The Loup is a rural ward in Mid Ulster, centred on the small village of the same name. The area is primarily agricultural, with a landscape of rolling fields and low hills characteristic of County Londonderry. The River Moyola flows along its eastern boundary, providing drainage for the surrounding farmland. Settlement is dispersed, consisting of the village hub and individual farmsteads scattered across the townlands.
The ward's name derives from the Irish 'an Lúb', meaning 'the bend', referencing a loop in the Moyola. The local GAA club, An Lúb, is a central community institution. Historically, the area's economy was linked to linen milling, with the village developing around a mill site on the river. This past is reflected in the built heritage of the traditional housing and the former mill buildings.
