Drumharriff Wood

Forest recreation place

Explorer Tom

Drumharriff Wood near Pettigo has a fine trick: one part of its forest road follows a railway that once sent people towards Dublin, Enniskillen, Ballyshannon and Bundoran. I came looking for a gentle family loop and found myself listening for a train that has not passed in decades. The woods supplied birds instead, along with sculptures that seem keen to take the old station's place in the story. Coillte places the walk beside Pettigo, close to the Northern Ireland border. Its forest road follows part of the former Great Northern Railway alignment, with the old station house once near the village. The station closed in 1957. Imagine how different travel felt when a small border village had rail links in several directions; then notice how a level old line makes such a welcoming walking surface now. The conifer plantation around the route was reforested in 1980, another date in a wood that has changed jobs more than once. I would have made a poor stationmaster, late from inspecting every tree. The signed loop also contains sculptures, little encounters that give children and grown-up wanderers a reason to look closely as the route bends. Coillte calls it a gentle family walk, but that description applies to the intended route, not to every forestry track in the area. Follow the marks and enjoy how the straight memory of the railway gives way to the more enclosed feeling of planted trees. Do not assume the sculptures are ancient carvings or railway relics; they belong to the wood's visitor story. Their exact shapes are best discovered on foot, where surprise can do its job. There is an important current limit. Coillte warns that some Drumharriff trails are closed after recent storm damage while it works to reopen them. Check its notice and on-site signs before starting, and never step around a closure for the sake of completing a loop. Fallen trees can leave unstable limbs overhead long after the wind has calmed. If the available route is short, let Pettigo be part of the visit instead of inventing an unofficial shortcut. Lough Derg's visitor centre is a separate nearby stop, not a facility hidden in these trees. A shorter safe walk beats a longer foolish one every time. There are walking trails and a small lay-by for about five cars, with the option to walk from Pettigo village. Do not block the road or neighbouring access when parking. No café or toilet is listed at the trail itself, so plan those stops in the village. Wear footwear for a damp forest surface, keep children close to any working area and leave the sculptures intact for the next visitor. Drumharriff's railway memory makes it special, but the living wood deserves just as much attention. If the old line is temporarily shut, save the train noises for a safe return visit.

What is recorded here

Drumharriff Wood near Pettigo has a loop following part of the old Great Northern Railway line. Coillte says trains from Pettigo once ran toward Dublin, Enniskillen, Ballyshannon and Bundoran; the station closed in 1957. The woodland also has a sculpture trail. At the 12 October 2026 check, Coillte warned that some trails were closed after storm damage. Use its current trail notice before setting out.

From Coillte drumharriff

Coillte's page said this place was closed because of storm damage when checked on 3 August 2026. Check the public page before travelling.

What do you know about this place?Tap to add a comment or ask a question

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Kenneth Allen, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Kenneth Allen, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Picture: gaagroundhopper.substack.com
Mcg sean, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

goods shed162 yd

Explorer Tom Goods shed in Drumharriff has an infilled round-headed arch that used to let engines roll right inside. Built c. 1866…

The Market YardMarket building · 173 yd

Explorer Tom The Market Yard in Pettigo is where someone once wrote a truly awful poem about selling cabbages. It’s neglected now…

The Station HouseRailway station · 181 yd

Explorer Tom The Station House in Drumharriff hates the wind because it keeps picking on its old windows, rattling them like bad…

Pettigoe Church of Ireland ChurchChurch/chapel · 265 yd

Explorer Tom Pettigoe Church of Ireland is so crisp with its cut stone detailing that I bet a local swears he invented the concept…

The Fisherman's LodgeSchool · 267 yd

Explorer Tom The Fisherman's Lodge in Pettigo would win a county fair for best dressed, even if it used to be a school. The old…

Pettigoe Customs StationCustoms station · 275 yd

Explorer Tom Pettigoe Customs Station has a hidden treasure that is definitely a biscuit tin full of old receipts from 1920s trade…

Britton’s BarPub · 279 yd

Explorer Tom Britton’s Bar in Pettigo dates from eighteen sixty and smells like old wood and last calls. It is your final chance to…

Barton Family MausoleumMausoleum · 287 yd

Explorer Tom Barton Family Mausoleum was erected around 1870 beside the church in Pettigo. The survey found its doorway blocked and…

court house289 yd

Explorer Tom Court house in Pettigo is still listening for the fiddler who played there until dawn, but he probably just wandered…

Pettigo InnPub · 312 yd

Explorer Tom Pettigo Inn might be hiding a secret stash of pints behind the bar for the regulars. I bet the ghosts only drink stout…

Páirc na Scoile, Pettigo GAAGAA ground · 425 yd

Castle McGrathCastle · 1.1 mi

Explorer Tom Castle McGrath is recorded as a castle in County Donegal, and its location near Termonmcgrath gives it a solid…

More woods, forests and old trees in County Donegal · All of County Donegal

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover

Next place · or swipegoods shed