Dart Mountain Cheese, made at the village of Park near Claudy, is the big dairy success story of the North-West region.
Julie and Kevin Hickey’s business on the banks of the Faughan River produces an impressive range of hand-made traditional cheeses made with milk from local farmers, along with chutneys and granolas.
The original cheese is Sperrin Blue, a rich creamy blue named after the nearby Sperrin Mountains (that provide such a lovely view from the dairy) and winner of the National Irish Food Awards 2015, and newer ones include an ash coated semi hard cows milk cheese, Dart Mountain Dusk, which won a Bronze in the World Cheese Awards following its release in 2014 and Gold in the Great Taste Awards in 2016.
Next in line was an alpine style cheese, Kilcreen, followed by the beer washed Banagher Bold (Gold Star Great Taste Awards 2015 and 2016 respectively) The latest in this award-winning range are the long aged extra hard Tirkeeran (can be used instead of Parmesan) and Carraig Bán, a goats milk cheese.
Very varied in style but all equally delicious, this is an astonishing achievement in an area which produced very little cheese until recently.
Showcased in local restaurants and available, together with the Tamnagh range of accocmpaniments and their gift box, from speciality food shops and online (PayPal). Also, in association with Northbound Brewery, Dart Mountain offers ‘Derry's Famous Beer and Cheese Tour’ which make s great day out.
