Days Out NI
Nature & wildlife Roslea

Slieve Beagh

Free, wild and open all year — big-sky bog walks where rare birds still breed.

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OpenOpen all year, daylight hours. Spring and…
FreeNo ticket needed
RosleaNature & wildlife
Get directions
2-3 hoursHow long
FreeEntry
Older children…Best for
On leadsDogs
FreeParking

Slieve Beagh — Free, wild and open all year — big-sky bog walks where rare birds still breed.

  • What you'll see: Breeding hen harriers, red grouse, golden plover, curlew, Irish hares, meadow pipits; whooper swans on loughs in winter.
  • Season: Open all year, daylight hours. Spring and summer mornings are best for wildlife.
  • Dogs: Dogs are allowed on the open hill but keep them on a lead near livestock and through the bird-breeding season (spring/summer) to protect ground-nesting birds.
  • Parking: Free car parks and picnic sites are positioned along the trails; some trailheads are remote, so check directions first.
  • Food: None on site — bring a flask and a packed lunch. Nearest shops and cafés are in Roslea and Clogher.
  • Toilets: None on the hill — go before you set off.
Plan your visit

Spot some of Ireland's rarest birds

Slieve Beagh is a designated Special Protection Area and one of the last strongholds for breeding hen harriers, which is the headline reason birdwatchers come. Bring binoculars and teach kids what to look for: the harrier's slow, low hunting flight over the heather, the explosive whirr of a red grouse, and the plaintive whistle of golden plover. Spring and early summer mornings are by far the best time, when birds are nesting and active. You may also see Irish hares, meadow pipits and, in winter, whooper swans on nearby loughs. Keep dogs close and stick to paths through the breeding season so you don't disturb ground-nesting birds.

Free Breeding hen harriers Red grouse & golden plover Irish hares Way-marked trails Wild & remote
Good to know before you go:

Slieve Beagh itself doesn't run dated events, but the wider Sliabh Beagh area hosts occasional guided walks, wildlife watches and walking festivals through the year. Check what's on locally before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🔭BinocularsHalf the fun is spotting the birds, seals or deer before they spot you.
  • 👟Walking shoes or welliesPaths can be soft, grassy or muddy after rain — comfy waterproof feet win.
  • 🧥A coatOut in the open the weather changes fast; dress for it and enjoy the fresh air.
  • 💧Water and a snackReserves are quiet places — few have a café, so pack a little something.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Opening / season
Open all year, daylight hours. Spring and summer mornings are best for wildlife.
Best for ages
Older children and teens who can manage a real walk; not suited to toddlers or buggies.
What you'll see
Breeding hen harriers, red grouse, golden plover, curlew, Irish hares, meadow pipits; whooper swans on loughs in winter.
Food
None on site — bring a flask and a packed lunch. Nearest shops and cafés are in Roslea and Clogher.
Toilets
None on the hill — go before you set off.
Parking
Free car parks and picnic sites are positioned along the trails; some trailheads are remote, so check directions first.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the open hill but keep them on a lead near livestock and through the bird-breeding season (spring/summer) to protect ground-nesting birds.
Accessibility
Limited — terrain is moorland, forest track and peat bog, often wet and uneven, with no surfaced or wheelchair-accessible paths.
How long to allow
2-3 hours for a short loop; a full day for the longer routes.
Address
Slieve Beagh, near Roslea, Co. Fermanagh, on the Fermanagh / Tyrone / Monaghan border.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
What will we see?
Breeding hen harriers, red grouse, golden plover, curlew, Irish hares, meadow pipits; whooper swans on loughs in winter.
When is the best time to go?
Open all year, daylight hours. Spring and summer mornings are best for wildlife.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed on the open hill but keep them on a lead near livestock and through the bird-breeding season (spring/summer) to protect ground-nesting birds.
Where do I park?
Free car parks and picnic sites are positioned along the trails; some trailheads are remote, so check directions first.
Getting there

Slieve Beagh is at Slieve Beagh, near Roslea, Co. Fermanagh, on the Fermanagh / Tyrone / Monaghan border.. Free car parks and picnic sites are positioned along the trails; some trailheads are remote, so check directions first. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

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The story

About the place

Slieve Beagh (Sliabh Beagh) is a high blanket bog plateau that straddles the border of Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Monaghan. It is a designated Special Protection Area, recognised internationally for its breeding population of hen harriers and other upland birds including red grouse and golden plover.

The land is laced with way-marked trails. The long-distance Sliabh Beagh Way runs around 46km through the valleys of Tyrone, the drumlins of Monaghan and the lakeland of Fermanagh, and is joined by dozens of shorter looped walks managed across the cross-border region.

Because it is wild, open and largely undeveloped, Slieve Beagh stays quiet even in summer. That remoteness is exactly what makes it precious for the rare wildlife that nests here — and what makes a walk on the bog feel like proper escape.