County Derry, officially know as Londonderry, is perched on the northwest coast of Northern Ireland. Covering an area of some 798 square miles, the Derry landscape is varied and breathtaking. To the south are the forested glens of the Sperrin Mountains while to the north and east is the spectacular coastline of Benone Strand, Ireland's longest beach, 7 miles of wide-open sand and surf.

Derived from the Irish 'Doire' meaning oak grove, Derry has long been a sacred place for early Celtic and Christian settlements. In the 6th century, the Irish Saint Columba founded a monastery beside the River Foyle in 546 AD, where the oak tress grew. The City walls of Derry are amongst the best preserved fortifications in Europe. The layout of the city reflects the original town plan set out several hundred years ago. In 1609, an agreement was made with the Corporation of London for the rebuilding of Derry, hence the introduction of the name Londonderry. 


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