Limavady

Limavady is a market town in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland, in the scenic Roe Valley. Limavady is nowadays part of Causeway Coast and Glens District, and in 2021 had a population of 11,000. "Limavady" is from Léim a' Mhadaidh – "leap of the dog". In legend the dog leapt from a bluff across the Roe Valley to warn of attack, or summon help, or simply to leg it.

- "very Irish, for though it has been planted for more than two centuries by English and Scottish settlers, the old Irish race still forms the great majority of its peasant inhabitants; and there are few, if any counties in which, with less foreign admixture, the ancient melodies of the country have been so extensively preserved." — Publisher's introduction of 1855

Jane Ross (1810-1879) lived with her sisters at 51 Main St Limavady, and early one morning in 1853 she heard an unusual violin tune played outside her window. She was a keen collector of Irish folk music; she never got the name of the player or of the tune, but it joined a batch published by George Petrie. Known as the "Londonderry Air", it was originally without words. It was unlike other Irish folk tunes, and other collectors were unaware of it. It's nowadays believed to stem from the 18th-century Aisling an Óigfhir or "The Young Man's Dream", but played so slowly and mournfully as to cause Ross to mistake the time signature.

The first set of words to the tune appeared in the 1870s, and around 50 versions have been published, mostly so sad and mawkish that you would either fall about laughing or throw up. There really ought to be a mash-up version (yes, that scans for its first line), to set His love among the sons of men, and lie and faint within your silken bosom, the pilgrim told not how or when. But in 1913 Frederic Edward Weatherly set the words that have become the unofficial national anthem of Northern Ireland and its diaspora. They're every bit as mawkish, and you can laugh or upchuck if you will — lots of late-night carousers do so. But if there is a single molecule of Ulster in your being, then you will nevertheless sing like you mean it, with tears in your eyes. It's called "Danny Boy".

55.043-7.1621 City of Derry Airport (LDY ^IATA) is at Eglinton 10 miles west on A2, with flights from the UK and in summer from the Med. You've more choice flying into one of the Belfast airports.

By road from Belfast follow M2 / A6 to Dungiven then B68 north.

Goldliner 234 runs every couple of hours from Londonderry via City of Derry Airport to Limavady (40 min) and Coleraine. In term-time it continues to Ulster University.

Ulsterbus 143 / 144 / 152 is a slower service, taking an hour from Londonderry hourly M-F.

Bus 134 runs from Coleraine along the coast road A2 to Castlerock, Magilligan crossroads, Bellarena, Aghanloo Cross and Limavady, taking an hour. There are 8 M-F and 6 Sa.

55.0542-6.94842 Buscentre in Limavady is east end of Main St.

The railway runs right next to Limavady and the airport and serves neither. It's probably simplest to take the hourly train from Belfast to Londonderry then the bus out.

55.1274-6.95043 Bellarena is a halt on the railway five miles north of Limavady. It's served by the infrequent Bus 134 (above) or you could have a taxi arranged.

55.191-6.9664 Magilligan Point is the landing for the Lough Foyle Ferry from Greencastle in County Donegal. It sails Jun-Aug, shuttling continuously from 9AM to 8PM, a 10-min crossing. It carries light vehicles; there are buses to Greencastle but no onward public transport from Magilligan Point. Make sure your personal and car documents are valid for the Republic of Ireland.

You need your own wheels to explore the area.

The local taxi firm is Bells (+44 28 7776 3929).

• 55.025-6.9391 Roe Valley Country Park is a 3-mile stretch where the River Roe channels through a scenic wooded gorge. There's a small visitor centre-cum-museum, open Sa Su 11AM-4PM. The area is used for fishing, kayaking, river-bathing and abseiling.
• 55.0597-6.9322 Drenagh is primarily an events venue, but you can see the gardens daily 9AM-4PM.
• 55.11-6.923 Binevenagh rises abruptly northeast of the village. It's the western bastion of the Antrim plateau, formed of basalt from lava upwelling 60 million years ago. You can drive most of the way up, for example by Bishop's Road branching off B201 the old Coleraine Rd. It's designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has great views from the cliffs towards Lough Foyle and County Donegal. Gliders, hang-gliders and para-gliders launch from the edges. Near the top (385 m / 1263 ft) is a shallow lake for fishing.
• Magilligan Point is the west end of the beach and dune system stretching to Castlerock. There's a Martello Tower in the sandhills, a pub, and a ferry you can take to Greencastle just for the ride. You can't venture inland as it's an army firing range, which surrounds a prison, perhaps a subtle hint to the inmates.
• 55.168-6.8794 Benone Strand stretches for 7 miles from Magilligan Point to Downhill cliffs above Castlerock, with views across to Donegal. The easiest access is midway, by the tourist complex and caravan sites off A2. There's another access at its east end towards the cliffs, but in between it's cut off by the railway. Vehicles are permitted on the beach, and some of them rev around with no regard for the children.
• 55.168-6.8115 Mussenden Temple: see Castlerock for this oddity perched on the cliff edge at the east end of Benone Strand.
• 54.9248-6.9216 Dungiven Castle is 19th century. It's variously been a dance-hall, army base and hotel. It's now Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, a secondary school teaching in Irish, a rarity in Northern Ireland. No tours, you can admire the facade from the street.
• Dungiven Priory is a gnarly ruin and atmospheric graveyard half a mile south of the castle and village. Reach it by the lane crossing A6, with a standing stone just before the bridge.

• Roe Valley Arts (M-F 9:30AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM) on Main St put on music and exhibitions.
• Roe Valley Leisure Centre on Greystone Rd has a gym and pool.
• Golf: the course is within Roe Valley Resort, see Sleep.

Bellarena is an upmarket championship golf complex under construction, due to open in 2029.

• Benone Tourist Complex by the beach has a 9-hole golf course, putting green, driving range, tennis courts and an outdoor kids activities area.
• Football: Limavady United were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in NIFL Premiership, the top tier in Norther Ireland. They play at The Showgrounds, capacity 1500.
• Stendhal Festival is a pop music and comedy event held in July.

• Tesco on Main St is the principal store, open M-Sa 8AM-11PM, Su 1-6PM.
• Lidl is on Main St is open 8AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.
• SuperValu on Market Street is open 8AM-8PM, Su 1-6PM.
• There's an ATM at the Bank of Ireland on Main St.
• Dungiven has a Supervalu on the main road open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

• Junction Bar & Grill at 88 Main St is open M-F noon-3PM, 5-8PM, Sa Su noon-8PM.
• The Market Yard at 41 Main St is open W-Su noon-3PM, 5-9PM.
• Cafe Steinbeck at 26 Main St is open M-Sa 9AM-5PM.
• Chicken Plaza at 27 Main St is open daily 2-10PM.
• Oh Papi is Mexican at 35 Main St, open M-Sa noon-9PM, Su 4-9PM.
• Fire & Stone is a pizzeria on Catherine St, open daily 4-10PM.
• Moonlight is an Indian / Italian restaurant at 50A Catherine St, open daily 4:30-10PM.

• The Corner Bar, 41 Main St BT49 0EP, ☏ +44 28 7772 2333. W-Su noon-midnight. Good town centre choice. (updated Sep 2026)
• Frank Owens, 50 Main St BT49 0EU (next to Buscentre), ☏ +44 28 7772 2328. M-Sa 11:30AM-11:30PM. Trad bar with beer garden and outdoor marquee in summer. (updated Sep 2026)
• Thatch Bar at 14 Catherine St is open M-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, Su 12:30PM-midnight.
• Crown Bar at 24 Irish Green St is open Su & W Th 2-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight.

• 55.04-6.95641 Roe Valley Resort, 10 Lisnakilly Road BT49 9FB, ☏ +44 28 7772 2222. Upmarket hotel with golf, dining and spa, great scores for comfort and service. Child-friendly. B&B double £250.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0439-7.01142 Drummond Hotel, 2 Main St, Ballykelly BT49 9HP, ☏ +44 28 7772 2121. Comfy small hotel on the main road to Derry. B&B double £180.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 55.0466-7.02493 Walworth Demesne, 45 Walworth Rd, Ballykelly BT49 9JU, ☏ +44 7833 785062. B&B in an elegant Georgian country house.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.9314-6.93444 Kintala Resort, Drumrane Rd, Dungiven BT47 4PH, ☏ +44 28 7721 7104. Spa with cabins, glamping pods and apartments. B&B double £160.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Edenroe, 42 Chapel Rd, Dungiven BT47 4RT (quartermile south of Dungiven Castle), ☏ +44 7759 692122. Smart friendly guesthouse. B&B double £120. (updated Sep 2026)
• Deighan's Caravans are at Benone Beach and open Apr-Sep. Many units are static but tourers are welcome.

As of Sep 2026, Limavady and its approach roads have 4G from Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and O2. The Irish carriers don't reach this far into the UK.

• Castlerock has the odd Mussenden Temple.
• Derry is a fascinating walled city.
• Coleraine is by the university. Travel that way for Giant's Causeway and other sights along the Antrim coast.