20 Attractions to Explore Near Ness Country Park

Ness Woods is one of three woodlands – the others are Ervey Wood and Burntollet Wood – which lie within the 55 hectares of forested countryside that comprise Ness Country Park. There is plenty of wildlife and birdlife, as well as pondlife, to enjoy. There’s also an expansive meadow which can be accessed by those with limited mobility.

Enagh is a fresh-water lake about ten minutes drive from the city center, just off the main A2 to Coleraine. It is popular for coarse fishing, being well filled with pike, perch, roach, the odd bream and plenty of eels. It is an outstanding area of natural beauty, with vivid wildlife including red squirrels and Pipistrelle bats, both of which are fast becoming scarce in Northern Ireland.

Craigavon Bridge is the oldest of Derry's 3 bridges. This is the third bridge to be built at this location over the mighty River Foyle. It is one of only a few double-decker road bridges in Europe. It was named after Lord Craigavon, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The present bridge was designed by the City Architect, Matthew A Robinson. A pair of bronze statues forming a sculpture entitled Hands Across the Divide are situated at the west end of Craigavon Bridge.

Foyle Valley Railway Museum was initially opened in 1990 on the site of Foyle Road station of the GNR. The exhibition consists of a recreated station platform and visitors can find out about the various railway companies which once operated out of the city. The steam locomotive exhibited in front of the museum is a 3 ft narrow gauge locomotive built for the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee in 1907 by Nasmyth , Wilson &Co.

St. Columb’s Park is a 70-acre municipal park in Derry, Northern Ireland. The park is named after St. Columba, who is the city's patron saint. The park contains the ruins of a medieval church, an 18th century manor house, as well as many modern amenities such as a leisure centre and sports pitches. Contained within the park are the ruins of the medieval St. Brecan’s Church. The history of the site dates back to at least the 12th century, although most of the original church was demolished

The Derry Peace Bridge spans 400 years of a physical and political divide in Northern Ireland, symbolizing a handshake of peace across the River Foyle. It is the newest of three bridges in the city, the others being the Craigavon Bridge and the Foyle Bridge. The bridge was opened to the public by EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn; accompanied by the First and deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness; and the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The Foyle Bridge crosses the River Foyle on the north side of Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland and is one of just two road bridges crossing the river in the city. The central cantilever span of the bridge is the second longest on the island of Ireland, at 234 metres (767 ft), and the whole suspended bridge structure including the approach spans is 866 metres long.

This was the first Cathedral built after the Reformation. It is the city’s most historic building containing displays of artefacts from the Siege. It was built in 1633 by William Parrot for the Honourable The Irish Society and is in the Planter Gothic Style. Built after the Reformation in Ireland, St Columb's is the first Anglican cathedral to have been built in the British Isles after the Reformation and was the first non-Roman Catholic cathedral to be built in Western Europe.

The Guildhall is a fine modern building, the chief treasures in which are the stained glass windows presented by the various London Companies that once owned land in Ireland. Fashioned in a neo-gothic style, the Guildhall is one of the most striking buildings in the North West and was originally built in 1887 by The Honourable The Irish Society. The red sandstone building is of neo-gothic architecture, with Tudor overtones.

Derry’s Craft Village is a cultural oasis in the heart of a vibrant city. A reconstruction of an 18th Century Street and 19th Century Square, the Craft Village provides an eclectic mix of artisan craft shops, balconied apartments, licensed restaurant and coffee shops. The Canopy in the Village Square and the Thatched Cottage are ideal venues for corporate, cultural and community entertainment. Take advantage of our unique shopping district.

The Tower Museum is one of Ireland's top attractions and takes the visitor on a high-tech audio-visual narrative tour of the Story of Derry. It is located in Union Hall Place, within a historic tower just inside the city walls, near the Guildhall. The museum has two permanent exhibits; The Story of Derry which presents the history of Derry from its prehistoric origins to the present, and An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera which details the local shipwreck from the Spanish Armada.

The Derry Walls define the ‘old town’ quarter at the heart of the modern city of Derry Londonderry. Within and just ‘without’ these walls is a network of streets, full of character and charm, enclosing an urban area: the Walled City delights. Here you will find a variety of craft shops, arts venues and museums. The walls are at the centre of the historic city of Derry and within them are a number of Derry's most important landmarks including the Apprentice Boy's Hall and St. Columb's Cathedral.

The Siege Museum and Exhibition is a permanent display of the history of the Siege of Londonderry and of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry, including artefacts, video and interactive media. The museum contains three modern galleries and includes audio visuals, touchscreens, artefacts and scale models to enhance the visitor experience.

The Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall is best known as the headquarters of the Apprentice Boys of Derry but there is much more behind the doors of what is affectionately known as “The Mem” The society aims to commemorate the 1689 Siege of Derry when Catholic James II of England and Ireland and VII of Scotland laid siege to the walled city, which was at the time a Protestant stronghold.

St Columba's Church, Long Tower is a Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Derry. It is located in the heart of the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. The present church is built on the site of Roman Catholic worship which goes back as far as the 12th century. The current Long Tower Church began life in 1783 in a much smaller scale than seen today.

The Museum of Free Derry is a museum located in Derry, Northern Ireland that focuses on the 1960s civil rights era known as The Troubles and the Free Derry Irish nationalist movement in the early 1970s. Located in the Bogside district, the museum's exhibits include photographs, posters, film footage, letters and personal artifacts.

Free Derry Corner is a historical landmark in the Bogside neighbourhood of Derry, Northern Ireland, which lies in the intersection of the Lecky Road, Rossville Street and Fahan Street. A free-standing gable wall commemorates Free Derry, a self-declared autonomous nationalist area of Derry that existed between 1969 and 1972. On the corner is a memorial to the 1981 hunger strikers and several murals.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is a new purpose built Irish language arts and cultural centre. It is part of the An Gaeláras group and opened premises in Great James Street, Derry. An impressive adddition to the city's skyline, it has become a beacon for language and culture enthusiasts, greatly enhancing access to services and facilities for the city’s Irish speaking community. It is also a symbol of the ongoing economic regeneration of the city.

St Eugene's Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral located in Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the "Mother Church" for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Derry, as well as the parish Church of the parish of Templemore. The cathedral was officially opened on 4 May 1873 by the then Bishop of Derry, Francis Kelly. At first the cathedral's windows were made of plain glass due to lack of funds. It was not until the late 1890s when stained glass windows were installed.

Brooke Park is a 3.88 acre Victorian park in the centre of Derry, Northern Ireland. The park contains many amenities, including a café, children's playground and football pitch, as well as a statue of Sir Robert Ferguson. It provides a valuable green space for recreational and leisure for citizens of the city since 1901.