Days Out NI
Worth the drive Forest & woodland Omagh

Gortin Glen Forest Park

Tall spruce, mountain scale and a giant on the summit — the Sperrins at their biggest, free to walk and free to park.

5 photos
Open all yearGates 6.30am–9pm summer, 6.30am–6pm winter
FreeFree parking too
Near OmaghForest & woodland
Get directionsOfficial website
Half a day for the drive and a play, a full day if you climb to the giantHow long
FreeEntry
All agesBest for
Under controlDogs
FreeParking

Gortin Glen Forest Park — the western gateway to the Sperrins, where towering spruce and open mountain make this corner of Tyrone feel like somewhere far bigger and further away.

  • What you'll do: drive the five-mile forest drive with its vista lay-bys over the Sperrins, take one of the waymarked walking trails through the tall conifers, and — for the big one — climb to Darach the Guardian, the giant wooden figure standing on the summit of Mullaghcarn. There's a destination play park and trim trail by the car park, serious red and black mountain-bike loops, and a resident herd of Sika deer to watch for.
  • How long: half a day for the drive, a wander and a play; a full day if you walk up to the giant on Mullaghcarn (a long climb — allow a few hours there and back).
  • Come ready: the walk up to Darach is a proper mountain climb on a linear trail of about 7.4km there and back, on gravel and tarmac that rises steadily to an exposed summit — walking boots, a warm layer and water, and turn back if the cloud comes down. The forest drive and the trails lower down are far gentler.
  • Cost & food: free to visit and free to park. There's an on-site café by the amenity building for a coffee and a bite, but it doesn't open every day — it's quieter midweek out of season, so if the café matters, ring ahead or bring a picnic. Picnic tables and a BBQ area too.
  • When: open all year — gates roughly 6.30am to 9pm April to September and 6.30am to 6pm October to March, closing early in high wind or ice. Confirm on the day, as new recreation works have been changing some of the access and parking.
Plan your visit

What you'll actually do here

Start with the drive. The five-mile forest drive winds up through steep hillsides of Sitka spruce, with lay-bys cut in where you can pull over and take in the Sperrins rolling away in every direction — it's the shot that makes people say it doesn't look like Northern Ireland at all. From the main car park the waymarked walking trails set off into the tall trees, past a burn and a small waterfall, gentle enough for most legs. For the more determined, the Mullaghcarn walking trail climbs all the way to the open summit, where Darach the Guardian stands with her arms wide over the moor — one of three giant sculptures by the artist Thomas Dambo dotted across the Sperrins, and the only one you reach on foot from Gortin. Back down by the car park there's a big play park and trim trail for the children, a café and picnic area, and — for cyclists — red and black mountain-bike loops that head out onto the hillside. Keep an eye on the tree line and you may spot the resident Sika deer.

Free to visit and free to park, all year round Five-mile scenic forest drive with vista lay-bys over the Sperrins Darach the Guardian giant on the summit of Mullaghcarn Destination play park and trim trail by the car park Waymarked walking trails and red & black mountain-bike loops Resident herd of Japanese Sika deer, plus Gortin Lakes just north
Good to know before you go:

The walk up to Darach on Mullaghcarn is a real mountain climb, not a stroll — it gains a lot of height to an exposed, weather-catching summit, so it's for well-shod, confident walkers and best left for a clear day. The forest drive and the lower trails are the easy option for younger children and prams. New recreation facilities have been going in, so some access and parking arrangements may have changed — worth a quick check before you set off.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🥾Walking bootsThe forest paths are easy, but the climb to the giant is a real mountain trail — grippy, warm feet make it.
  • 🧥A warm layerThe summit is high and exposed and the weather turns fast; the drama of a changing sky is half the magic here.
  • 💧Water and a snackThe café doesn't open every day, so pack a bottle and something to keep small climbers going.
  • 📷A cameraThe forest drive, the towering spruce and the giant on the moor are all made for photos.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to visit and free to park. There's no barrier charge for the car park.
Opening / season
Open all year. Gates roughly 6.30am–9pm (1 April–30 September) and 6.30am–6pm (1 October–31 March), closing early in high wind or ice. Confirm on the day.
Best for ages
All ages for the drive, the play park and the lower trails. The climb up to the Darach giant on Mullaghcarn is a mountain walk best suited to older, confident walkers.
What you'll see
The five-mile scenic forest drive with Sperrin viewpoints, Darach the Guardian giant on Mullaghcarn, waymarked walking trails, a burn and small waterfall, red & black mountain-bike loops, a destination play park and trim trail, and a resident herd of Sika deer. Gortin Lakes lie a short way north.
Food
A café by the amenity building serves coffee and hot food, but it doesn't open every day — it runs more limited hours midweek and out of season, so ring ahead if it matters. Picnic tables and a BBQ area on site.
Toilets
Yes — toilets on site, including accessible facilities.
Parking
Free car park by the amenity building, play park and trailhead. New recreation works have been changing some parking, so allow for that.
Dogs
Welcome on the trails and in the picnic areas, kept under control, and clean up after them.
Accessibility
The forest drive lets you take in the scenery by car, and much of the play equipment is designed to be usable by children with disabilities. The walking trails and the summit climb involve rougher ground, gravel and steady gradients.
How long to allow
Half a day for the drive, a walk and a play; a full day if you climb to the giant on Mullaghcarn.
Address
Gortin Glen Forest Park, Lisnaharney Road, Gortin, Co Tyrone, BT79 7UG
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Yes — free to visit and free to park, all year, with no barrier charge on the car park.
Where is the giant, and can we walk to it?
Darach the Guardian stands on the summit of Mullaghcarn, reached on foot from the forest park along a waymarked trail of about 7.4km there and back. It's a proper mountain climb on gravel and tarmac to an exposed top, so it suits confident, well-shod walkers and a clear day — not a quick stroll with a buggy. Darach is one of three Giants of the Sperrins by the artist Thomas Dambo; the other two are at Davagh Forest and near Cranagh in the Glenelly Valley.
What's the forest drive?
A five-mile scenic drive that climbs through the forest with lay-bys cut in for the views over the Sperrins — a lovely, easy way to take in the scale of the place without a long walk.
Is there a café and toilets?
There are toilets on site, including accessible ones, and a café by the amenity building — but the café doesn't open every day, running more limited hours midweek and out of season. Bring a picnic to be sure, and there's a BBQ area too.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome on the trails and in the picnic areas, kept under control, and clean up after them.
Getting there

Gortin Glen Forest Park is on the B48 (Lisnaharney Road) about six miles north of Omagh, on the way up to Gortin village (BT79 7UG). The free car park, café, toilets, play park and trailhead are all at the amenity building. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

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The story

Northern Ireland's first coniferous forest park

Gortin Glen opened to the public in 1967, and it holds a small piece of history: it was the first forest park in Northern Ireland to be created in a coniferous plantation. It covers around 1,534 hectares at the western gateway to the Sperrin mountains, some six miles north of Omagh, where the tightly-planted Sitka spruce climb the hillsides and give the place its big, faraway feel.

The forest was planted for timber, and much of it still is a working forest — but over the years it grew into a place to come and roam, with the scenic forest drive, the waymarked trails and a resident herd of Japanese Sika deer. The land above the trees rises to Mullaghcarn, and the long-distance Ulster Way passes through part of the forest on its way across the country.

In recent years the summit gained a new landmark. Darach the Guardian, a towering figure built by the Danish recycle-artist Thomas Dambo from reclaimed wood, was raised on the top of Mullaghcarn as one of three Giants of the Sperrins — the past, present and future, scattered across the range. Darach, the present, watches over the mountain with her arms wide, ringed by stones said to echo the old tradition of carrying a stone to a mountaintop cairn. It's a long walk up to meet her, and worth every step of it.