Overview
Ballykelly lies west of Limavady near Lough Foyle in County Londonderry, on the A2 between Derry and Limavady. It isn’t a destination in its own right so much as a good hour or two off the road: a working forest, views across the lough, and the history of a wartime airfield. The former airfield is separate from the forest. Keep entrances clear.
Ballykelly Forest
Ballykelly Forest became Northern Ireland’s first state forest after its purchase in 1910. The Forest Service welcomes walkers and gives directions to the forest car park west of the village. There are no visitor facilities in the forest. It is a working forest, so follow safety signs and check forestry notices for current closures before setting out.
The Lough Foyle shore
The lough is the village’s great backdrop, with the Inishowen Peninsula across the water and flat farmland running down to the shore. The Lough Foyle Trail follows the shore near Ballykelly, with views across the water to the Inishowen hills and waders and other coastal birds, best in the migration seasons. It is exposed, with no shelter, so bring a layer even on a mild day. Check the current route and access before you set out.
RAF Ballykelly
The former RAF airfield opened in 1941 as a Coastal Command base flying anti-submarine patrols over the North Atlantic during the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war it became an anti-submarine training station, closed as an airfield in 1971, and passed to the British Army as Shackleton Barracks. Its huge cantilever hangar is the most striking thing in the district, a reminder of how large the wartime base was against the flat farmland and the lough beyond. Treat the airfield as separate from the forest and do not enter the site without permission.
The village’s other landmark note is a sombre one: the 1982 Droppin Well bombing, at a bar and disco here, killed 17 people.
Older history nearby
The area’s story runs a good deal further back. Christianity here is traced to 585 AD, and the remains of Tamlaght Finlagan Monastery are traditionally said to have been founded by St Colmcille for St Fionnlogha. Sampson’s Tower, a fortified structure, was raised by public subscription in memory of Arthur Sampson, agent to the London Worshipful Company of Fishmongers for 40 years. Between Ballykelly and Limavady, Rough Fort is a well-preserved earthwork covering about an acre. Ballykelly Castle survives as ruins too, on uneven and overgrown ground, so take care if you visit.
Nearby
The cliffs and views at Binevenagh are a short drive north. Limavady, a few minutes east, has the cafés, shops and services.