Some fascinating prehistoric sites can be visited in Northern Ireland. Like Stonehenge in England, these sites draw in many intrigued tourists eager to learn more about Northern Ireland’s distant past.
The Giant’s Ring, located at Ballynahatty near Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast, is a huge earthwork circle or ‘henge’ monument. Near the centre lies a tomb composed of five upright stones and a capstone. If staying in Belfast city, a day trip to the Giant’s Ring makes for a very interesting experience. Admission to the site is free and the gates open at 10.00am (closing hours are variable depending upon the season).
Another of Northern Ireland’s prehistoric sites can be found eight and a half miles northwest of Cookstown in County Tyrone. The Beaghmore site is home to seven stone circles and numerous cairns dating from the Neolithic era. The exact purpose of the stones is still not fully understood, adding to the sense of mystery surrounding the site. The Beaghmore stone circles are always open to the public and admission is free. While in this part of Northern Ireland, the nearby Sperrin Mountains are also well worth a visit.
The Ballygroll Prehistoric Complex in County Londonderry is yet another fascinating prehistoric site. The monuments, tombs, cairns and stone circles of Ballygroll date from 4000 to 1000BC. The entire site is set within a pre-bog field system situated on Slievegore Hill. The complex is easily visited from the city of Derry. Again, admission is free and the site is always open to the public.