks, visitor centre and play area, and cleaned up after.
Accessibility
The short Meadow Route is flat and surfaced, so it suits prams and wheelchairs, with accessible parking, toilets and the play park nearby. The gorge and waterfall paths have steps and steep sections and are not wheelchair or buggy friendly.
How long
Allow 1 to 2 hours — the falls and river loop, plus time for the play park and a picnic.
Questions
Before you go
Is there a charge?
No — Ness Country Park is free to visit and free to park, all year round. There's no booking and no entry fee for a normal visit.
Is the waterfall really the highest in Northern Ireland?
It's widely said to be the highest waterfall in Northern Ireland, dropping around 30ft (about 9m) through the gorge. It's a well-repeated tourism claim rather than an official ranking, but it's a genuine highlight either way — and the name Ness itself comes from the Irish for waterfall.
Can I get a buggy or wheelchair round?
Partly — the short Meadow Route near the visitor centre is flat and surfaced, so an ordinary pram or a wheelchair manages it, and the play park is close by. The walk down into the gorge to the waterfall has steep steps and footbridges and isn't wheelchair or buggy friendly.
Is it safe for young children?
With care, yes. The gorge and riverside paths are steep with drops, steps and boardwalks that get slippery when wet, and the water can run fast, so keep little ones close near the falls and the river. The flat Meadow loop and the play park are the easier, gentler options for the youngest.
Is there food on site?
There's a coffee/take-out hub at the visitor centre rather than a full café, so bring a picnic to be sure — there are picnic tables on site and lovely spots by the river.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome. Keep them under control and on a lead around the car parks, visitor centre and play area, and clean up after them.
Getting there
Ness Wood Country Park, 50 Oughtagh Road, Killaloo, Claudy, Co. Londonderry, BT47 3TR — about 8 miles south-east of Derry. Head out on the A6 (the Derry–Belfast road), then follow the brown tourist signs via Oughtagh Road. Free parking on site.
Ness owes its shape to deep time. The story goes that as the last ice age ended, around ten thousand years ago, glacial debris blocked the old course of the Burntollet River. Forced to cut itself a new channel, the river ground down through the rock, carving the steep gorge, the potholes and rapids, and the drop that became the Ness Waterfall — the name comes from the Irish an Eas, simply meaning the waterfall.
Around it stands a remnant of the old oak woodland that once covered much of the north west, now home to red squirrels, badgers and otters, with bluebells in spring and a damp, mossy gorge rich in ferns and lichens. Today it's a free country park cared for by the council, with a visitor centre, waymarked trails, boardwalks and a woodland play park — a working piece of wild landscape kept open for everyone to walk. Pull on your boots, follow the river down, and go and live it.