Overview
The River Strule (Irish: An tSruthail) starts in the centre of Omagh, where the Camowen and Drumragh rivers meet, and runs about 28km north to join the River Derg and become the River Mourne. It passes right through the town, flowing past the modern Strule Arts Centre, before opening out into farmland on its way down towards Newtownstewart, where it takes in the Owenkillew. This is a working river rather than a signposted attraction, so the pleasures here are simple: a riverside walk, a heron in the shallows, and the salmon run if your timing is good.
History and heritage
The Strule valley has long been a working landscape, sustaining farming communities and helping shape the market town of Omagh. Bell’s Bridge, a crossing point on the river, has carried travellers since the 1600s and was refurbished as part of the Omagh regeneration plan.
Ecology and conservation
The Strule is a migratory corridor for Atlantic salmon and trout, and its restoration is led by the Strule River Trust (S.T.A.R.T.), a group of anglers and landowners founded in 2014. Working with the Loughs Agency and local landowners, the trust has put more than £200,000 into restoring spawning grounds and nursery streams to reverse a sharp decline in salmon numbers, backed by £125,000 from DAERA and £25,000 from the Rivers Trust. Along the banks, look for kingfishers, grey herons and, with patience early or late in the day, otters.
Angling
The Strule is a salmon and trout river, and the trust grew directly out of the local angling community. Fishing is managed by local clubs and the trust, so you will need the right permit, and it is worth checking exactly what your permit covers before you cast. The upper reaches are generally easy to wade; lower stretches have rockier beds where a wading staff earns its keep.
Walking and wildlife
The Omagh Riverside Walk is the easiest way to see the river, following the water through the town. Carrigans Road, a quiet lane running parallel to the Strule, forms part of the North West Trail cycle route, and public footpaths and lay-bys along the A5 give access further down. The river’s character changes as you go, from gentle upper reaches to a rockier bed downstream, and the adjacent farmland and woodland are good for birdwatching, with whooper swans among the winter visitors.
Practical information
- Access: Public footpaths follow the river through Omagh, and the Riverside Walk is the obvious route. Free parking is available in the town-centre car parks near the Strule Arts Centre; the centre itself has no on-site parking. There are lay-bys along the A5 between Omagh and Newtownstewart.
- Safety: River levels can rise quickly after heavy rain. Check the forecast, wear proper footwear and use a wading staff on rocky or uneven sections.
- Permits and fees: No charge for walking or viewing. Anglers need a permit from a local club or the trust.
- Contact: For volunteering, event schedules or fishing details, see the Strule River Trust website.
- Nearby: Newtownstewart, where the Strule meets the Owenkillew beside the town’s conservation area, the Ulster American Folk Park, and the Baronscourt estate for historic gardens and woodland.
There is a fish counter on the river at Omagh, about the only piece of infrastructure the Strule has. Come early in the morning for the best chance of a salmon running or a heron working the shallows, and check the trust’s website for water levels and permits before you set out.