Dungiven is a small town in the Roe Valley south of Limavady, on the north-western edge of the Sperrins AONB. The ruins of Dungiven Priory, set on a promontory above the River Roe, are surrounded by old stone walls thick with ivy and wall plants. The Roe Valley gorge oak woodland is close by, with hazel understorey and spring bluebells. Sperrins heather moorland — ling and bell heather — dominates the high ground to the south and east from late July. Himalayan balsam has colonised the River Roe valley corridor through summer; hawthorn and blackthorn hedge the drumlin farmland on the valley sides.
Collectors attend swarms at Dungiven Priory ivy-covered ruins and riverside promontory, along the River Roe gorge oak woodland willows and alder, in the himalayan balsam stands on the river margins through the town, on the lower Sperrins heather fringe above the valley, and in the hawthorn hedgerows and garden trees of the older residential streets.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 81 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 221 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 230 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Coastal gorse on the north coast carries an early flow. Blackthorn, hawthorn and sycamore fill May. Lime dominates June in Derry, Coleraine and Limavady. The Sperrins contribute bell and ling heather from late July. The Roe and Bann valleys bring himalayan balsam into a strong late-summer flow; coastal sea-thrift and sea-aster at Magilligan add seasoning; ivy closes a long year on whitewashed cottage walls.
More on beekeeping in County LondonderryReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
