New immersive food and farm journey launches in Derry

A brand-new immersive food and farm experience is inviting visitors to travel into the heart of rural Derry as part of this year’s Love LegenDerry Food Month celebrations.

‘Milk, Meadows & Mountains’ is a unique 2.5-hour hosted journey from cheese board to stable door, offering a warm, personal and unhurried experience that blends artisan food, heritage storytelling and authentic rural life.

Delivered through a collaboration between Dart Mountain Cheese and City of Derry Farm & Equestrian Centre, the experience offers guests the opportunity to taste handcrafted local cheese, meet gentle horses and farm animals on a fourth-generation farm, and discover how the Sperrin landscape has shaped both flavour and family traditions over generations.

Guests will visit a working farm for a guided walk and relaxed animal encounters. A visit to the tack room brings the experience full circle, with heritage storytelling that explores the deep connection between land, labour and community in rural Derry.

Visitors will then enjoy a masterclass in cheese making from Dart Mountain Cheese, learning how local milk, time and mountain air influence every wheel produced. A curated artisan cheese tasting follows, complete with refreshments and the chance to ask questions and hear the stories behind the craft.

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Speaking about the new addition to this year’s Love LegenDerry Food Month programme, Jennifer O’Donnell, Tourism Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said: “Love LegenDerry Food Month is all about celebrating the people, produce and passion that make our region so special. ‘Milk, Meadows & Mountains’ captures that spirit perfectly.

"It offers visitors an authentic and memorable experience based on exceptional local food, and connecting with the families, stories and landscapes behind it. It’s a wonderful example of how our rural and urban experiences come together to create something truly unique.”

Kevin Hickey from Dart Mountain Cheese added: “This experience is about more than cheese - it’s about sharing our way of life. Every wheel we produce is a unique product capturing the essence of the Sperrin landscape, and we’re excited to invite people behind the scenes to discover that connection for themselves. Partnering with City of Derry Farm & Equestrian Centre allows us to showcase not only our craft, but the wider rural community that inspires it.”

Pauline Lusby from City of Derry Farm & Equestrian Centre said: “We are delighted to be part of ‘Milk, Meadows & Mountains’ and to welcome visitors onto our family farm. For many people, this will be a rare opportunity to experience authentic rural life at a relaxed pace, to meet the animals, step inside the stable yard and hear the stories that have shaped our family and this landscape for generations.

"Working alongside Dart Mountain Cheese allows us to showcase the strong link between farming, food and community, and we’re proud to share that connection as part of Love LegenDerry Food Month.”

Unlike a scripted tour, ‘Milk, Meadows & Mountains’ is designed as a genuine introduction to the people who live and work in the countryside. Guests are encouraged to slow down, savour the flavours, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy meaningful conversation in a welcoming setting just minutes from the city.

Love LegenDerry Food Month runs throughout February, featuring a packed programme of food experiences, tasting events and culinary collaborations across the district.

For full details and to explore the complete programme of events, visit: https://www.legenderryfood.com/.