County Tyrone - Sawel & Dart Mountain Loop Walk
This 17km hiking trail has spectacular mountain views
This 17km (5 hour) loop walk is one of the most popular and beautiful walks in the Sperrin Mountains and takes in the two major peaks of Sawel (678m) and Dart (619m) Mountains.
It's a demanding 17km walk over often boggy ground, which takes an average of 5 hours.
However, it's fairly straightforward due to wire fences that act as guide for navigation in all weather and are especially useful when visibility is poor.
Starting at a road side parking area to the east of the cross roads of the Glenelly Road B47 and the Sperrin Road, travel east approximately 1.5km past the Glenerin Burn river and small woodland plantation to a gate set at an angle to the road, which is the beginning of the walk.
Then head north on a well defined path and track over the Glenerin Burn river, past a derelict cottage and onto County Rock on the mountain ridge where you turn left and follow the ridge west to the summit of Sawel.
Travel to the southwest over a stile towards Dart where you can follow a fence which runs in the direction of Dart. From Dart, travel south over the crest of the spur and at the end favour the western side, where you can see an old bog road.
Descend and find the road, which leads back to the Glenelly Road B47. From here travel east for approx. 4km past the Sperrins Heritage Centre and back to the start point (roadside parking area).
The Sperrins mountain range are home to diverse habitats and plant life including bog, moorland, woodland, rivers, heather, bilberries and cowberries. In this least populated area of Northern Ireland, wildlife such as kestrels, buzzards, sparrowhawks, rabbits, badgers and hares can all be spotted.
