Omagh

Fifteen lakes dot the countryside around this market town in the Sperrin Mountains - a proper angler's paradise where the fishing beats the shopping any day. Omagh sits in the valley where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet, surrounded by rolling hills that turn purple with heather come late summer.

The town itself is quiet midweek, with a compact centre that's easy to navigate on foot. St Mary's stands as the main architectural highlight, while most visitors use Omagh as a jumping-off point for the spectacular countryside beyond. The real draw here isn't the high street but what lies in the hills.

Drumlea Wood offers proper walking trails through ancient woodland, while Coolnamurtum Lough and Fallaheran Lough provide excellent trout fishing just minutes from town. Further out, Lough Fingrean and Lough Carn sit in more remote spots - well worth the trek for anyone seeking solitude.

Getting here is straightforward enough from Belfast, about an hour and a half by car through increasingly wild countryside. The nearest glamping options at Gortin Glen and Sperrinview put you right in the heart of the Sperrins, where you can wake up to views of mist-covered mountains and spend your days exploring lakes with names that twist the tongue.

This is hill walking and fishing country first and foremost. The lakes stretch across the landscape like scattered mirrors, each with its own character and fishing possibilities. Perfect base for anyone wanting to escape into proper wilderness without travelling to Scotland.