St Cadan

As you step through the elegant, lichen-covered gate piers and stroll along the tranquil gravel path, it's as if time stands still, inviting you to soak in the surrounding beauty and peace. This Gothic treasure, originally built in the mid-Georgian era and later graced with Victorian touches, offers a tranquil retreat for lovers of history and architecture.

Framed by the dramatic Binevenagh Mountain, the church offers sweeping views across the Magilligan Peninsula, stretching towards the distant shores of County Donegal. The church’s design is simple yet striking, with the windows on the north gable having been blocked, a practical adaptation to the harsh winter north winds.

Inside, the quiet dignity of the interior greets you with a sturdy pine roof and a graceful Gothic stone pulpit. The walls are lined with memorial plaques honouring local families like the McCauslands and Gages, while the churchyard contains a fascinating family burial vault with lead coffins beneath a basalt plinth. 

Nearby, a humble mid 19th century schoolhouse stands, built from the warm, orange bricks for which the region is renowned. Limavady bricks, known for their distinctive orange to reddish hue, owe their colour to the rich local clay. As the sun sets in the west, the walls seem to glow with a radiant warmth. These walls hold their own history, etched into the brickwork at child height are the names of restless schoolchildren, long grown and gone, leaving behind traces of their youthful mischief, forever inscribed in the fading light. 

Set against the rugged beauty of Binevenagh Mountain, which served as the Dothraki Grasslands in Game of Thrones, Tamlaghtard Parish Church is surrounded by natural wonders. Classified as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Binevenagh is a haven for adventurers, offering hiking, rock climbing, and hang gliding for those seeking to embrace a giant adventure.