The Black Fort Rath

The Black Fort Rath sits just outside Cookstown as a proper Iron Age hill fort - basically a ring of earthen banks built sometime between 500 and 100 BC. What you're looking at now is a series of concentric ditches and ramparts that once protected whoever lived here, though the fort itself has long since vanished. It's not dramatic in the way Stonehenge is dramatic, but there's something compelling about walking the perimeter and trying to imagine the settlement that once occupied the space.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from it, though walkers enjoy the site simply for the views across the Sperrins and surrounding farmland. Kids might find it a bit abstract unless they're already into archaeology - it's essentially a lumpy field with some digging history attached. Allow thirty minutes, longer if you're the type to sit and sketch or take photographs.

It's free to visit and sits within easy reach of Sperrinview Glamping, making it a logical morning stop if you're based in the area. The walk to and around the fort is straightforward, though the ground can be boggy depending on the season. Late spring through early autumn is best for avoiding waterlogged stretches. Cookstown itself has pubs and cafes where you can grab a coffee before or after, and the site pairs nicely with other Sperrins walks if you're making a full day of the Mid Ulster region.