Cookstown
Cookstown is a small town in County Tyrone.
Get in
By car
Cookstown is in the centre of Northern Ireland and is easily accessible from all parts of the country. It can be accessed by car via the M1 or M2. M1 travellers should follow signs for the west, followed by Dungannon towards the end of the motorway. Dungannon is 10 miles away and Cookstown is signposted from here on. Travellers on the M2 should follow the signs for Cookstown/Magherafelt. Once of the M2 follow the Toome ByPass until you arrive in Magherafelt, from here Cookstown is just 10 miles away and is well signposted.
By bus
Buses are available from all over Northern Ireland and also Dublin (the Portrush Express from Dublin makes a stop in the town). Some services may not be direct, but you can get on a bus to Magherafelt, Dungannon, or Omagh, from which there are regular bus services to Cookstown.
By plane
The three main airports of Belfast International Airport (BFS IATA), George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD IATA), and City of Derry Airport (LDY IATA) are all within an hour's drive of Cookstown.
Buses can be taken from these airports to either Derry or Belfast and from here you can hop on another bus to Cookstown. During some seasons buses can be got direct to the town.
Get around
Cookstown is a good-sized town and the best way to get around the town is to coordinate yourself around the longest street in Ireland, Cookstown's main street, which is approximately 2 miles long. It is situated on a north-south axis and forms the centre and the framework of the town.
If you wish to explore the surrounding villages, buses will leave the central bus station several times a day and take you to the local villages for about £2.50. Local taxis can be ordered at your hotel that will take you to the local sights and will happily return to collect you again as you please. Taxis are reasonably priced and the drivers are friendly.
See
Cookstown offers anyone who visits beautiful local scenery. Standing at the centre of the town, you can witness the beautiful Sperrin mountains overlooking the town while you shop at Cookstown's Saturday Market in the thriving main street.
- 1 Ardboe Old Cross and St Colman’s Abbey. A national monument dating from the 10th century. It is believed to be the first high cross of Ulster, standing at 18.5 feet high and 3.5 feet wide, with 22 panels depicting various Biblical scenes. There are also remains of a church and an abbey.
The Broughderg area is remote and peaceful and is renowned for its unique archaeological remains. The scenery includes the Coneyglen Valley and Davagh Forest with its walks and extensive blanket bog. Particularly well known sites are
- Dun Ruadh.
- Ogham Stone.
- 2 Beaghmore Stone Circles. Archaeologists believe that Beaghmore Stone Circles date back to around 1500 BC. There are 7 stone circles and alignments along with several cairns on this spectacular preserved site.
- Derryloran Old Church and Graveyard. Built in 1622 to replace an older church on the same site. Around 1820, a new church was built on a site closer to town. It was designed by John Nash (although this structure was substantially demolished and rebuilt to designs by Welland) and built from hewn stone in simple "First Fruits" Gothic style with a pinnacle tower, plain spire and vaulted vestibule. The interior is dignified but rather dour with little decoration. Some of the graves in Derryloran graveyard date back to the early 17th century.
Other churches in the town were mainly constructed in the latter part of the nineteenth century.
- Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity. Designed by the prolific Irish architect J J McCarthy and constructed between 1858 and 1860. Its soaring West Tower and spire are the tallest buildings in town and a local landmark. The interior of the church (much altered in 1981) is dominated by the huge eastern window manufactured by Hardman's of Birmingham. The Church was extensively renovated in 2010-2011.
- 3 Tullaghoge Fort. On an imposing hilltop encircled by trees some 2 miles south/south east of Cookstown and on the outskirts of Tullyhogue village is the site of the mystical Tullaghoge Fort, the royal inauguration site of Tyrone's O'Neill dynasty. From the 11th century to the end of the 16th century, successive kings of the Cenel nEogain (later known as the Uí Néill or O’Neills) were inaugurated in this hilltop enclosure on a stone, now destroyed, known as Leac na Rí. The O’Neills founded their headquarters at Tullaghoge early in the 11th century and it continued as the ceremonial seat of the kings of Tír Eoghain even after the O’Neills transferred their court to Dungannon at the end of the 13th century.
- Coyle's Cottage, 57 Annaghmore Rd, BT80 0JA. It is open to visitors each Sunday, May - September from 3PM-6PM. A 250-year-old fisherman's cottage. Listed in 1991, restored and officially opened in May 1993. Muintirevlin Historical Society maintain the cottage and use it as a meeting place.
- 4 The Drum Manor Estate. Picturesque all year round with shrub, butterfly and Japanese gardens, arboretum, ponds and mixed woodlands. Waymarked trails of varying length commence at the car park and form a circular route. A gentle trail has been adapted for the less able bodied visitor in mind. The ruins of the original Manor (1861) have been adapted to incorporate a Japanese garden.
- 5 Killymoon Castle. Sited on a raised north terrace slope overlooking the Ballinderry River, it is mainly quadrangular in design incorporating the rare early instance of the use of round headed, sub-Romanesque openings. It was built to designs of John Nash between 1801 and 1803 incorporating much of the ruins of the former Castle which had been burnt in 1801 for James Stewart, a local MP and cost the then unthinkable sum of £80,000. Having passed through the hands of several families after the demise of the Stewarts in 1851, it was purchased by the present owners in 1922 for the princely sum of £100. It remains a private residence and has no public access.
- 6 Wellbrook Beetling Mill, 20 Wellbrook Rd, Corkhill, BT80 9RY (½ mile off Cookstown to Omagh road (A505): from Cookstown turn right at Kildress Church or follow Orritor Road (A53) to avoid the town), ☏ +44 28 8674-8210, wellbrook@nationaltrust.org.uk. The mill is in a picturesque wooded glen on the banks of the Ballinderry River. Beetling was the last stage in the manufacturing of linen, and Wellbrook is the last working Beetling Mill to survive in Ireland. The Mill, which was constructed in 1830, has a 16-ft water wheel which is powered by the adjacent Ballinderry River. Adult £5.00 Children free.
- 7 Springhill House, 20 Springhill Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, BT45 7NQ, ☏ +44 28 8674-8210, springhill@nationaltrust.org.uk. This beautiful manor house, built around 1680, was home to ten generations of the influential Lenox-Conyngham family. Considered to be the 'prettiest house in Ulster', this National Trust property with woodland walks and award-winning Costume Museum offers visitors entertaining and informative guided tours. A model village complements the attraction.
- 8 Lissan House. Ulster Plantation House with Georgian and Victorian additions
Do
- 1 Ballyronan Marina, 135A Shore Rd, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, BT45 6JA, ☏ +44 28 7941 8399. The picturesque boating and tourist facility incorporates a picnic area, playpark and beach area.
- 2 Ballyronan Wood, 156 Shore Rd, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, BT45 6LS. A special Woodland Nature Trail with a variety of pathways, viewpoints and information signage, highlighting the natural beauty of the area.
- Lough Fea. Set in wild mountain scenery, is one of many delightful lakes dotted throughout the Sperrins Region. Covering 180 acres this natural beauty spot is an angler's dream and also supplies the entire area and beyond with fresh water. The 4.15 km (approx. 1 hour) walkway around Lough Fea is a haven for local walkers and tourists.
Buy
Cookstown has an abundance of high-street names and brands side by side with local retailers. There are also two superstores in the town, Asda and Tesco. The town also has various retail plazas and parks:
- 1 Station Square Retail Park, 48 Molesworth St, BT80 8PA. Including Argos Extra, Carpet Right, Lidl, and Harry Corry, along with the fabulous Paragon Chinese Restaurant.
- Gortalowry Retail Park. Besides Asda, Turkingtons and Tile Market are the first to set up store here.
- Broadfields Retail Park. Tesco, Homebase, Next, Tempest, New Look, Peacocks, Marks and Spencer, Simply Food, Cafe Revive, Halfords, and B & M discount store.
- Molesworth Place Shopping Centre. This shopping centre is a vibrant glass-fronted building built on the former market yard site. Heaton and Sports direct are the first to enter this the newest of Cookstowns retail parks.
The main street also features hundreds of shops, lining 2 km of the town. These include independent retailers as well as such high-street names such as InterSport, Boots, DV8, Subway, O'Briens, Heatons, GINO/nv, Menarys, Birthdays, and Tom Morrow.
The town also comes alive on Saturdays when the shopping market, established by Royal Patent of Charles I in 1628, is held in the town. This is one of the main shopping attractions in Cookstown as it is one of the few towns left in Northern Ireland to still hold a weekly market on this scale. There is always plenty of entertainment with jugglers, face painting, balloons and other free shows organised by Cookstown District Council to revitalise the market.
Eat
There are over ten take-away Chinese restaurants, two pizzerias, various Indian restaurants, a McDonalds, and restaurants in the hotels.
- Otter Lodge, 26 Dungannon Rd, ☏ +44 28 8676 5427. A rather charmless but nonetheless very popular restaurant. Offers great food in an intimate atmosphere at their riverside location, though table service is not available.
- Mandarin Chinese Buffet, Unit 5 Station Yard Molesworth St (in one of the old railway stations), ☏ +44 28 8676 1221. All-you-can-eat buffet for a great price, very popular restaurant with a great selection
- [dead link] Curry House Cookstown, 4 Burn Road (in the heart of the town centre), ☏ +44 28 8676 9378. Indian restaurant.
- Dragon Garden, 40-42 Loy St, ☏ +44 28 8676 3311. Chinese restaurant relocated to the classic Gaslight premises.
- [formerly dead link] The Braeside, 221 Orritor Road, (located on about 2 miles outside Cookstown), ☏ +44 28 8676 2664.
- The Tilley Lamp, 111A Mullanahoe Rd (located in the village of Ardboe to the east of the town), ☏ +44 28 8673 7673. Great food in a lovely setting.
- Cookstown Cafe, 19 William St, ☏ +44 28 8676 7809.
- White Pheasant, 3A Burn Rd, ☏ +44 28 8676 4249.
- The Courtyard, 56 William St,, ☏ +44 28 8676 5070.
- The Drapers Arms, 2 Main Street, Stonard Street, Moneymore, ☏ +44 28 8674 7933.
Drink
- TIME, 42 James St, ☏ +44 28 8676 6676.
- Oldtown Inn, 12 Oldtown St, ☏ +44 28 8676 3508. Nice food.
- Martins Bar, 47A James St, ☏ +44 28 8676 1888. Typical pub with approachable bar staff and good draught beer. Great for a breather from the shopping.
- The Railway, 63-67 Union St, ☏ +44 28 8676 3278. Probably has one of the youngest crowds in Cookstown: avoid it if you're over 21.
- The Cellar Bar (Glenavon Hotel).
- Lanyon Hall, 23 Molesworth St, ☏ +44 7802 851517.
- Black Horse Bar, 23 Molesworth St, ☏ +44 28 8676 3934. Young crowd, great craic.
- The Old Thatch, 116 Hillhead Rd, Castledawson, ☏ +44 28 7946 8322. Offering a traditional Irish pub feel and a warm welcome.
- Squires Lounge (Royal Hotel), 64-72 Old Coagh Rd.
- Dunleath Bar, Church St, ☏ +44 28 8676 3344.
- [dead link] The Central Inn, 27 William St (Town Centre), ☏ +44 28 8676 2255.
- The Cartwheel, 23 James St (Town Centre), ☏ +44 28 8676 3672.
- The Belfast House, 3 Orritor St (Town Centre), ☏ +44 28 8676 9759.
- Mulligans Bar, Chapel Street, ☏ +44 28 8675 8151. Fantastic bar offering live bands and a great atmosphere, gets quite busy at the weekend with young and old alike. Great sports bar too with tributes to all the local sports.
Sleep
- 1 , 52 Drum Rd., ☏ +44 28 8676 4949. On the drum road this outstanding complex offers the guests one of 62 en-suite bedrooms, some with balcony and river view, along with two great restaurants, three bars, a large night club, weekly entertainment and a large leisure, health and beauty complex. The Cellar Restaurant offers a daily carvery lunch which, whilst uninspiring, is good value. Informal dinner is served in the evenings from a wide modern menu whilst on Sundays, the Sunday carvery is locally very popular. The Cellar has been renovated and offers a host of new dishes on their extended menu.
- 2 Greenvale Hotel, 57 Drum Rd., ☏ +44 28 8676 2243. On the drum road, this is an old Victorian house completely transformed into a bright and modern hotel with great facilities: two restaurants, two bars and a nightclub. Distinctly lack-lustre restaurant offering dinner from an often limited and always unoriginal menu. For those wanting something more cheap and cheerful they can choose the Loft upstairs in the greenvale for basic but nice food.
- 3 Royal Hotel, 64-72 Old Coagh Rd, ☏ +44 28 8676 2224. On the outskirts of the town centre, offers the guests a choice of two great restaurants, superb location, a great bar and friendly staff. Restaurant offering lunch and dinner daily. The Squires Lounge also hosts a bar menu.
- 4 Tullylagan Country House Hotel, 40B Tullylagan Rd, ☏ +44 28 8676 5100. On the southern outskirts of the town, this hotel is the perfect setting for visitors, set on a large privately owned site the manor house has been extended into a great hotel, with two restaurants, a wine bar, a normal bar and all the amenities you need for a great stay. the grounds are amazing, with gardens, manor houses, stables and a river. Choose from Harry's Bistro or the Wine Bar, both have won awards from the likes of Flavour of Tyrone and Taste of Ulster.
- 5 [dead link] The Central Inn B&B, 27 William St (right in the middle of the town), ☏ +44 28 8676 2255.
- 6 The Belfast House B&B, 3 Orritor St (right in the middle of the town), ☏ +44 28 8676 9759.
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