Springhill House - Sawpit Hill Walk,

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A circular walk through Springhill Estate visits the gardens, Springhill House, estate walk and Demesne. Springhill house is a tall roofed house to which curvilinear gable ends were added in the early 18th Century. There is a tower on an elevated site above the Beech walk dating from the early 18th century. There is an aviary in adjacent field where herons have nested.

Route

This walk follows the perimeter of the estate. The path passes a small pond, which is home to many frogs, watch closely and you might see one, proceeding on through the laurels which eventually open out into woodland. In spring it is filled with bluebells and the smell of the wild garlic. The path begins a short but steep climb towards the tower, which once was a corn mill. Look out for the remains of the American GI’s WW2 camp, concrete pads under the trees show where the foundations of the Nissan huts were sited.

When you reach the tower take a moment to enjoy the view down through the beautiful avenue of beech trees, where on a clear day you can see the Sperrin Mountains and Slieve Gallion. The path continues across the front of the tower, passing some of the large oaks that line the edge of the path, marking the boundary of the Springhill estate. The old sawpit would have been located in the field the path runs alongside, timber from the estate was used to build Springhill house over 300 years ago.

Eventually the walk will come to a gradual end through the display of Rhododendrons which are at their best in May, and into the ancient Yew tree grove, part of the Great Forest of Ulster at the rear of the house. Swathes of snowdrops carpet the floor beneath these trees in February. Or you can follow the route alongside the large walled garden, towards the Woodland Walk.

* Please note that National Trust entrance pricing applies for this walk. Please see the link below for details *