Lough Fea is a 180-acre reservoir about 5 miles north of Cookstown on the B162, and its main draw is the 4.15km (2.6-mile) path that loops right around the water. A footbridge at the north end was closed for a while for structural repairs and reopened in April 2025, so the full circuit is walkable again. Most people do it in an hour; it doubles nicely as an easy jog. The lake sits in the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also does the unglamorous job of supplying much of the area’s drinking water.
Walking the loop
Don’t expect a buggy-smooth promenade the whole way round. Most of the gravel path is level and gentle, but there are steeper pitches, single-file stretches and the odd surface break to watch for, so it’s far easier than a hill walk without being fully step-free. The views open up best on the eastern side, and early morning or late evening is when the water goes glassy. On a warm day, bring midge repellent – you’ll want it. And one honest gripe echoed across visitor reviews: dog mess on the path. Watch your step if you’ve small children along.
For a longer outing, quiet country roads off the loop wander further into the Sperrins.
Fishing
Lough Fea is a DAERA-managed fishery holding brown trout, rainbow trout and northern pike. There are no boats, so it’s all bank fishing from the shore and the fixed stands. To fish you need a DAERA game rod licence (anyone 12 or over) and a day permit. Permits are sold at Cookstown Tourist Information Centre (028 8676 9949); the Mid Ulster Angling Club also manages the water. Check current bag limits and season dates before you go, as the rules change to protect stocks.
Wildlife and nature
The reedy margins and surrounding woodland draw waterfowl and woodland birds, and an extensive raised bog stretches away to the south – once cut for turf, and still of interest if you fancy a longer, wilder walk off the made path. The seasons do the heavy lifting here: wildflowers along the verges in spring, the hills turning in autumn, and a still, misty calm over the water in winter.
Getting there and facilities
A free car park sits right on the B162 (the Cookstown-to-Draperstown road) at the trailhead, signposted from the main road; the postcode BT80 9TU will get most satnavs there. On site you’ll find toilets, including accessible ones, disabled parking, a children’s play area and picnic tables. Public transport is thin: buses run to Cookstown, but from there it’s a taxi or a long walk. Dogs are welcome on a lead, and swimming is discouraged – it’s a cold, deep reservoir with submerged hazards.
The lake’s two stories
Two local tales cling to the water. One points out ‘Charlie’s Ghost’, a rock formation said to be shaped like a drowned man; the other tells of soldiers who drowned here during a peacetime training exercise when a pontoon bridge gave way.
Nearby
Davagh Forest and its OM Dark Sky Park are about 4 miles away – one of the darkest, best stargazing spots in Northern Ireland – and the National Trust’s Wellbrook Beetling Mill is under 5 miles. Cookstown itself has shops, cafés and the Burnavon arts centre if the weather turns you indoors.