Lough Neagh, whose western shore is about 10 kilometres east of Cookstown, is the largest lake in the British Isles — larger than the Lake District's lakes combined. The shoreline is generally low and reedy, fringed by pasture and willow scrub, and is an important habitat for migratory and wintering birds. In winter, the lough holds some of the largest concentrations of waterbirds in Ireland, including whooper swans, diving ducks, and waders.
The easiest access point from Cookstown is Ardboe, where the high cross sits on a headland above the water and a track runs along the shoreline north and south of the churchyard. The Lough Neagh Discovery Centre at Oxford Island (about 25 kilometres south) is a better base for dedicated birdwatching, but the Ardboe shoreline is easily combined with a visit to the high cross and requires no planning.