Boorin Nature Reserve
Places to go and see in the Omagh area:
Boorin Nature Reserve
The characteristic small, pointed hills of Boorin Nature Reserve were formed when the melting ice sheets of the last Ice Age left behind huge amounts of sand and gravel. These hills are now cloaked in heather and are surrounded by peat bog. The small loughs found here are deep and are known as kettle-hole lakes.
In summer the air is filled with the song of skylarks. Look for buzzards circling lazily overhead. It might be possible to catch a glimpse of a red grouse among the heather. Watch for the green hairstreak butterfly basking on bilberry in the sunshine.
Clinging to a steep slope at the northern end of the reserve is a rare surviving fragment of mature oak woodland. This wood is famous for its great variety of lichens, ferns and mosses. In springtime a carpet of bluebells and other woodland flowers paint the woodland floor in a riot of colour.
The best time of year to visit is all year round for glacial features. April – September for birds, butterflies and flowers and October – December for autumn colour in the wood.
There is car parking available close to Gortin Lakes just off the B48. There are rough walking trails and picnic benches and there are also toilets available.
Boorin Nature Reserve Gallery:
