OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory — An observatory experience in Davagh Forest, inside Northern Ireland's first International Dark Sky Park.
What you'll see: Indoors: dark-sky exhibition and observatory telescope. Outdoors in the forest: dark skies with the Milky Way, planets and seasonal meteor showers on clear moonless nights — never guaranteed.
Getting there: 155 Davagh Road, Sperrins; about 15 miles from Cookstown, signposted off the A505 at Dunamore.
When to go: Observatory open daily (Apr–Sep 11am–7pm; later Fri/Sat); forest open 24 hours. For stargazing pick a clear, moonless night and check the forecast.
Facilities: Grab-and-go café, toilets with accessible and baby-changing, viewing terrace at the observatory; forest has car park, picnic areas and trails.
Cost: Exhibition guided tour around Adult £6.20, Child/Over-60 £4, under-2s free; OM Odyssey film around £3.90. Forest visit free. Check current prices.
Good to know: Rural, unlit roads and forest — drive slowly, bring a torch (red light saves night vision), warm layers and sturdy shoes, and tell someone your plans.
Plan your visit
The OM building
OM was the first observatory of its kind in Northern Ireland. Inside you get a guided exhibition tour, an observatory telescope used for new-moon observing sessions, and outdoor film experiences that connect the ancient stone circles to the night sky. Guided exhibition tours run at set times through the day, so pre-booking is the safe bet. There is a grab-and-go café, toilets including accessible and baby-changing facilities, and an external viewing terrace.
Interactive dark-sky exhibitionObservatory telescope and observing sessionsInside a certified International Dark Sky ParkFree forest car park for after-dark stargazingLinks to the Beaghmore stone circlesCafé, toilets and viewing terrace
Good to know before you go:
OM runs new-moon observing sessions, guided tours and outdoor film experiences through the year, and the wider Sperrins host dark-sky and meteor-shower nights in season. Check the observatory's What's On before you travel.
Before you set off
What to bring
🎟️Your bookingDome shows and events sell out — book your slot before you travel.
🧥A warm layerHandy if there’s outdoor telescope time on the night.
🧒The little astronomersThe shows are built to fire up curious kids — bring them.
📱The what’s-on pageShows and star-parties change with the season — check before you go.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Type
Ticketed observatory and exhibition, inside a free-to-visit Dark Sky Park
What you'll see
Indoors: dark-sky exhibition and observatory telescope. Outdoors in the forest: dark skies with the Milky Way, planets and seasonal meteor showers on clear moonless nights — never guaranteed
Getting there
155 Davagh Road, Sperrins; about 15 miles from Cookstown, signposted off the A505 at Dunamore
Facilities
Grab-and-go café, toilets with accessible and baby-changing, viewing terrace at the observatory; forest has car park, picnic areas and trails
When to go
Observatory open daily (Apr–Sep 11am–7pm; later Fri/Sat); forest open 24 hours. For stargazing pick a clear, moonless night and check the forecast
Cost
Exhibition guided tour around Adult £6.20, Child/Over-60 £4, under-2s free; OM Odyssey film around £3.90. Forest visit free. Check current prices
Booking
Pre-book the observatory at omdarksky.com; no booking needed to visit the forest
Good to know
Rural, unlit roads and forest — drive slowly, bring a torch (red light saves night vision), warm layers and sturdy shoes, and tell someone your plans
Parking
Observatory car park free for first hour then small charge (free for ticket holders); forest has free parking
Address
OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory, 155 Davagh Road, BT79 8JQ
Questions
Before you go
Is it free?
Exhibition guided tour around Adult £6.20, Child/Over-60 £4, under-2s free; OM Odyssey film around £3.90. Forest visit free. Check current prices
When is the best time to go?
Observatory open daily (Apr–Sep 11am–7pm; later Fri/Sat); forest open 24 hours. For stargazing pick a clear, moonless night and check the forecast
What will we actually see?
Indoors: dark-sky exhibition and observatory telescope. Outdoors in the forest: dark skies with the Milky Way, planets and seasonal meteor showers on clear moonless nights — never guaranteed
Are there any facilities?
Grab-and-go café, toilets with accessible and baby-changing, viewing terrace at the observatory; forest has car park, picnic areas and trails
What should we bring?
Rural, unlit roads and forest — drive slowly, bring a torch (red light saves night vision), warm layers and sturdy shoes, and tell someone your plans
Getting there
OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory is at OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory, 155 Davagh Road, BT79 8JQ. 155 Davagh Road, Sperrins; about 15 miles from Cookstown, signposted off the A505 at Dunamore. Tap below for directions.
Davagh Forest was accredited as an International Dark Sky Park, the first in Northern Ireland and one of only a handful on the island of Ireland. The OM observatory and visitor centre opened in Davagh in October 2020, built to let people explore that exceptionally dark sky and the deep human history of watching it.
The Sperrins form a broad, high, thinly populated upland, which is exactly why the sky is so dark here. The nearby Beaghmore stone circles show people have been reading these skies for thousands of years, and OM is built to carry that story forward for the next visitor who kills the headlights and looks up.