Mullaghbane Mountain

The walk up Mullaghbane takes you into proper moorland - the sort of place where you can see for miles once you've climbed high enough. It's not a mountain in the Alpine sense, more a substantial hill that rewards the effort with views across Mid Ulster that stretch toward the Sperrin range on a clear day.

The terrain is rough underfoot, boggy in places, so decent boots are non-negotiable. You're looking at a solid two hours for the ascent and descent if you're taking it steady, though fit walkers will crack it faster. There's not a great deal of infrastructure - no café, no visitor centre, no marked paths in the formal sense - which means you need some navigation skills or a good map app.

This is one for hill walkers and anyone who wants to feel like they've actually earned their views. The reserve itself is valuable for upland habitat and bird life, though you won't be spotting rare eagles or anything dramatic. It's more about the space, the quiet, the wind in your face.

Cookstown sits about 10 miles south and has what you'd expect from a market town - chip shops, pubs, petrol stations. If you're basing yourself at Sperrinview Glamping nearby, Mullaghbane makes a proper morning or afternoon outing. Weather matters enormously here - a misty day will rob you of the views that make it worth the slog. Pick a clear spell and go early to avoid crowds, though frankly you're unlikely to bump into many people at all.