Woods to visit

Even though Northern Ireland has very low woodland cover, it holds some real treasures. From the oakwoods that occur on the acid soils of the uplands, to the species-rich ashwoods of the fertile limestone country of Fermanagh, the ancient and long-established woods of Northern Ireland encompass great variety.

The areas selected as being worth a visit have been chosen for a variety of reasons. All appear on the inventory. Some, like the Crom estate in Fermanagh, include several areas of ancient and long-established woodland. Some are former estates, like Tollymore and Castle Caldwell. Others are areas of native woodland that have survived clearance because they occur on steep, rocky slopes, like the spectacular woodland at Banagher Glen, in the north Sperrins, or Hanging Rock, in Co Fermanagh.

The levels of accessibility vary, and we have included information on facilities available to help you choose which site to visit. There is also a leaflet you can download which includes details of many of these woods.