Drumkeeragh Forest, Dromara
117 Drumnaquoile Road, Dromore BT25 2LB
From Lurgan, drive out the Avenue Road (towards Moira) and turn right on the Dromore Road. Drive into and through Dromore turning right on to the B2 (Ballynahinch Road) shortly after leaving the Square. Ignore the first turn off to Dromara and about 5 miles out of Dromore you will come to a cross roads. Turn right on to the Hillsborough Road which goes to Dromara. Rather confusingly the Dromara Road opposite takes you to Hillsborough.
Arriving in Dromara after two miles, drive straight though the centre of the village on to the Rathfriland Road / B7 heading south and passing the Eurospar supermarket and Petrol Station on your right. Just after exiting the village take the first turn left onto the Castlewellan Road which becomes the Drumnaquoile Road after about 3 miles. Continue on this for another ½ mile until you arrive at Drumkeeragh Forest Car Park immediately on your left. Park in the car park.
Drumkeeragh Forest is a mixed coniferous forest located on the lower slopes of Slieve Croob (in Irish, Sliabh Crúb – the mountain of the hoof) which rises to a height of 534 metres (1755) feet and is the source of the River Lagan. Locally the mountain is known as ‘The Twelve Cairns’. There are transmitter masts near the summit which, on a clear day, offers outstanding views over the Mourne Mountains and surrounding countryside.
About this forest
Drumkeeragh Forest is a commercial coniferous woodland covering 200 hectares with an elevation which rises from 190 metres to 310 metres. An extensive forest road system allows walkers to access most of the forest. Occasionally there may be restricted access to parts of the forest during forest operations so pay attention to safety signage.
Roads within the forest have rough gravel surfaces and strong footwear is recommended. There are good views of the surrounding countryside, with glimpses of Strangford Lough and Scrabo Tower visible between the low rounded hills. Looking towards the north and west, a broad panorama stretches from Slieve Croob to the Antrim Hills; the view in the centre is across small hill farms, beyond which the Sperrin Mountains may be seen on a clear day.
Trees
Within the forest sitka spruce is the main tree species with Norway spruce, European larch, western red cedar, douglas and noble fir, Scots, Corsican and lodgepole pines also present. These species were planted for timber harvests over a rotation of about 50 years.
Drumkeeragh Forest is now entering its second rotation and a programme of felling and replanting has been undertaken in recent years. Much of the the land is not suitable for growing broadleaved timber trees because of its high elevation and poor quality soil.
Due to sustainable woodland management in this ‘new’ forest, landscaping and wildlife conservation get greater emphasis and some native broadleaves, including silver birch and mountain ash, have been planted. A greater diversity of bird species is also found within the forest as these second rotation crops develop and mature.