Cabin Wood

About

This tranquil riverside woodland was once part of the Killymoon Castle estate. Follow its circular gravel paths through the mix of ancient woodland and new planting and you’ll find stunning wildflower displays in spring, spectacular views of the castle and countryside, abundant wildlife, and rich autumn colour.

Route description

The wood has two access gates leading on to a stone path which follows a circular route through the wood. The route takes around 30 minutes to walk and is buggy-friendly, but there are some sloping sections which can be quite steep at parts. There are a number of steep paths to the Killymoon and Ballinderry rivers which border the wood.

Cabin Wood is sat on the southern edge of Cookstown in County Tyrone. It covers 6.5 hectares (16.2 acres) and is bordered by the Ballinderry and Killymoon rivers.

Cabin Wood provides a wealth of habitats for all kinds of wildlife. Both red and fallow deer live in the parklands on the other side of Killymoon River and can often be seen crossing the shallower parts and steadily venturing into Cabin Wood. Daubenton’s bats also frequent Cabin Wood. Take a walk by the river at dusk for a chance to see them darting above. During the day, the river is a great place to watch out for wildlife.
In the woods, listen for the screaming call of the jay, and in the autumn, look out for them as they bury acorns to feed on later in the winter. You may also spot barn owls, kestrels, stonechats and, in spring, grey wagtails.

In 2001, The Woodland Trust planted around 12,000 trees at Cabin Wood. A range of species was planted, including water-loving trees to thrive near the riverside. Remnants of the site’s mature wood, thought to be ancient wood, remain along the riverbanks. Here you’ll find an abundance of ground flora with swathes of bluebell, primrose, wood anemone and celandine.

Cabin Wood was once part of the Killymoon Castle Estate. The original castle was built in 1671 by James Stewart and was rebuilt in 1803 after a fire. While you’re enjoying your walk around Cabin Wood, you might spot a bench in the shape of a saw. This bench marks the spot where you can see the remains of an old sawmill that used to stand in the woods.

There is not much known about the history of the mill, but it’s clear it once stood at the heart of extensive ancient woodland. It’s likely that much of the timber was cut during the war effort, and that the mill fell into disrepair after the sale of nearby woodland.