9 Glens of Antrim: The Complete Visitor’s Guide to Northern Ireland’s Most Beautiful Hidden Gem

The 9 Glens of Antrim are nine glacially carved valleys in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, that sweep from the Antrim Plateau to the Causeway Coastal Route. Named Glentaisie, Glenshesk, Glendun, Glencorp, Glenaan, Glenballyeamon, Glenariff, Glencloy and Glenarm, they form one of Ireland’s two designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Together they offer ancient Irish folklore, dramatic waterfalls, Game of Thrones filming locations, historic castles, coastal villages and some of the most rewarding driving and walking in the whole of Ireland.

Northern Ireland has no shortage of world-class landmarks. The Giant’s Causeway draws visitors from every corner of the globe, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge sets hearts racing, and Belfast’s Titanic Quarter tells one of history’s most compelling maritime stories. But ask any local where to go if you really want to feel the soul of this place, and the answer is almost always the same: the 9 Glens of Antrim.

The nine glens stretch along the Causeway Coastal Route in County Antrim, tumbling from the high Antrim Plateau to the sea in a succession of lush, waterfall-threaded valleys that most tourists drive straight past. That, frankly, is their loss.

I have visited every one of these glens more than once, taking visitors and friends who have later told me it was the highlight of their entire trip to Ireland. This guide covers what each glen holds, how to reach them, where to eat and sleep, how to manage with limited mobility, what things cost, and where to park. It also weaves in the folklore and history that make this landscape unlike anywhere else on the island.

What Are the 9 Glens of Antrim?

The nine glens were formed between 55 and 60 million years ago when glaciers moved across the northern coast of Ireland during the last ice age. The glacial action carved deep u-shaped and v-shaped valleys through the Antrim Plateau, each running roughly east to west down to the sea. The landscape tells a story written in rock: red sandstone at Red Bay, black basalt at Black Cave and grey clay at White Bay.

The glens are officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, one of only two in Northern Ireland. They sit within the Causeway Coast and Glens region, which also encompasses the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO World Heritage Site and Rathlin Island.

In terms of Irish folklore, the glens are extraordinary. Every valley holds its own legend, its saints, its battles and its ghosts. The landscape is alive with story in the way that only places shaped by centuries of Celtic, early Christian and plantation history can be.

See also: 101 Landmarks in Northern Ireland and Best Northern Ireland Tourist Attractions

The 9 Glens of Antrim on the Causeway Coastal Route: Map and Route

The nine glens run north from Larne, County Antrim, along the Causeway Coastal Route (the A2 road) for roughly 80 miles to just south of Ballycastle. Larne sits on the east coast of Ireland, almost a direct run from Ballymena, where my own family hails from. From Larne on a clear day you can see the Mull of Kintyre across the North Channel, the exact route that Scottish settlers took during the Plantation of Ulster.

The rugged cliffs of the east coast are broken only by the nine deep glens, each one a world unto itself. The official interactive map is available on the Glens Causeway Coast website, where you can click each location to read its history and points of interest.

The nine glens in order from south to north:

1. Glenarm (most southerly)
2. Glencloy
3. Glenariff  the Queen of the Glens
4. Glenballyeamon
5. Glenaan
6. Glencorp
7. Glendun
8. Glenshesk
9. Glentaisie (most northerly)

The best way to tour the glens is by car, moving steadily northward along the coast road and dipping inland into each valley as you go. Hiring a car gives you the freedom to stop whenever a view demands it, which will be often.

If you need to rent a car, read everything you need to know about renting a car in Ireland.

How to Plan Your Visit to the 9 Glens of Antrim: Step-by-Step

Whether you have a single day or a full week, a little planning goes a long way.

1. Decide your base. Ballycastle in the north or Larne in the south both work well. Cushendall, often called the capital of the glens, is the most central option.
2. Book your car hire in advance, especially in summer. The glens are not well served by public transport and a car is essential for reaching the inland sections.
3. Get a Heritage Card before you leave home. A Heritage Ireland card covers OPW sites across both the Republic and Northern Ireland. An English Heritage card has a reciprocal agreement and works at many sites in both countries. You can order by post.
4. Allow at least two full days to see all nine glens without rushing. Three days lets you explore Glenariff Forest Park properly, visit Glenarm Castle and still have time for coastal villages.
5. Download offline maps before you travel. Mobile signal drops in the inland glens. Google Maps offline or Maps.ie downloaded in advance will save considerable frustration.
6. Check festival dates. The Feis of the Glens runs June to July; the Dalriada Festival is held at Glenarm Estate in summer. Plan around them if your dates align.
7. Book accommodation early. The Causeway Coast fills fast from May to September.

The 9 Glens of Antrim: History, Folklore and What to See in Each Valley

1. Glenarm: The Glen of the Army

Glenarm is the most southerly of the nine glens and the natural start of any south-to-north tour. Its name derives from the Irish Gleann Arma, meaning the glen of the army, reflecting the military history embedded in every stone here. The village of Glenarm at the glen’s mouth is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in County Antrim.

Glenarm Castle is the ancestral seat of the McDonnell family, Earls of Antrim, since the early 1600s. The current castle dates from around 1750 with early 19th-century alterations, substantially restored around 1825. It served as a Game of Thrones filming location. The walled gardens are genuinely lovely; allow at least an hour. According to Irish folklore, the body of Shane O’Neill, killed at the Battle of Glentaisie in 1565, rests here, though his head was reportedly sent to Dublin Castle to be displayed on a pike.

The glen also holds Templeoughter (the upper church), Iron Age raths, souterrains (underground burial chambers) and late Stone Age wedge tombs, indicating unbroken human settlement across millennia. Guided souterrain tours run through the farm owner, Tommy, at 15£ pounds per person including light refreshments. The chamber is on private land so advance arrangement is needed.

GLENARM CASTLE:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Address: Glenarm Castle, Glenarm, County Antrim, BT44 0BQ Parking: Free car park at the castle entrance. Accessible spaces clearly marked. Accessibility: Walled garden has level gravel paths suitable for wheelchairs. Castle interior has steps; contact estate in advance. Tickets: Walled garden entry charged during open season (typically May to September). Check website for current prices as they vary by event. Toilets: On site, including accessible toilet.

2. Glencloy: The Glen of the Dykes

Glencloy is shaped like a sword and its name reflects the dykes or earthworks that mark the landscape. The glen sweeps out to the Irish Sea at Carnlough, a pretty harbour village with white chalk quarries and the distinctive White Arch carrying the old railway line over the coast road.

Excavations here have found evidence of occupation dating to around 4000 BC. Norman mottes at Doonan and Dunga Mollan once held fortified positions above the glen. Hidden from the passing road is Garron Tower, the Victorian summer retreat of the Marchioness of Londonderry, who built the harbour at Carnlough for shipping limestone from the Glencloy quarries.

Glencloy holds the dramatic Doonan Waterfall, the waterfall is situated in a deep, relatively inaccessible ravine. The best vantage point is a viewing platform and information panel located in a layby along the A42 Carnlough Road. The layby and viewing platform are accessible via road, but reaching the base of the waterfall is difficult and typically requires wading up the river from the mouth at the beach.

Glencloy holds the dramatic Drumnasle waterfalls, reached through a narrow passage called the Goats Parlour. At the end of the path is Tubberdoney, a blessed well believed by locals to cure eye ailments. From the headland of Drumnasole, meaning the ridge of light, the Antrim Scots signalled with beacon fires to kinsmen across the Sea of Moyle.

For visitors looking for an easier and well-signposted waterfall walk, Cranny Falls is the more accessible option. The trail starts from Carnlough Harbour, follows an old limestone railway line up through Gortin Quarry and continues along the Carnlough River to where the falls cascade through a woodland gorge; the return walk is roughly 4 kilometres and rated easy, though it is worth checking current trail conditions at WalkNI before setting out as sections of the path have been subject to closures for repair.

CARNLOUGH:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Parking: Free parking on the harbour front and in the village. Flat harbour area suitable for wheelchair users. Carnlough Beach: A quiet shingle and sand beach with adjacent parking. No formal facilities. Public toilets: Available in the village.

3. Glenariff: The Queen of the Glens

If you visit only one glen, make it Glenariff. Called the Queen of the Glens for very good reason, this perfect u-shaped glacial valley runs down to the sea at the tiny village of Waterfoot. The peat-stained rivers run burnt gold and amber through the gorge, feeding cascading waterfalls that are among the most photographed in Ireland.

Glenariff Forest Park, managed by the Forest Service Northern Ireland, covers over 1,000 hectares of ancient woodland, open moorland and river gorge. The Waterfall Trail follows a wooden boardwalk through the heart of the gorge past three main falls: Ess-na-Larach, Ess-na-Crub and Mare’s Tail. The walk takes roughly 45 minutes at a comfortable pace. The boardwalk section is accessible for most visitors, though the upper gorge path involves steps and uneven terrain.

From the higher trails there are views across to the Scottish coast on a clear day. The Moyle Way long-distance walking route passes through the park and continues north all the way to Ballycastle. Also visible from Glenariff is the ruin of Red Bay Castle, destroyed by Cromwell in 1652.

GLENARIFF FOREST PARK: PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Address: 98 Glenariff Road, Glenariff, County Antrim, BT44 0QX Entry fee: Car park charge per vehicle, typically 5 to 8 pounds. Parking: Large dedicated car park at main entrance. Accessible spaces near visitor centre. Accessibility: Visitor centre fully accessible. Boardwalk Waterfall Trail section accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Upper gorge path has steps and uneven terrain. Toilets: At visitor centre, including accessible toilet. Cafe: Laragh Lodge restaurant serves meals, light bites and coffee. Hours vary by season.

4. Glenballyeamon: The Heart of the Glens

Glenballyeamon, the glen of Eamon, sweeps down from Trostan Mountain, the highest peak in County Antrim, between the ridges of Lurigethan and Tievebulliagh to the coastal village of Cushendall, often called the capital of the glens.

On the summit of Lurigethan sits a promontory fort enclosed by a network of ditches and banks. Tievebulliagh is the site of a Stone Age flint factory where archaeologists have uncovered polished axe heads, evidence of a thriving industry thousands of years before written history. Because of its abundance of waterfalls, Cushendall was one of the first towns in Ireland to generate electricity from hydropower, a detail that tends to surprise visitors.

CUSHENDALL:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Parking: Free public car park in the village centre. Flat surface suitable for wheelchair users. Accessibility: Village centre largely flat and accessible. Hill and cliff paths not suitable for limited mobility. Places to eat: The Corner House Bar, several cafes and takeaways. Ask locally for current hours. Tourist information: Heritage centre with glens information in the village.

5. Glenaan: Ossian’s Glen

Glenaan, the glen of the little fords, is one of the most atmospheric valleys in the area. The abandoned village of Knockban, deserted in the 19th century, sits quietly here, its ruined wallsteads slowly returning to the hillside. Peat is still cut by hand in Glenaan for home fires, one of the very few places in Ireland where this practice continues.

The glen is famous as the site of Ossian’s Grave, a double-chambered horned cairn from the Neolithic period. According to Irish mythology, Ossian was a great warrior-poet, son of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna brotherhood. I confess that years ago I attempted to find Ossian’s Grave with family members and we ended up in a field of thoroughly unimpressed sheep. I am told it is considerably better signposted today.

6. Glencorp: The Glen of the Dead

Glencorp translates from Irish as the glen of the dead or the glen of the bodies, most likely a reference to early Christian farmsteads and ring forts that were raided repeatedly through the medieval period. A mound called the Fort in Fainaglass, once assumed to be an ancient fortification, has been identified as a Bronze Age barrow burial mound dating from roughly 2500 to 500 BC. The landscape is remote and wild; the sense of deep time here is palpable.

7. Glendun: The Brown Glen

Glendun, the brown glen, is a broad, deeply wooded valley of extraordinary calm and contains the largest area of continuous woodland in Northern Ireland. It is a haven for birds and wildlife, and a glen that holds secrets.

Hidden in Gregagh Wood is the Altar in the Wood, a rock carved with a crucifixion scene from the 16th century. This is a Penal Cross, made during the Penal Law era when Catholics were forbidden from open worship and celebrated Mass at hidden outdoor sites. Finding it is a moving experience.

The village of Cushendun at the glen’s mouth is a National Trust village, its whitewashed cottages designed by architect Clough Williams-Ellis of Portmeirion fame. The Cushendun Caves were used as a Game of Thrones filming location and are freely accessible from the beach.

CUSHENDUN  PRACTICAL INFORMATION Parking: National Trust car park at Cushendun beach, pay and display. Accessible spaces available. Cushendun Caves: Free to access. Short path from car park; uneven surface near the rock formations. Accessibility: Beach and village area largely accessible. Glendun woodland paths not suitable for wheelchairs. Places to eat: Mary McBride’s Bar serves food. Small cafe in the village.

8. Glenshesk: The Wild Glen

Glenshesk, the glen of sedge, opens to the sea near Ballycastle with superb views across to Rathlin Island and, on clear days, to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland. It is a wild, untamed valley with a character distinct from the more wooded glens to the south.

Just outside Ballycastle stands the ruin of Bonamargy Friary, one of the most atmospheric religious sites in Northern Ireland. The friary is famous for the Black Nun, who asked to be buried at the chapel entrance so that, in her words, she might be trodden under the feet of all who entered. Her grave is marked by a round-holed cross, the only example of its kind in Ireland.

BONAMARGY FRIARY:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Location: A2, just east of Ballycastle town centre. Entry: Free at all times. Parking: Roadside parking adjacent. Grounds largely flat and accessible; ruin interior has uneven ground.   BALLYCASTLE:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Parking: Several car parks in the town centre and at the beach. Accessible spaces at the seafront. Places to eat: Wysner Meats and Deli, The Central Wine Bar, McCarroll’s Bar. The Courthouse restaurant for more formal dining. Accessibility: Town centre and seafront accessible. Rathlin Island ferry can accommodate wheelchairs; contact the ferry company in advance.

9. Glentaisie: The Northernmost Glen

Glentaisie is the farthest north of all nine glens and is named for Princess Taisie, daughter of King Dorm of Rathlin Island. The glen runs approximately 8 kilometres on the western side of the Knocklayd Mountains towards Ballycastle.

The most enduring story connected to Glentaisie is the legend of the Children of Lir, one of the great tales of Irish mythology. The children were turned into swans by Aoife, the jealous second wife of their father Lir, and cursed to wander the waters of Ireland for 900 years singing to all who would hear them. It was the sound of the first Christian bells, brought to Ireland by Saint Patrick, that finally broke the curse.

In 1565, Glentaisie was the site of a significant battle between the O’Neill clan and the Scottish MacDonnells. Sorley Boy MacDonnell called in Scottish reinforcements against the O’Neills; the battle resulted in the deaths of his brothers James and Angus, and Sorley Boy himself was taken prisoner.

Game of Thrones Filming Locations in the Antrim Glens

Northern Ireland was the primary filming location for much of HBO’s Game of Thrones, and the Antrim Glens feature prominently. Glenarm Castle, the Cushendun Caves and atmospheric hedged lanes around the area all appeared in the series. The Game of Thrones door is installed at Ballygally Castle Hotel.

For a complete self-drive tour covering every Game of Thrones location in Northern Ireland, read the Ultimate Game of Thrones Self-Drive Guide.

Beyond the Glens: What Else to See on the Causeway Coast

The Giant’s Causeway

The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits at the northern end of the Causeway Coastal Route and is the most visited attraction in Northern Ireland. Entry to the causeway itself is free; the visitor centre car park and exhibitions carry a charge. Book the visitor centre in advance in summer.

For more, visit Discover Northern Ireland and The Giant’s Causeway accessibility guide

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island lies six miles off Ballycastle and is Ireland’s most northerly inhabited island and home to one of the most important seabird colonies in the British Isles. Puffins, guillemots and razorbills are best seen at the RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre from late April to July. Ferries run from Ballycastle; the crossing takes about 25 minutes. The ferry can accommodate wheelchairs; contact the operator in advance. Explore where to find Puffins in Ireland here.

Titanic Belfast

Belfast is less than an hour’s drive south of Larne, making it an easy addition to a glens trip. Titanic Belfast, built on the exact site where RMS Titanic was constructed, is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience. It is compelling, beautifully designed and suitable for all ages and mobility levels. Book tickets in advance.

Free Things to Do in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Northern Ireland is good value for visitors. The Giant’s Causeway itself is free to access. Bonamargy Friary costs nothing. The Cushendun Caves are free. Walking any glen trail costs nothing beyond the Glenariff Forest Park car park charge. In the Republic, the National Museum of Ireland and National Gallery in Dublin both have free entry. Many of Ireland’s most spectacular landscapes, including the Cliffs of Moher coastal path, can be experienced without formal admission fees.

Mussenden Temple and Demesne

If you are heading west along the north coast after the glens, Mussenden Temple in County Derry/Londonderry is a dramatic clifftop rotunda with views that take the breath away. Managed by the National Trust, the demesne is free to enter with parking charges applying. Read more: Don’t forget to visit Mussenden Temple and Demesne.

Slemish Mountain and Saint Patrick

Slemish Mountain, an extinct volcano visible from many points along the Causeway Coast, rises approximately 437 metres above the Antrim plain. It is traditionally associated with Saint Patrick, who is believed to have worked as a shepherd on its slopes during his captivity in Ireland. The mountain offers a straightforward climb with panoramic views across County Antrim. Parking is available at the base.

Ballygally Castle Hotel: Ghosts, Game of Thrones and the Best Night’s Stay in the Glens

The tour of the glens typically ends around Ballygally, just north of Larne, where Ballygally Castle Hotel occupies a genuine 17th-century castle. The resident ghost has reportedly been in residence for approximately 400 years.

Lady Isabella Shaw, according to local legend, was locked in her room by her husband James Shaw after failing to produce a male heir. She had given birth to a daughter and, attempting to escape to find the child, fell from the tower window. Her spirit is said to roam the castle still. The hotel offers a dedicated Ghost Room for those who want to test the legend. The Game of Thrones door is also installed here.

BALLYGALLY CASTLE HOTEL:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Address: Coast Road, Ballygally, County Antrim, BT40 2QZ Parking: Free on-site car park. Accessible spaces at the hotel entrance. Accessibility: Ground-floor accessible rooms available. Call ahead; the historic building has limitations in some areas. Restaurant: The Bay Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with bay views. The Dianne Bar is more casual. Price range: Mid-range to upper mid-range for Northern Ireland. Check current rates at Hastings Hotels website.

Where to Stay Near the 9 Glens of Antrim: Hotels, B&Bs and Camping

Hotels and Guesthouses

Ballygally Castle Hotel is the most atmospheric option. In Ballycastle, the Marine Hotel sits on the seafront and is a well-established choice. Cushendall has several small guesthouses run by locals who know the glens intimately; they are often the best source of current information on trail conditions. The Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough is a handsome coaching inn that also has rooms, with parking on site.

Self-Catering

Self-catering cottages in the glen villages offer excellent value and the chance to base yourself in the landscape itself. VRBO has listings in Cushendall, Cushendun, Carnlough and Glenarm. Cottages NI and Discover Northern Ireland both list vetted self-catering properties.

Camping and Glamping

Watertop Open Farm in Ballycastle offers camping and glamping and is family-friendly with accessible facilities. Cushendall has a small camping area. Check Camping NI for a full and current list.

Where to Eat Near the 9 Glens of Antrim: From Cafes to Fine Dining

Glenariff and Waterfoot

The Glenariff Teahouse inside Glenariff Forest Park serves hot meals, sandwiches and coffee. In Waterfoot village there are local pubs with bar food. Both have parking on site.

Cushendall

The Corner House Bar is a reliable pub meal option and serves traditional Irish food. Frankie’s Ice Cream Parlour is the local institution for an afternoon treat. The village shop is well stocked for self-caterers.

Cushendun

Mary McBride’s Bar holds the record as the smallest licensed bar in Ireland and serves food. It is an experience in itself. Book ahead at weekends.

Carnlough

The Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough is the grandest lunch stop on the south coast section. A handsome coaching inn once briefly inherited by Winston Churchill, it offers bar meals and a more formal dining room. Hotel car park available for diners. Ground floor restaurant and bar are accessible.

LONDONDERRY ARMS HOTEL:  PRACTICAL INFORMATION – Address: 20 Harbour Road, Carnlough, County Antrim, BT44 0EU Parking: Hotel car park available for diners. Accessibility: Ground floor restaurant and bar accessible. Call ahead regarding accessible toilet facilities. Price range: Moderate. Bar meals are excellent value.

Ballycastle

Ballycastle has the widest dining choice in the glens area. Wysner Meats and Deli is a celebrated local institution for lunch. The Central Wine Bar is a popular evening option. Morton’s on the seafront is the local favourite for fish and chips.

Festivals and Events in the Glens of Antrim

The Feis of the Glens has been held since 1904, making it one of the oldest cultural festivals in Ireland. It celebrates arts and crafts, field events, the Irish language, poetry, singing and traditional dance across various dates in June and July. If you can be there for it, do not miss it.

The Dalriada Festival is held at Glenarm Estate in summer and is one of Ireland’s most distinctive heritage celebrations, reflecting the ancient kingdom of Dal Riada that straddled both Ireland and Scotland. The programme includes traditional food, arts and crafts, open-air concerts, live music and children’s entertainment.

For current festival dates, check Visit Causeway Coast and Glens.

Visiting the 9 Glens of Antrim with Limited Mobility or Hidden Disabilities

As a mobility-challenged traveller myself, I want to be direct about what is and is not accessible in the glens, because vague reassurance is not helpful to anyone planning a trip.

Glenariff Forest Park is the most accessible attraction. The visitor centre is fully wheelchair accessible and the boardwalk Waterfall Trail is navigable for most wheeled mobility aids. The upper gorge path is not accessible.

The village centres of Cushendall, Ballycastle and Carnlough are largely flat and accessible by wheelchair or mobility scooter, with accessible toilets in each town. Cushendun village and beach are accessible; the cave path is short but has some uneven surface near the rock formations.

Glenarm Castle walled garden has level gravel paths. Bonamargy Friary is on flat ground. The coast road viewpoints are accessible by car and most have roadside parking close enough to enjoy the views without walking far.

The inland glen paths in Glendun, Glenaan and Glencorp are generally not suitable for wheelchairs or those with significant mobility limitations. The terrain is rough, uneven and often steep.

For hidden disabilities including neurodivergence, sensory sensitivity or chronic fatigue, the glens are a generally positive environment. The coast road is quiet outside peak summer weekends, the villages are small and unhurried, and significant crowd pressure is rare except at Glenariff and Ballygally in high season.

A Personal Note: Why the Glens Have Held My Heart for Decades

My family has argued about Northern Ireland’s finest sights for as long as I can remember, in the warm and theatrical way Irish families argue about things they all love. For my Uncle Arthur, there was never any contest: it was always the Glens of Antrim. He pronounced it Ant-Rim, the Northern Irish emphasis landing on the second syllable in a way that somehow sounded exactly right. My father was a Port Stewart man, happiest with a fishing rod at the rocks where he spent much of his childhood.

I am firmly with my Uncle Arthur, and have been from the first time I drove the coast road and felt the glens open up around me like something from a geography lesson that turned into an overwhelming piece of beauty instead. I have brought visitors here repeatedly and the reaction is consistently the same: disbelief that this place is not more famous, followed by a quiet determination to come back.

That, in my opinion, is the greatest compliment you can pay a landscape.

Planning Your Visit to the 9 Glens of Antrim

The nine glens of Antrim are not a footnote to a trip to Northern Ireland. They are a destination in their own right, one that rewards those who slow down, take the coast road and let the landscape do its work. From the glacial drama of Glenariff Forest Park and the folklore of Glentaisie to the medieval secrets of Glendun and the ghost at Ballygally, these nine valleys carry more history, legend and sheer beauty than most regions ten times their size.

On a practical level, the area is well set up for visitors, with good parking in all the main villages, accessible facilities in the key attractions, and food and accommodation to suit every budget. Allow at least two full days, bring offline maps, and hire a car if there is any way you can manage it.

And if you find yourself in a field of sheep where the signs suggest a Neolithic grave, keep walking. The glens, as I have learned, rarely give up their secrets without a little persistence.

Did you have a favourite glen? Share it in the comments. For more on Northern Ireland, visit my hub page for travel in Northern Ireland. For free things to see, read the best free things to do in Northern Ireland.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 9 Glens of Antrim

What are the 9 Glens of Antrim?

The 9 Glens of Antrim are nine glacially carved valleys in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. From south to north they are Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk and Glentaisie. They form an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty along the Causeway Coastal Route and are one of the most scenic natural areas in the whole of Ireland.

Is Glenariff Forest Park worth visiting?

Yes, without question. Glenariff Forest Park is the single most spectacular attraction in the glens area, with a boardwalk Waterfall Trail through a river gorge past three major falls. Entry is by car park charge, typically 5 to 8 pounds per car. There is an accessible car park, a cafe at Laragh Lodge and a visitor centre on site.

Can you visit the 9 Glens of Antrim without a car?

It is possible but significantly more difficult. Bus services connect the main coastal towns but the inland sections of each glen, where the most dramatic scenery is found, are not served by public transport. Hiring a car or joining an organised tour from Belfast is strongly recommended for anyone who wants to see the glens properly.

What is the best time of year to visit the Glens of Antrim?

Late spring and early autumn are the best times. May and June offer beautiful light, woodland in full leaf and waterfalls running strongly after winter rain, without the peak summer crowds. The Feis of the Glens runs June to July and the Dalriada Festival takes place at Glenarm Estate in summer. Winter is quiet and atmospheric but some facilities close or reduce hours.

Are there Game of Thrones locations in the Glens of Antrim?

Yes. Glenarm Castle, the Cushendun Caves and several coastal locations were used as Game of Thrones filming locations. The Ballygally Castle Hotel has a Game of Thrones door on display. For a full self-drive location guide covering all of Northern Ireland, see the dedicated guide on xyuandbeyond.com.

Is Glenarm Castle open to the public?

Yes. The Glenarm Castle walled garden is open during the main season, typically May to September, with entry fees that vary by event. The garden has gravel paths suitable for wheelchairs. Check www.glenarmcastle.com for current opening times and prices before visiting.

What Irish folklore is connected to the Glens of Antrim?

Every glen carries its own legend. Glentaisie holds the Children of Lir myth, one of the four great tales of Irish mythology. Glenaan has Ossian’s Grave, linked to the warrior-poet son of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Glendun’s Altar in the Wood dates from the Penal Law era. Bunamargy Friary in Glenshesk tells the story of the Black Nun and her unique grave. Ballygally Castle is haunted by Lady Isabella Shaw. The glens are as rich in story as they are in scenery.

How long does it take to see all 9 Glens of Antrim?

Allow a minimum of two full days to visit all nine glens comfortably. Three days is much better if you want to include Glenariff Forest Park fully, visit Glenarm Castle and explore the coastal villages at a relaxed pace. Add extra days if you plan to include Belfast, Rathlin Island or the Giant’s Causeway.

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