Glenarm Castle

Glenarm Castle is a country house and castle estate in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with rooms displaying period furnishings and family collections across multiple floors. The grounds feature a walled garden, woodland walking paths, open meadows, and waterways that create distinct zones across the property.

The castle was built in 1636 by Sir Randal MacDonnell, First Earl of Antrim, to replace an earlier fortress from the thirteenth century that once stood in Glenarm village center. The estate has remained in family ownership and continued to shape the valley landscape over subsequent centuries.

The estate hosts the annual Dalriada Festival, combining sports competitions, music performances, and food events that reflect Irish and Scottish traditions.

The estate is open to visitors from May through September, with guided tours explaining the building's design and family history. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk across varied terrain including woodland paths and open grassland.

The estate's tea room occupies the former Mushroom House and serves food made with beef from the Glenarm shorthorn cattle herd raised on the grounds. This conversion reveals how working farm buildings have been repurposed for modern visitor use.

Location: Glenarm Demense

Inception: 1636

Address: Glenarm Castle, (off Straidkilly Road), Glenarm Demesne, Glenarm, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT44 0BD

Website: http://glenarmcastle.com

GPS coordinates: 54.96610,-5.95612

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:40