BeaghmoreAbout Beaghmore
Beaghmore is a Bronze Age megalithic complex of stone circles, stone rows and cairns in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The site is noted for its clustered arrangement of low stone circles and associated alignments.
The visible remains include a group of stone circles, several stone rows and multiple burial cairns set in rough peatland; the layout is typical of ritual and funerary complexes from the later prehistoric period. The site is accessible on foot from a nearby car park and is interpreted as part of the wider prehistoric landscape of the Sperrin foothills.
Archaeological work in the 20th century recorded and conserved the stones; the site is generally described as Bronze Age in date and is managed as a protected heritage monument.
Beaghmore lies in County Tyrone near the town of Cookstown, set on upland bog and rough pasture at the western edge of the Sperrin foothills.
- Layout: The arrangement includes a group of low stone circles together with several straight stone rows and cairns, characteristic of Bronze Age ritual sites in the region.
What to See#
- Stone circles: A cluster of low stone circles that form the most visually striking element of the site; several of the circles are incomplete or surrounded by low set stones.
- Stone rows and cairns: Multiple stone rows and a number of cairns and burial mounds that extend around and between the circles, forming an integrated ritual landscape.
Best Time to Visit Beaghmore
Best visited in spring and autumn for light, fewer midges, and stable walking conditions. Summer brings midges and more visitors; winter can be wet and boggy.
Weather & Climate near Beaghmore
Beaghmore's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1416 mm/year), wettest in November.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 7° | 0° | 142 mm | overcast | 95% | 4.7 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.7h |
| February | Poor | 2° - 7° | 1° | 108 mm | overcast | 94% | 4.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.5h |
| March | Poor | 2° - 9° | 2° | 116 mm | overcast | 91% | 4.7 m/s | 0.3 low | 11.7h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 11° | 5° | 87 mm | overcast | 87% | 4.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 13.9h |
| May | Acceptable | 6° - 14° | 8° | 83 mm | overcast | 85% | 3.9 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 15.8h |
| June | Good | 9° - 16° | 12° | 90 mm | overcast | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 1.2 high | 16.9h |
| July | Good | 11° - 18° | 14° | 93 mm | overcast | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 16.4h |
| August | Acceptable | 11° - 18° | 14° | 115 mm | overcast | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 14.7h |
| September | Acceptable | 9° - 15° | 12° | 127 mm | overcast | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 12.5h |
| October | Poor | 6° - 12° | 7° | 151 mm | overcast | 92% | 4.1 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.3h |
| November | Poor | 4° - 9° | 3° | 152 mm | overcast | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
| December | Poor | 2° - 7° | 1° | 152 mm | overcast | 95% | 4.2 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.1h |
How to Get to Beaghmore
Beaghmore is reached from the A505/R188 region west of Cookstown, County Tyrone. From Cookstown follow local signage for Beaghmore or take country lanes toward the townland of Beaghmore; there is a small lay-by and short footpath to the stones. The nearest large towns are Cookstown and Dungannon; a car is the easiest way to visit.
Tips for Visiting Beaghmore
- Visit in late afternoon light-shadows from the low sun make the low stone rows read like ancient writing on the peat.
- Park at the small lay-by on the R189 (signposted 'Beaghmore') rather than trying to pull off on the narrow country roads; the walk from the car is less than 10 minutes.
- Respect the peat: stick to the stone alignments and marked paths. The site's fragile turf and drainage were subject to restoration work in the 1990s.