Cookstown

Rolling Sperrin Mountains rise like green giants from every horizon, making this Mid Ulster market town feel properly remote despite sitting bang on the main Belfast-Omagh road. Cookstown stretches along one impressively wide main street - allegedly the widest in Ireland - that gives the place an oddly American feel, though the Georgian terraces and traditional shopfronts quickly remind you where you are.

Walkers will find themselves spoilt for choice with peaks like Carnanelly and Mullaghbane beckoning from the western Sperrins, while Beeleevnamore Mountain and Slievemore offer cracking views eastward. The hiking here ranges from gentle afternoon rambles to proper hill walks that'll test your legs. Ancient history buffs shouldn't miss the Standing Stone and Ogham Stone - these weathered monuments have been watching over the landscape for millennia. St Patrick's Church Ruins add another layer to the area's deep religious heritage.

Getting here is straightforward enough. Cookstown sits roughly halfway between Belfast and Omagh on the A29, making it an easy drive from either direction. The town itself has a solid selection of shops and cafes along that famous main drag, though it can feel a bit quiet midweek.

Basing yourself at one of the glamping sites like Sperrinview or Gortin Glen makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of Ulster. You'll have the Sperrin Mountains practically on your doorstep, with peaks like Cregganconroe and Evishanoran Mountain offering rewarding day walks. The countryside here feels wonderfully unspoiled - proper rural Ireland where you might walk for hours without seeing another soul.