Magherafelt

Magherafelt is a town historically in County Londonderry astride the old highway from Belfast to Derry and Donegal. The A6 now bypasses it to the north, and the counties are no longer units of local government, so Magherafelt is now part of Mid-Ulster District. Its population in 2021 was 9600.

"Magherafelt" derives from Machaire Fíolta, meaning "plain of Fíolta", and there was a monastery settlement here in medieval times. There's nothing left of that now, and the present town was created during the 17th century plantation era. English authority had been shocked by an uprising in Donegal and the burning of Derry, so they handed the whole kit and caboodle over to a London business consortium. These gentlemen created the walled city of Londonderry, divvied up the territory between their merchant company members, and brought in loyal Protestant colonists to prevent future Troubles. The Worshipful Company of Salters came ninth in the merchant hierarchy, and they were allocated a tract in the south of the county around Magherafelt. "On a wreath of the colours, a cubit arm erect, issuing from clouds all proper, holding a covered salt argent..." (and so on, at some length) — why, their coat of arms alone should be enough to cow those damned rebels. (It's among those displayed in Londonderry's Guildhall.) These companies ruled until 19th century local government reforms; the Salters diversified into other food additives and chemicals, and still function as a charity.

The plantations established a population that would have no truck with a catholic-dominated independent Ireland, and in 1921 County Londonderry was one of the six Ulster counties that became part of Northern Ireland within the UK. Magherafelt's fortunes rose and fell with that of Belfast and the wider province. Late 20th-century economic slump and sectarian tensions fed upon each other; 11 people were killed locally in this phase of Troubles, and in 1993 town centre was wrecked by a car bomb. It's nowadays a quiet market town on the edge of the Belfast commuter belt.

By road from Belfast follow M2 past Antrim then A6 west. From the south you can avoid Belfast if rush hour is looming by branching off A1 at Newry and heading through Armagh, Dungannon and Cookstown.

Ulsterbus 110 / 210 runs from Antrim via Randalstown and Castledawson to Magherafelt (50 min), and continues to Moneymore and Cookstown (another 20 min). They're every two hours M-F, with only four on Saturday. Antrim is usually the most convenient railway station, with trains between Belfast and Londonderry, and buses from Lisburn via Belfast International Airport.

Bus 89 also runs twice M-F from Cookstown, by a roundabout route via Killycolpy and Ard Bo.

Bus 127 runs from Ballymena via Portglenone, Bellaghy and Castledawson, taking an hour to Magherafelt. They run hourly M-F and every two hours Saturday.

Bus 116 runs every hour or so from Coleraine, taking an hour. You may have to change buses in Maghera.

Goldliner Bus 278 runs in university term-time, with one bus Su-F from Monaghan via Armagh, Moy, Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Garvagh and Coleraine to Ulster University, Portstewart and Portrush.

54.7561-6.60851 Buscentre is on Union St in Magherafelt town centre.

Buses between Belfast and Londonderry stop at Maghera Park & Ride on A6 south edge of that village. The stop is within walking distance of Ballynahone Bog.

"I had my existence. I was there. Me in place and the place in me." - Seamus Heaney

Bus 389 runs from the Buscentre to the west-side housing estates then north to the Mid-Ulster Hospital, hourly M-Sa.

Taxi firms are Glenone (+44 28 7930 0410), Nibs (+44 7518 203181), Dave's (+44 7884 244050) and E&K (+44 28 7930 1249).

• Town centre is the typical Irish strip of 19th century low-rise interspersed with modern buildings. The Bridewell at the foot of Broad Street was once the courthouse and jail, and is now the library.

• 54.8077-6.52111 Seamus Heaney Homeplace, 45 Main St, Bellaghy BT45 8HT, ☏ +44 28 7938 7444. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. Famous Seamus (1939-2013) grew up in Bellaghy. This exhibition depicts his life and poetry. Adult £12, conc & child £8.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Bellaghy Bawn is a 17th-century fortified house on Castle St, Bellaghy, 200 yards south of the Heaney Homeplace. No visits.
• 54.8236-6.661112 Ballynahone Bog is a raised bog, of a type once widespread across north Europe, and still plentiful in the Republic. The retreat of the glaciers left lakes which infilled to bog, and the moss and vegetation built up and built up over centuries, like a huge sponge. As soon as you cut into it for road-building, field drainage or peat, the water rushes out, the bog dome collapses and the habitat is lost. Ballynahone is the last large example in Ulster: it was damaged by peat-cutting in the 1990s but that's been halted, and dams put across the ditches to retain the water.
• 54.7942-6.73323 Kilcronaghan Old Church had a short life compared to the relics unearthed during its construction from 1806. Several features of its predecessors were incorporated, including the "hanging stone", the projecting block of masonry used as a gibbet for the rebels of 1641. But it was soon apparent to its Church of Ireland congregation that their new home was much too small. They carried on earnestly agreeing this until the 1850s before building a larger church.
• 54.748-6.7374 Slieve Gallion is the eastern summit of the Sperrins, the range of hills stretching to Strabane. It's 528 m / 1732 ft, a volcanic plug rounded by glaciation. A paved lane winds up its south side to a radio transmitter, so it's more of an afternoon stroll than a proper hike. It's a popular site for paragliding. Don't confuse it with Slieve Gullion, which is to the south near Newry.
• Ballybriest on the west flank of Slieve Gallion is a dual court tomb: these were constructed around 3500 BC and used for later burials to 2000 BC. The east half of the tomb has lost most of its stone. It stands by the lane above Lough Fea, off B162 from Cookstown. 2 km northeast on the hillside is Corick stone circle, indistinct amidst the soggy heather.
• 54.6856-6.65555 Springhill House : see Cookstown for this 17th century Plantation mansion.

• 54.709-6.5291 Ballyronan is the closest access point for Lough Neagh, the large freshwater lake in the centre of Northern Ireland. It has a marina, a camping and caravan site, a woodland park for strolling, and a couple of pubs.
• Cinema: Movie House is on St Lurach's Rd in Maghera.
• Golf: Ronan Valley GC is on Ballyronan Rd south edge of Magherafelt. Further out are Moyola Park at Castledawson and Traad Ponds at Ballyronan.
• 54.725-6.672 The Jungle, 60 Desertmartin Road, Moneymore BT45 7RB, ☏ +44 28 8674 8881. Activities such as clay-pigeon shooting and quad bikes, so it's more for older children and adults than kiddies.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.7003-6.653 Splash is a waterpark on Maghadone Rd, Moneymore. You'll be needing a wetsuit.

• Meadowlane is the shopping centre in Magherafelt, with Dunne's Stores.
• Tesco is on Ballyronan Rd, open M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

• District 45 Restaurant, 7 Garden St, Magherafelt BT45 5DD, ☏ +44 28 7930 0333. W-Sa 5-9PM, Su noon-8PM. Inexpensive place in town centre serving modern European cuisine. (updated Sep 2026)
• Diamond Chippy at 3 Queen St is open daily 4-9PM (Sep 2026).
• Istanbul at 9 Queen St is open M-Th 5-11PM, F-Su 5PM-3AM (Sep 2026).
• Imperial Palace at 15 Queen St is open Th-Tu 4:30-10PM (Sep 2026).
• Notorious Pizza at 44 Queen St is open W-F 5-9PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su 4-8PM.
• Slim's Kitchen at 18 Market St is open M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 10AM-6PM (Sep 2026).
• Sizzlin Smokehouse, 25 Market St, Magherafelt BT45 6EE, ☏ +44 28 7963 1300. Daily noon-9PM. Lively family-friendly diner for grills. (updated Sep 2026)
• Bienvenidos Café at 26 Market St is open M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-3PM (Sep 2026).
• Damascus Delight at 19 King St is open Su-Tu & Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-1PM (Sep 2026).
• Church St Brasserie at 23 Church St is open W Th 4-9PM, F-Su noon-9PM (Sep 2026).
• The Taaj, 44 Queen's Ave, Magherafelt BT45 6AB, ☏ +44 28 7930 0661. Daily 4-10PM. Serving the standard Indian favourites, with veggie choices. (updated Sep 2026)
• Maghera has Cafe 3121 plus takeaways (Sep 2026).
• 54.7717-6.52741 The Old Thatch Inn, 116 Hillhead Rd, Castledawson BT45 8ET, ☏ +44 28 7946 8322. M Tu & Th noon-11PM, F-Su noon-1AM. Trad Irish pub with good food and warm welcome.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.7543-6.46182 O'Neill Arms, 22 Main St, Toomebridge BT41 3TQ, ☏ +44 28 7958 0161. They may have rooms but this is nowadays primarily a lakeside restaurant.  (updated Sep 2026) ^{[dead link]}

• Town centre in Magherafelt has Dorman's, Mary's, Step Inn, Cosy Inn and The Coachman (Sep 2026).
• Taphouse is the main eating and drinking place in Bellaghy (Sep 2026).
• Heaney Brewery is north of Bellaghy. Tours available (Sep 2026).
• Maghera pubs are The Scoring End, McMaster's, Regan's, Kearney's and McKenna's (Sep 2026).
• Ballyronan pubs are The Cove, Jonny Fox's, Hawthorne's and Gauger's Inn (Sep 2026).

• Terrace Hotel, 42 Church St, Magherafelt BT45 6AW, ☏ +44 28 7963 4040. Good mid-range accommodation and dining in town centre. B&B double £150. (updated Sep 2026)
• Laurel Villa is a B&B at 60 Church St near Terrace Hotel.
• 54.753-6.59391 Brooke Lodge Guesthouse, 2 Laurelbrook, Aughrim Rd, Magherafelt BT45 6NT, ☏ +44 28 7963 4800. Clean, friendly B&B east side of town. B&B double £120.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.8447-6.67282 Walsh's Hotel, 53 Main Street, Maghera BT46 5AA, ☏ +44 28 7954 9100. Good mid-range hotel in an 18th-century town inn. B&B double £130.  (updated Sep 2026)
• 54.8835-6.63773 Ardtara Country House, 8 Gorteade Rd, Upperlands, Maghera BT46 5SA, ☏ +44 28 7964 4490. Stylish country mansion. B&B double £200.  (updated Sep 2026)
• Ballyronan Marina (see above) has camping and caravan pitches Mar-Oct.

As of Sep 2026, Magherafelt and its approach roads have 4G with Vodafone, and 5G with EE, O2 and Three.

• Cookstown, where kings of Tyrone were inaugurated, has many prehistoric sites.
• Antrim has pleasant castle gardens and an impressive Round Tower.
• Castlerock on the coast has the eccentric Mussenden Temple.