Rural Tourism

The rural hinterland surrounding the Council’s city is expansive and host to a collection of tourism attractions covering a number of different themes. With a rich and diverse natural and built heritage, activities, attractions and accommodation, these assets provide the ideal setting for a range of activities such as walking, cycling, mountain biking, fishing and other outdoor sports. The rural area is situated within a fantastic natural setting comprising of the Faughan Valley, Eglinton Historic Plantation Village and the Sperrin Mountains, to name but a few.

Derry City and Strabane District Council is working with a range of stakeholders to develop rural tourism initiatives designed to enhance its key rural heritage and cultural assets, with the aim of spreading the economic benefits of tourism throughout the District Council area.

Through the NI Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 we have secured funding to deliver a two year ‘Rural Tourism Marketing Project’. The purpose of the project is to raise the profile and position of Derry’s rural tourism offer nationally and internationally and to drive new product development and diversification. The project aims to increase the international visibility, awareness, knowledge and accessibility of the rural tourism offer to consumers and influence the length of time they stay and money they spend in the rural region.

Running until the end of 2013 this programme will deliver the following:

A baseline analysis and audit of the tourism product in the rural area;
A rural tourism marketing strategy; and
A marketing action plan to promote the rural area through for example, advertising, PR and trade and consumer shows

Places to visit in the rural area:

Rural Tourism

Rural Partners