Drum Manor Walk

While the Drum Manor Walk is a quick and easy adventure, some sections of the path can become quite muddy after a good rainfall. Make sure to wear comfortable, water-resistant footwear for this journey. Additionally, you will need to pay an entrance fee of £4 per vehicle in order to access the forest park.

If you are looking for a laid back woodland adventure that features some interesting historical sites, then you won’t want to miss out on this short adventure within the Drum Forest Park. The route features the ruins of a former manor house that was built in 1829, but fell into disrepair in the 1970s. While it would be nice to experience the extravagant building in its original state, the ruins add a unique atmosphere to this charming forest adventure.

Setting out from the car park, you will initially be greeted with views of the ruins, as they are located very close by. From here, you can head to the southwest through the dense cover of the forest to skirt around the edge of a small lake. Although there are a number of intersecting paths along the route, the forest park is fairly small and it is hard to get lost, so take your time and explore the entire area.

After passing by the lake, make your way to the northwest to complete a loop around the park, taking some time to appreciate the tranquil woodland setting that makes this area so peaceful. Eventually, you will climb slightly uphill and the trail will bend to the southeast to bring you along on the final leg of the walk. After skirting around the edge of a second small lake, you will arrive back at the car park where you began the Drum Manor Walk.

Trail Highlights

Drum Manor

Built in 1829 and originally named ‘Oaklands’, the building was remodelled in 1869 and renamed Drum Manor. The origins of the estate can be traced to the marriage of Henry James Stuart-Richardson (Viscount Stuart) and Augusta Liviscount Richardson-Brady, who was the heiress to the Oaklands estate. The Lord Stuart’s crest adorns the walls of the building, although the is had fallen into a state of semi-disrepair by the 1970s. Today, only the outer walls of the ground floor remain; however, the estate is still one of the most-visited tourist sites in Cookstown.