Overview
Drum Manor did something unusual with its big house. When the Forest Service took the estate on and opened it to the public in 1970, it chose not to restore the manor but to let it settle into ruin – and then planted a Japanese garden into the surviving shell, so the stone and the planting now frame each other. That contrast is the reason to come, and the manor ruins are a popular backdrop for wedding photographs. The park sits on the southern foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, a few miles west of Cookstown, and it makes a quieter outing than the busier hill routes nearby. A large car park anchors the site, with toilets, fresh water and an information board; it is open daily from 10am to sunset, with a charge for vehicle access.
One thing to know before you set out: in early 2025 the park took serious damage from Storms Darragh, Éowyn and Herminia, losing a number of mature trees. Restoration and safety work is ongoing, so check the on-site board for any trail closures, though the core trails and ruins remain accessible.
A layered history
The estate was for around 300 years the home of a single family before it passed to the state. It started life as Oaklands, seat of the Richardson family, and was remodelled into Drum Manor in the late 1860s – reportedly by the Belfast architect William Hastings – gaining a four-storey castellated tower, a balustraded terrace and a dated gateway screen. The Forest Service acquired the land in 1964 and opened the park in 1970.
Rather than rebuild, they let the house come down in the 1970s and framed the surviving ground-floor walls, tower and terrace with the Japanese-style garden. The old walled garden was replanted as a butterfly habitat, and an arboretum was established to hold rare and exotic specimens, many of which still thrive.
What to see and do
The manor ruins and Japanese garden
The four-storey tower and octagonal stair turret dominate the skyline, while the surviving ground-floor walls and balustraded terrace frame the garden below. The Japanese garden, set into the ruin’s footprint, has stone lanterns, water and layered planting that softens the stone. It is quietest first thing in the morning.
Arboretum and rare trees
The grounds are known for their Blue Atlas cedars, whose silver-blue foliage stands out against the surrounding greenery, and for mature yew avenues lining the old estate roads. A pre-1830 fishpond and a wildfowl lake add reflective water to the woodland walks. Some of the older specimens were among the trees lost in the 2025 storms, so the planting is in recovery.
Walking trails
All routes start and finish at the main car park and are clearly waymarked:
- Forest Plots Trail: 1.4 miles (2.2 km). An easy loop, good for families, through native and exotic tree groupings.
- Old Woodlands Trail: 2 miles (3.2 km). A moderate route into deeper woodland, with intermittent views of the manor ruins.
There is no mountain-bike trail at Drum Manor itself – for that, head to Davagh Forest, about 20 minutes’ drive away, which has purpose-built trails. A children’s playground and picnic tables sit near the car park.
Camping and touring
The site has a campsite with 31 caravan and camping stands, with modern toilets, showers, fresh water, chemical disposal and electric hook-ups. It works on PIN-code access and pre-booking, with no full-time staff on site, so arrange your stay in advance. There is also a youth camp site for organised groups, booked through the Enniskillen Forest Office.
Wildlife and seasons
The mix of open gardens, water and dense woodland keeps the wildlife turning over. From May to September the walled butterfly garden draws Peacock and Comma butterflies on warm, still afternoons. The older woodlands shelter red squirrels, and blackbirds, robins and chiffchaffs are about year-round. Autumn is the showiest season: the arboretum’s maples, oaks and exotic conifers turn gold and amber against the grey stone of the ruins.
Practical information
- Location: Drum Road, a few miles west of Cookstown, County Tyrone (BT80 8UN).
- Opening hours: Daily, 10am to sunset.
- Entry fee: Car £3.00, Pedestrian £1.00, Child £0.50 (charges are for car park access; the grounds are free once inside).
- Parking: Large car park adjacent to the visitor area.
- Facilities: Toilets, fresh water, playground, campsite, picnic areas.
- Accessibility: The main car park and a self-guided circular trail are wheelchair-accessible with level access. Some woodland sections are uneven or gravelled, so wear sturdy footwear.
- Updates: Check the on-site information board, or the nidirect page, for trail closures and storm-recovery work.
Nearby attractions
Drum Manor is a handy base for the wider county. Baronscourt, the 18th-century estate of the Duke of Abercorn, is a short drive away, and Bessy Bell offers a panoramic summit walk. For longer hikes and cycling, the Glenelly Valley has the Sperrins’ longest valley trail. For food or supplies afterwards, Cookstown is a few miles east.
Come on a weekday morning if you want the Japanese garden and the ruins to yourself – the car park fills on summer weekends, and arriving before 11am gets you a spot near the trailheads.