ROE VALLEY COUNTRY PARK - Beautiful Forest and the River Roe outside Limavady

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• published: 03 Feb 2017
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Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep. ROE VALLEY COUNTRY PARK Forest and River Roe outside Limavady Roe Valley Country Park, Limavady Roe Valley Country park is a three mile long wooded park that the River Roe partly runs through. It is managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Several bridges are located over the river but only of them is accessible by cars. During periods of heavy rain some parts of the Park may become inaccessible due flooding along the paths. Numerous types of living creatures can be found in the park, such as foxes, badgers and otters in addition to over 60 species of birds. Visitors can learn about the industrial and natural heritage of the area in the museum and countryside centre. You can also check out the remains of buildings that was previously used in the linen industry, a restored water wheel and much of the original equipment is preserved including ruined water mills used in linen production. The Roe Valley Country Park is definitely worth a visit any time of the year. History The Roe Valley Country Park reflects the evolving industrial history of Limavady. The geography of the river is ideal for the use of water power via mill races. Visitors can also spot remains of several water wheels and linen factories. In 1896, R E Ritter used one of the old mill races to build Ulster's first AC power station, which supplied Limavady with electricity for many years. Other relics from the industrial age include the green watchtowers. The last O’Cahan chief perished in the Tower of London in 1628. The site of his castle still stands on the steep riverbank. Activities The Park offers woodland walks along with opportunities for salmon and trout fishing, canoeing, rock climbing and orienteering. • Fishing for salmon and brown trout. • Kayaking, although the park bans boats and canoes. • Swimming in a section of the river right below O'Cahan's Rock. • Orienteering in the forest. • Engagement Party Activities in the Park Nearby Attractions • Green Lane Museum Visitors of the Park can enjoy the Green Lane Museum where they can view displayed historical exhibits showcasing the evolution of the linen and agricultural industries in Limavady in the 18th century. Much of the machinery is preserved, including a restored water wheel. Seasonal opening hours: May to August open Saturday to Thursday 1:00 pm – 4:45pm September open Saturday and Sunday 1:00 pm to 4:45 pm • O’Cahan Castle The park is also home to the original site of the famous O'Cahan's Castle. The O'Cahan clan ruled the Roe Valley freely from 1122 until 1260 when they were defeated by the Normans. Sadly, they did only regained power over a hundred years later. A legend is often associated with the clan that during one of the sieges they were involved in, one of their loyal dogs leapt across the Roe River to deliver a message to their allies in Dungiven. The spot from which the dog leapt became known as 'Leim an mhadaidh' or 'Leap of the Dog'. To this day it is still known as Dogleap. The O'Cahans Castle was occupied until 1607, and the its original site can still be seen today. King James I granted Sir Thomas Philips, an English soldier, the land that was forfeited by the O'Cahans, including Roe Valley. Philips demolished O'Cahan's Castle and built a two-story house in its place. Did you know? • Roe Valley Country Park hosted a Dracula film The last Dracula adaptation, starring Luke Evans, was filmed at Roe Valley Country Club in Limavady. The production company was granted permission to film at the park in 2013. While the Universal Pictures production was mainly based in Belfast, it was also filmed at various Northern Ireland locations. The country park remained open to the general public, although some areas were inaccessible while filming was in process. The film is a retelling of the original Bram Stoker novel about Vlad, Prince of Transylvania, who becomes a vampire in order to defeat the Turkish army who are trying to take over his kingdom. Mark H Durkan, Minister of Environment, had commented on the event, "We have wonderful landscapes in Northern Ireland. We are enriched with attractive country parks. Roe Valley is just one example and films such as this provide a great opportunity to showcase our natural beauty both locally and on a world stage. While we apologise for any minor inconvenience this may cause to the visiting public, there is no doubt that the spin-off publicity will ultimately lead to many more tourist visits. The country park will remain open during the filming. Therefore the net benefits to the park, to the town of Limavady and to the rest of the north would far exceed any short term inconvenience." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaCImxQre0g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgOXJocSLSg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr2xy7xEC3E www.connollycove.com