Grillagh River facts for kids

The Grillagh River is a small river in Northern Ireland. You can find it just outside Maghera in County Londonderry. Locals sometimes call it Pixies Paradise because its name means a wet and muddy place.

The river starts high up on Cairntogher Mountain, which is one of the big peaks in the Sperrins mountain range. From there, it flows downhill and eventually joins the Clady River. The Grillagh River is about 5 to 7 metres wide near its start and grows to about 10 metres wide further down its path.

A Home for Fish

The Grillagh River is a great place for fishing. Many local people from Maghera, Swatragh, and the Clady And District Angling Club enjoy fishing here. It's known as a "salmon's kingdom" because many different fish live in its waters.

You can find fish like salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and sometimes even Dollaghan. These fish often hide among the rocks or in the deeper parts of the water. Many of these fish travel upstream to lay their eggs, which is called spawning.

Wildlife and Nature

The river flows through a special nature area called Drumnaph Woods. This makes it an important part of the forest reserve. If you visit, you might spot dippers, which are small birds that dive into the water to catch insects and other tiny creatures. They are often seen near the old bridges.

The River's Mood: Winter and Summer

The Grillagh River changes a lot with the seasons. In winter, it's a "spate river," meaning it flows very fast. You might see white rapids as the water rushes by.

In summer, the river becomes much calmer and slower. Sometimes, a lot of green algae can grow in the water, especially near Culnady. This can make it harder for fishing in the deeper spots.

Bridges and Tributaries

Many bridges cross the Grillagh River. There are eight main bridges, including the Gortinure Bridge and the Drumnaph Bridge.

The Grillagh River also has smaller streams that flow into it, called tributaries.

• The Altkeeran Burn is a mountain stream at the foot of Carntogher mountain. This is where many salmon return to lay their eggs. Other small streams like Tullykeern Carn and Olivia Burn also join the Altkeeran.
• The Roohan Burn is another important tributary. It starts on Tullykeeran Mountain and flows past St Brigid's Primary School. This stream is a key place for brown trout to lay their eggs. You might see small trout catching flies near the "School Bridge."
• The Curragh Burn is another tributary found below Culnady. It also serves as a spawning ground for brown trout.

Images for kids

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  The Grillagh River flowing through nature.

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  The Altkeeran Burn, where the Grillagh River begins.

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  The old Gortinure Bridge crossing the Grillagh River.

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  The Roohan Burn, a tributary of the Grillagh River.

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  Olivias Burn, a small mountain stream that feeds into the Grillagh.

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  Olivias Bridge, a small bridge over one of the Grillagh's feeder streams.