Discover Ballykelly

Ballykelly combines nature trails, coastal scenery and an unusually multifaceted history. The village offers both short paths through the forest and a flat coastal route along Lough Foyle. In addition, there are ruins, a significant aviation-history hangar and a literary connection to John Steinbeck. If you are planning a trip, you can therefore choose Ballykelly according to your preferred daily rhythm: nature-focused walks, cultural and historical discoveries, or themes relating to aircraft and airfields.

Forest Paths and Coastal Scenery

Ballykelly Forest was the first state-owned forest in Northern Ireland. Several short paths run on the southern and northern sides of the A2, immediately west of Walworth and Ballykelly. These paths give your planning a compact, forest-focused option when you want to fit in a shorter route between other activities. The specific length, surface or walking time of the individual paths is not described consistently; for planning your day, the main point is that there are several short walking options.

A different landscape experience is offered by the flat coastal route between Ballykelly and the Roe Estuary. It runs along the eastern side of Lough Foyle beside the sea wall. Those who place particular importance on combining local history and coastal scenery when choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house can consider this route as a separate focus for their trip planning. Its flat route clearly distinguishes it from the short forest paths and provides a second, landscape-oriented option.

Ruins, Hangar and the History of the Airfield

At the western end of Plantation Road lie the ruins of Walworth Plantation Church. They are located within an enclosed graveyard bounded by a rubble-stone wall. There, a round-headed, moulded sandstone arch separates the nave from the chancel. Such architectural details also make the site interesting for travellers who want to experience historic architecture not only through dates, but through surviving forms and materials.

Another prominent part of the area's history is Ballykelly Airfield. It was built as a satellite airfield for nearby Limavady and opened on 1 June 1941. In Shackleton Barracks stands an aircraft hangar built in the mid-1960s to house Shackleton aircraft used for maritime reconnaissance. Its construction is supported by a steel-framed cantilever. In the context of Northern Ireland, its balanced anchor-cantilever design is considered unique and, in the wider United Kingdom, rare.

The Shackleton and Aviation Museum presents the aviation history associated with Ballykelly Airfield through various exhibits and media. These also include aircraft and units that were stationed there. The museum's educational approach encompasses aviation history, aviation heritage and aviation culture in Ireland; planned activities include meetings, talks, courses and exhibitions. For a travel group with differing interests, this focus can complement nature trails and historic ruins.

A Literary Connection

John Steinbeck is also connected with Ballykelly. Samuel Hamilton, Steinbeck's maternal grandfather, was born in Ballykelly in 1830. John Steinbeck himself visited Ballykelly in 1952. This connection adds a biographical and literary perspective to the character of the place and offers another point of interest for visitors who, alongside the landscape and architectural history, are also interested in stories of personal origins.

The Right Base for Planning Your Trip

When looking for accommodation in Ballykelly, you can first decide which of these experiences should shape your trip. The forest, the flat route along Lough Foyle, the ruins of Walworth Plantation Church and the aviation history each create a different focus. You can then choose a holiday apartment or holiday house to suit your preferred daily routine and the destinations you want to include in your plans.

For further orientation, you can also visit the pages for Dungiven and Limavady.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Limavady.