Barnes Gap

Barnes Gap is a dramatic glacial notch slicing through the southern crest of the Sperrins between Cranagh and Plumbridge, where the Glenelly and Owenkillew valleys almost meet. From the roadside you look straight through the gap to layered ridgelines - proper big-country scenery that feels remote and empty, exactly what the Sperrins do best. A small gravel layby near the top gives somewhere to pull in and launch. The catch is the usual Northern Ireland one: there's no right to roam, and the open moorland either side is privately owned grazing land, so while pilots regularly fly here from the road, strictly you should have the landowner's permission for take-off and landing - hence 'caution'. It's within the Sperrins AONB, so fly considerately and keep away from livestock, which spook easily. Airspace is clear: the nearest FRZ is City of Derry (Eglinton) about 33km to the north, so no clearance is needed. The exposure that makes the views also makes it windy and cold - this is high, open ground with little shelter, so pick a low-wind, clear day and watch for rapid weather changes rolling over the tops. Early or late light rakes across the ridges beautifully. Bring spare batteries; the cold drains them fast.