GLAMPING is at the heart of a £900,000 tourism plan to enhance the tourism potential of Davagh Forest outside Cookstown.

Already a popular venue for mountain bikers due to its spiralling forest trails, Mid Ulster District Council has submitted a planning application to establish a new observatory and glamping pods at the rural setting near Broughderg, which features 1,500 hectares of forest in the foothills of the Sperrins.

Building on the ‘Dark Skies’ status secured at the nearby Beaghmore Stone Circles, the council have submitted a proposal for a new timber-clad ‘observatory visitor hub’ within the forest, complete with café and bike store.

The plan also includes five state-of-the-art glamping pods, adding a new dimension to the area’s tourist potential.

According to the plan developed by Cookstown based architects McAleer and Teague, the up-market pods will contain a living/sleeping area complete with a bunk bed, a kitchen and washing and changing room with shower and toilet. They also include an outdoor barbecue area and bike rack.

One pod will be wheelchair accessible. Guests using the pods will also be able to avail of a central washing machine and dryer.

The plan would also create ‘Aire de Service’ (stopping points) at Davagh Forest for motor homes.

As well as mountain bikers, the pods are expected to attract anglers using nearby Lough Fea.

The Mid Ulster Council has remained somewhat tight-lipped on the project, stating that the plans are still at an early stage.

“The Council has prioritised the development of a Dark Sky Observatory in order to provide a stand out experience for the visitor by maximising the unique selling point of having the darkest sky in Northern Ireland at the Beaghmore Stone Circles site, as a result of the lack of light pollution and surrounding topography,” said a spokesperson.

“As part of the visitor experience, the council hopes to be able to offer glamping at Davagh. All the plans are, however, at a very early stage.”

The plan submitted to planners does offer some more insight into the project.

It states that the council feels the observatory “offers sympathetic development” to the natural environment and will integrate into the surrounding forest due to its irregular form and its timber-clad finish.

The observatory would act as a high profile gateway building, signifying the start and finish to all existing trails within Davagh Forest.

Meanwhile, the glamping pods would “further enhance and unlock Davagh’s unique potential for outdoor recreation and leisure activities”.

The sites for both projects have been chosen to make use of existing roads and paths, including parking facilities

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