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County birdwatching · Northern Ireland

Birdwatching in County Tyrone

By Does Your Duck Quack · Planning updated 27 October 2026

Gortin Glen Forest Park gives a County Tyrone birding outing a woodland focus, with several waymarked walks starting near its main visitor facilities. The entrance is reached from the B48 between Gortin and Omagh, and the routes begin in the area between the car park and amenity building. Their differing distances, slopes and surfaces matter when choosing how much of the forest to explore. Treecreeper, Raven and Siskin were recorded in the forest by an RSPB Belfast group on 27 July 2024. That report continues to lakes elsewhere in the outing; the three forest records should be understood in their own setting rather than merged into a single woodland-and-lake checklist. The visitor provision includes public toilets, accessible toilets and Blue Badge parking, though those facilities do not establish the suitability of every trail. Vehicle departure also needs planning: the council lists a 6pm car-park closure between October and March. Current forestry and biosecurity notices may alter which walking routes are available within Gortin Glen.

Gortin Burn near Gortin, County Tyrone; a wider county landscape.
Photo: Gortin Burn by Kenneth Allen (resized and converted; social previews may crop) · CC BY-SA 2.0

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Map of County Tyrone birdwatching sites

Dark green pins are full guides; orange pins are short entries. Numbers match the site lists below. The links show public destinations.

Boorin Nature Reserve1Gortin Glen Forest Park2
Map base: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped to the sites. Pins locate destinations, not individual birds.

Good stop nearby

1 short entries · tiers are our editorial assessment; each entry gives its reason and source.

South-east of Gortin

  1. 1. Boorin Nature Reserve

    Look for Red Grouse from the permitted public access.

    Best season: Summer

    • Parking: DAERA identifies parking near Gortin Lakes and an interpretation panel…

Reserve operators and local visitor information

Forest Service NI / Fermanagh and Omagh District Council: Gortin Glen Forest ParkCouncil: Gortin lakes public walk in regional visitor mapRSPB Belfast Local Group: actual27July2024 forest and lakes observations

Getting to the birdwatching sites

Gortin Glen Forest Park: Approach on the B48 between Omagh and Gortin, then follow signs for the main car park. Current council gates close at 6pm from October to March; follow biosecurity and forestry notices. Read the visitor access notes.

Where to stay in County Tyrone

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Omagh

Compare Gortin Glen Forest Park and Drum Manor Forest Park from Omagh.

  • Gortin Glen Forest Park: approximately 14 minutes / 7.1 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Gortin Glen main visitor-car-park approach; follow forestry notices.

  • Drum Manor Forest Park: approximately 32 minutes / 22.0 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Drum Manor official mapped road approach; follow signs to the day-visitor car park.

Find stays in Omagh on Booking.com

Gortin

Compare Gortin Glen Forest Park and Drum Manor Forest Park from Gortin.

  • Gortin Glen Forest Park: approximately 6 minutes / 3.1 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Gortin Glen main visitor-car-park approach; follow forestry notices.

  • Drum Manor Forest Park: approximately 28 minutes / 19.7 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Drum Manor official mapped road approach; follow signs to the day-visitor car park.

Find stays in Gortin on Booking.com

Cookstown

Compare Gortin Glen Forest Park and Drum Manor Forest Park from Cookstown.

  • Gortin Glen Forest Park: approximately 39 minutes / 26.4 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Gortin Glen main visitor-car-park approach; follow forestry notices.

  • Drum Manor Forest Park: approximately 8 minutes / 3.7 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions

    Drum Manor official mapped road approach; follow signs to the day-visitor car park.

Find stays in Cookstown on Booking.com

Questions visitors ask

Where can I start birdwatching in County Tyrone?

Boorin Nature Reserve: Look for Red Grouse from the permitted public access. Gortin Glen Forest Park: Listen for woodland birds along the public forest trails.

Which birds are associated with these County Tyrone sites?

Boorin Nature Reserve: Red Grouse — Season not stated by the source; Skylark — Summer. Gortin Glen Forest Park: Treecreeper — Recorded 27 July 2024; annual season unstated; Siskin — Recorded 27 July 2024; annual season unstated; Raven — Recorded 27 July 2024; annual season unstated.

How do I reach these birdwatching places?

Boorin Nature Reserve: Use the operator approach near Gortin Lakes. The official page gives differing road numbers, so check its current map and signage before travelling. Gortin Glen Forest Park: Approach on the B48 between Omagh and Gortin, then follow signs for the main car park. Current council gates close at 6pm from October to March; follow biosecurity and forestry notices.

What visitor facilities are described?

Boorin Nature Reserve: DAERA identifies parking near Gortin Lakes and an interpretation panel at the reserve parking area. Check the operator directions before setting out. Gortin Glen Forest Park: Follow the council signs to the main car park.

What access information should I check?

Gortin Glen Forest Park: Blue Badge parking and accessible toilets are listed; assess each walking route separately.

Can I bring a dog to these places?

Boorin Nature Reserve: Dogs are not permitted because cattle graze the site. Gortin Glen Forest Park: Follow current lead signs, including restrictions beside grazing areas.

Social preview photograph: Gortin Burn near Gortin, County Tyrone; a wider county landscape. Gortin Burn by Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted for the preview.

Sources for planning a County Tyrone visit

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Local green spaces near towns

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Glen Park Road, near Omagh

  1. 2. Gortin Glen Forest Park

    Listen for woodland birds along the public forest trails.

    Best season: Check weather and trail notices; bird seasons unconfirmed

    • Parking: Follow the council signs to the main car park.
    • Access: Blue Badge parking and accessible toilets are listed; assess each…