Overview and landscape
Limavady is named after this river. Léim an Mhadaidh, “the dog’s leap”, comes from a legend that a hound cleared the Roe’s gorge to carry a warning back to the O’Cahans, and the country park’s main car park still carries the name Dogleap. The river runs about 55 km (34 miles) from the Glenshane Pass in the Sperrin Mountains north through Dungiven, Burnfoot and Limavady to a tidal estuary at the Myroe Levels, where it empties into Lough Foyle.
The name’s origin is uncertain: it may be Norse, or it may come from the Irish rua, “red”, for the iron-rich sediment that can tint the water. The upper valley is a broad glacial trough prone to seasonal flooding, but as it nears Limavady the river squeezes into a metamorphic-rock gorge, and that gorge, wooded and sheltered, is the heart of Roe Valley Country Park. The park runs about three miles (4.8 km), mostly deciduous woodland on both banks, with some flat grassland on the north-west side.
Walking and wildlife
The most-walked stretch is the roughly 3.6 km circular route inside the park. From the main car park at the Dogleap centre the path stays close to the water through mature woodland and open meadow, largely flat and firm, and it suits families and casual walkers. About halfway a footbridge crosses the river, reached by a short flight of steps; if the steps do not suit, the loop shortens neatly to a 1.6 km there-and-back. Benches are set along the way to stop and listen to the water.
The damp woodland and banks hold otters, badgers and foxes, and the lower estuary is important nesting ground for lapwings and other waders. A dedicated wildlife trail has an audio guide made for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Angling, swimming and river access
The Roe is well regarded for salmon and brown trout, fished with a permit, and the park has a dedicated disabled-angler’s jetty that makes it one of the most accessible fishing spots in Northern Ireland. Below O’Cahan’s Rock, by the bridge and weir, is the stretch people swim in. One thing worth knowing before you load a boat onto the roof: although parts of the Roe elsewhere have rapids and weirs used by kayakers, the country park itself officially bans boats and canoes. The forest is also used for orienteering by local clubs and Limavady schools.
Industrial heritage and the Green Lane Museum
The river’s power built the local economy long before tourism. Through the 19th and early 20th centuries the Roe Valley was a linen hub, with water-driven mills processing flax along the banks; the ruins still line the river, with wheels and machinery preserved in place. The park also holds a disused hydro-electric station that, in 1896, was the first to run in Northern Ireland.
The Green Lane Museum, in a converted mill, gathers 19th-century artefacts on rural life, the linen trade and the engineering behind the mills. It closes over winter and reopens around Easter, so time a heritage-focused visit for the warmer half of the year.
Practical information
Opening hours and facilities
- Main car park and toilets: 08:00–16:00 (Oct–Feb) | 09:00–17:00 (Mar & Sep) | 09:00–21:00 (4 Apr–Aug). Toilets are locked overnight.
- AL’s Coffee café: daily 10:00–17:00
- Electric vehicle charging point: in the main car park
- Drinking water tap: behind the café/toilet block
Parking
Free car parking at four points in the park:
- Main car park (Dogleap Road), by the Countryside Centre and café
- O’Cahan’s car park (Roemill Road)
- Carrick Mills car park (Ballyquin Road)
- Carrick Rocks car park (Drumrane Road)
Free overnight motorhome parking is allowed at the main visitor-centre car park off Drumrane Road or Ballyquin Road.
Accessibility
The café, main toilets and disabled-angler’s jetty are fully wheelchair accessible, and a mobility scooter can be borrowed from the café. The main route is firm and level; the footbridge steps are a barrier for some mobility aids, and the shorter linear path avoids them entirely.
2026 path maintenance closures
- West Bank path (O’Cahan’s Rock footbridge to main car park): closed 2–30 March; east-bank alternative open.
- Roe Mill footbridge access (wooden steps and boardwalk): closed 23 February–22 March; alternative routes available.
Getting there
Roe Valley Country Park is on the edge of Limavady (BT49 9NN), off the A2. Translink Goldline coaches serve Limavady, and the park is a short walk or taxi from the town centre. Nearest airports are City of Derry and Belfast International.
Contact and enquiries
The park is managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, part of DAERA. Commercial filming, photography or organised group bookings need written permission: nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk. The official nidirect page for the park is currently offline, so check discovernorthernireland.com for the latest hours before travelling.
For the clearest river views and the best chance of wildlife, aim for late morning, when the light reaches the gorge floor and the café is open.