Ness Country Park

About

Ness Country Park is a 55-acre site which includes the Ness Wood and Ervey Wood Nature Reserve and the 30 feet high Ness Waterfall. The park boasts over 4.5mile of stunning woodland and riverside walks including an abundance of flora and fauna and is a haven for both walkers and nature enthusiasts alike. These are off road and waymarked.

Ness Country Park is named for ‘an las’ or Ness, meaning Waterfall, in this case one of the highest waterfalls in Northern Ireland. After the last ice age, ten thousand years ago, the old Burntollet river course was blocked by glacial deposits. In eroding a new channel through the rock, the river has created the magnificent waterfall, gorges, portholes and rapids which are a feature of Ness Country Park.

Visitors can look forward to enjoying late spring woodland flowers, summer purple hairstreak butterflies, autumn woodland colour and a year-round beautiful woodland walk. 

Bluebells and wood sorrel carpet the ground in spring and bilberry and hazel provide food for the birds. During summertime, you will be able to hear warblers fill the glades with the beautiful sounds of birdsong. Visitors may be able to spot small clouds of purple hairstreak butterflies if they look above the canopy of the stately oaks. During wintertime, rowan berries and bright red holly can provide a flash of colour in the woodland. Red squirrels, badgers and otters are among the wildlife which has made this habitat their home. 

Walking Trails

Walking trails link Ness Country Park with the adjacent Faughan Valley Woodlands; a collection of enchanting ancient woods managed by the Woodland Trust.

Starting Point - Ness Country Park Visitor Centre. 
Trail Heads/Information Panels at car parks or entrances to woods. 

Meadow Route: Approx. 0.75km/0.46miles, Wheelchair Accessible, Loop, Flat, Asphalt surface.

From the visitor centre building keep right passing wild life ponds and meadows and a children’s, adventure playground. At the finger post sign keep left following the Burntollet River downstream. At Brown’s Bridge keep left to return to the visitor centre building.

Meadow Plus Route:  Approx. 1.5km/ 0.93miles, Easy, Loop & linear sections, Flat, Asphalt and concrete surface and compacted gravel for a short distance.

From the visitor centre building keep right passing wild life ponds and meadows and a children’s, adventure playground. Turn right following the signs for Waterfall and Ness Wood. Cross Hone’s Bridge and follow the gravel and then path past scenic pastureland. At the end of the concrete path -at the entrance to Ness Wood - turn back, returning to and crossing over Hones Bridge. At the finger post sign keep right and follow Burntollet River downstream. At Brown’s Bridge keep left to return to the visitor centre building.   

Waterfall Route: Approx. 3 km/1.9miles, Difficult, Linear & loop sections,Asphalt and concrete surface for 1.5km/0.93 miles as well gravel. The path includes steep inclines, steps and footbridges.  

From the visitor centre building keep right passing wild life ponds and meadows and a children’s, adventure playground. Turn right following the signs for Waterfall and Ness Wood. Cross Hone’s Bridge and follow the gravel and then path past scenic pastureland. At the end of the concrete path and at the entrance to Ness Wood is an information panel detailing the trail options available. This route takes the steps option on the left; follows the path onwards to the waterfall; continues upstream until arriving at open parkland; skirts around the open parkland and back downstream. Key points on downward route are Shane’s Bridge; The Gorge Crossing and Stevenson’s Bridge. Following this route brings the walker back to the Ness Wood entrance point. Follow the signs for the Visitor Centre to return to the start point.   

Ervey Wood:  Approx. 3 km/1.9miles | Difficult | Linear I Gravel (Loose and compacted). The path includes steep inclines.  

A linear route beginning and returning to the visitor centre building. From the visitor centre building, continue straight ahead, passing the toilet block and then crossing over Brown’s Bridge.  Follow the path downstream of Burntollet River before beginning a steep ascent. The path finishes at Ervey Car Park. From here return to the visitor centre building along the same route. 

Please note from Ervey Car Park the walker can begin their exploration of Burntollet Wood which is part of the Faughan Valley Woodland Trails Experience. 

Park facilities include toilets, car parking, woodland and riverside paths, children’s playpark, picnic areas, wildlife ponds, wildflower meadows.  There is an electric charging point at Ness Country Park.

Car parking at 4 points: 
Main car park at Visitors Centre (access via Oughtagh Road). 
Open access car park ( Donaghy’s ) at main entrance (access via Oughtagh Road).
Open access Ness Wood car park (access via Oughtagh Road).
Open access Ervey Wood car park (access via Ervey Road).