Derry and Strabane sit either side of the River Foyle, with the Sperrin foothills rising to the south, so there’s real variety here: riverside paths, Woodland Trust forests, a wildfowl-rich country park and a couple of proper hillside climbs. Here’s what we could verify directly from council, Forest Service, Woodland Trust and tourism board sources, plus the Northern Ireland-specific rules that actually apply (not the England-style seasonal lead law you’ll see quoted elsewhere).
Coastal and riverside
- Culmore Country Park, Coney Road, Derry, BT48 8JN — 40 hectares on the Lough Foyle shoreline, over 3km of flat parkland paths past tidal lagoons that are an internationally important site for wintering wildfowl and waders. No specific dog rule is stated, but given the bird habitat, we’d keep dogs on a lead near the lagoons. Open 8am until dusk.
- Foyle Valley Greenway (National Cycle Route 92) — a flat, tarmac former railway path starting near Craigavon Bridge and running roughly 2.75 miles south along the River Foyle towards Carrigans. It’s shared with cyclists, so keep dogs close on the approach to blind bends.
- Ness Country Park, Killaloo, near Claudy — 55 hectares with over 7km of riverside paths beside the Burntollet River; the longer Ness–Ervey–Burntollet circuit is about 4 miles with some steep, stepped sections and boardwalks, past Ness waterfall. A separate, easier meadow walk suits less confident walkers.
- Prehen Wood — a Woodland Trust wood on the Foyle’s east bank, about 1.9 miles from Derry city centre, with a waymarked path network and a stone footbridge. Woodland Trust’s own dog code applies here (see below).
- St Columb’s Park, Waterside, Derry — green space beside the Peace Bridge, recently given a new entrance and resurfaced paths. Derry City and Strabane District Council can designate specific lead-only areas in its parks under a 2020 byelaw, so check on-site signage here rather than assuming the whole park is off-lead friendly.
Woodland and forest park
- Faughan Valley Woodlands (Oaks Wood, Brackfield Wood, Red Brae Wood, Killaloo Wood, Burntollet Wood) — a cluster of Woodland Trust woods along the A6 between Drumahoe and Claudy, with three waymarked routes: the River Path (2.3 miles, mostly flat), the Sculpture Loop (4.1 miles, strenuous) and the Valley Trail (5.2 miles, strenuous, with a short stretch of single-track road). Car parks at Oaks Wood and Red Brae.
- Gortin Glen Forest Park, near Omagh — one of Northern Ireland’s largest forest parks, on the western edge of the Sperrins, with a scenic forest drive and marked walking trails. Technically in Fermanagh and Omagh, but commonly used by Strabane-based walkers. A larch disease outbreak affects the Lislap East section, so follow any biosecurity signage.
- Killeter Forest, near Castlederg — four waymarked routes (Mullyfa, Holy Well, Bannadoo and Tullnashane) ranging from about 3km to 12km, on forest roads and riverbank paths with short stretches of narrow country road.
Upland and hillside
- Learmount Forest, in the northern foothills of the Sperrins — a circular route of just over 4km climbing about 200m from the River Faughan up Meeny Hill, passing the ruins of an 1830s castle. Some steep sections; this is a working forest, so routes can be diverted.
The Derg Valley Walks near Castlederg are also worth knowing about — Discover NI describes a series of circular routes through open moorland and riverside countryside, though without named routes or distances published, so treat this as a “worth exploring on arrival” entry rather than a fully mapped one.
The rules that actually apply here
Northern Ireland doesn’t have the same seasonal “1 March to 31 July” lead law you’ll see quoted for England, so don’t rely on that date here. Instead, three pieces of NI legislation matter: the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 requires dogs to be under proper control on open country such as hills, moors and woodland; the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 makes it an offence to let a dog worry livestock, with fines up to £1,000; and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 makes it an offence to disturb nesting birds, with fines up to £5,000 or six months in prison. Woodland Trust sites additionally ask for a lead near livestock and ground-nesting birds, usually March to July. When in doubt, keep your dog on a lead and under control, and always clean up.
For busy riverside paths and forest trails shared with cyclists, a reliable recall matters. See our Derry and Strabane dog trainer page if that’s something you’re working on. A Calmdogs calming collar from Calmshops can help alongside training if your dog finds busy paths stressful; speak to your vet if you’re concerned. See the rest of our coverage on the Derry and Strabane dog services hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a seasonal lead law for dogs in Northern Ireland?
No, not the England-style 1 March to 31 July rule. Instead, NI law requires dogs to be under proper control on open country and around livestock year-round, under the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983.
What’s the best riverside dog walk near Derry?
Culmore Country Park and the Foyle Valley Greenway both offer flat, easy riverside walking close to the city, while Ness Country Park near Claudy has a longer, hillier riverside circuit.
Are there hill walks for dogs near Strabane?
Yes — Learmount Forest and Killeter Forest both offer proper hillside and forest walking within reach of Strabane, and Gortin Glen Forest Park is a short drive further on.
Written by Georgiana & Figo.
