This ancient yet contemporary city makes for a perfect beginning or end to your itinerary. Take a walking tour of the City Walls - this is Ireland’s only remaining, completely walled city - and learn about the settlement’s rich history. Landmark sights include St. Columb’s Cathedral, the beautiful Guildhall and gleaming Peace Bridge curving across the River Foyle. It’s also a great party city with a packed programme of events and festivals during the year, including a massive Halloween carnival.

Derry is the Gateway to the Northwest, it's the central hub for exploring the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal touring routes: The majestic Atlantic coastline that sweeps eastwards from the Foyle Estuary to the Giant's Causeway and a must for all visitors is a trip on one of the World's Great Railway Journeys as detailed by Michael Palin in his rail journey from Derry to Kerry, the Sperrins Mountains (An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AONB) with its world class Ulster-American Folk Park, are well-known to nature lovers. The Inishowen Peninsula has been relatively unexplored by overseas tourists until recently - it really is one of Ireland's most delightful secrets.

A walk around the walls in Derryy reveals a splendid city crammed full of history, heritage, interest and a vibrant cultural scene. This is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by the honourable, the Irish Society as defences for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland.

The Walls, which are approximately 1.5km in circumference, form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town which still preserves its Renaissance Style street plan to this day.

The four original gates to the Walled City are Bishop’s Gate, Ferryquay Gate, Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate. Three further gates were added - magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate.

The Walls vary in width between 12 and 35 feet.are the most complete in Ireland and one of the finest examples in Europe of Walled Cities. The city claims Europe’s largest collection of cannon whose origins are known precisely. Many of them thundered in anger over the two seventeenth century sieges.

For more information visit the Visit Derry website or the Discover Northern Ireland website.