Benbradagh
A demanding walk off road over rough terrain. Rewarded with amazing 360 degree views.
County Londonderry
Distance 6.9 miles
OS Map Sheet 8
Terrain Open mountain, boggy & rough
Nearest Town Dungiven
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference C752112
Route Type Mountain
*Please note that this walk can be challenging in poor weather conditions. Visibility can drop lower than 50 metres in heavy rain or mist.*
Start by climbing the gate between the bridge and house on the East side of American Road.
Pass over a second gate and keep to the right of a stream flowing from the SE. There are a few white topped marker posts that you can follow, but these should not be relied upon, for example in low visibility conditions. Ground conditions are rough and variable underfoot as should be expected of the open mountainside.
Continue to follow the stream until meeting Evishagaran, where you will come across the ruined remains of a building with a tree growing through the site. Continue to follow the course of the stream and you will meet a fence line as you climb towards the 454 spot height.
Cross the first gate in the fence line to pick up a rough track that brings you to the top of Boviel Road above Glenshane Pass. Don’t access the road but follow the ridge westwards for over 1 km before turning N.
Keep as high on the ridge as you can and you will pick up more white posts that will take you to the top of the public road coming from Dungiven. Some of these may be white topped fencing posts.
Cross a heavy iron gate, turn left to follow the track and head for the summit of Benbradagh. Retrace your steps back to the iron gate and return to your car along the American Road. As this is MoD land, there are several gates to be traversed that remained locked on a long term basis.
The first stage of this walk to Boviel Road can be quite wet at times but the second section provides a drier route along the ridge to Benbradagh. Sheep graze the area throughout the year so dogs are not advisable.
You are advised not to attempt this walk without OS Map Sheet 8 and a compass.
Superb 360 views, old remains
Accessed off the B64 Dungiven to Garvagh Road. 3.5 miles north of Dungiven turn right onto Gelvin Road. Turn right after 2 miles onto American Road. Alternative start point accessed from Curragh Road Dungiven. Turn off Chapel Road and follow road straight to top of mountain.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Refreshments & Toilets in Dungiven
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
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Walk Route
Benbradagh
The first section of this walk along the stream is pretty brutal, with no real reward for fighting through the long grass and hidden ditches along the stream up to the point where the tree grows through the ruin, which is right beside one of the new windmills. A much better option is to just walk from start point up the new windmills path, through to windmill T14, and then just join the fence line and climb Boviel. From there, a cracking walk, and the old WW2 US Army base near the top of Benbradagh as you start back down American Road is fascinating.
Very wet and boggy which made it tough going in places. Don’t aim to follow post markers – a lot of work going on near start (possibly wind farm) so white posts everywhere as they are marking out the site. Also new fencing in places which may have removed old markings so navigation necessary.
Great views from the top, if you don’t want to tramp through the bog can take easy route up and back via the road.
Great walk.
In My opinion just as good and probably easier to undertake this route in reverse to the route description. i.e. in an anti clockwise direction