Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Dogs welcome
Getting here
54.83598, -6.30872
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦37+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blue Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦37+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blue Tit
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow +34 more · last seen 2024
Free
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow +34 more · last seen 2024
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Common Darter +23 more · last seen 2023
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Good match
Plants — Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed, Common Pocket-moss +13 more · last seen 2025
Free
🏡Historic gardens
Moderate match
Historic site
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km8 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
National Cycle Network National Route 97Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 97National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network National Route 97 ExtensionCycling route▾
Ballymena to Randalstown
Named routeRef 97National Cycle Network
ecos Cycle TrailCycling route▾
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route27 m▾
Named routeRef 97Length 27 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface blocks
Main RouteCycling route1.2 km▾
Named routeRef 97Length 1.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
N/ACycling route1.3 km▾
Named routeLength 1.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
206 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
206 records · National Biodiversity NetworkBlue Tit · Great Tit · Magpie · Song Thrush · Collared Dove +32
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2020
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2020
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- GoosanderMergus merganser2017
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Cinclus cinclus hibernicusCinclus cinclus hibernicus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Larus argentatus argenteusLarus argentatus argenteus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2020
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2020
- DipperCinclus cinclus2018
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2017
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2016
- RobinErithacus rubecula2020
- SiskinSpinus spinus2020
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2020
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2020
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2020
- Rock DoveColumba livia2020
🦌Mammals9 species
springsummerautumn
2020▾
Wood Mouse · Badger · Otter · Hedgehog · Rabbit +4
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
- BadgerMeles meles2014
- OtterLutra lutra2019
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2019
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2014
Four-spotted Chaser · Large Red Damselfly · Common Darter · Common Hawker · Peacock +21
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2019
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2019
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea2019
- PeacockAglais io2019
- Painted LadyVanessa cardui
Himalayan Balsam · Giant Hogweed · Brooklime · Blue Water-speedwell · Reed Canary-grass +37
- Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2012
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum
- BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga2011
- Blue Water-speedwellVeronica anagallis-aquatica2011
- Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2011
- Stream Water-crowfoot
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
206 records · National Biodiversity NetworkBlue Tit · Great Tit · Magpie · Song Thrush · Collared Dove +32
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great TitParus major
- MagpiePica pica
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2020
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2020
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- GoosanderMergus merganser2017
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- Cinclus cinclus hibernicusCinclus cinclus hibernicus
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Larus argentatus argenteusLarus argentatus argenteus
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2020
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia2020
- DipperCinclus cinclus2018
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis2017
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta2016
- RobinErithacus rubecula2020
- SiskinSpinus spinus2020
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2020
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba2020
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2020
- Rock DoveColumba livia2020
🦌Mammals9 species
springsummerautumn
2020▾
Wood Mouse · Badger · Otter · Hedgehog · Rabbit +4
- Wood MouseApodemus sylvaticus
- BadgerMeles meles2014
- OtterLutra lutra2019
- HedgehogErinaceus europaeus2019
- RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2014
Four-spotted Chaser · Large Red Damselfly · Common Darter · Common Hawker · Peacock +21
- Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2019
- Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2020
- Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2019
- Common HawkerAeshna juncea2019
- PeacockAglais io2019
- Painted LadyVanessa cardui
Himalayan Balsam · Giant Hogweed · Brooklime · Blue Water-speedwell · Reed Canary-grass +37
- Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2012
- Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum
- BrooklimeVeronica beccabunga2011
- Blue Water-speedwellVeronica anagallis-aquatica2011
- Reed Canary-grassPhalaris arundinacea2011
- Stream Water-crowfoot
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Daubenton's Bat
Daubenton's Bat
Myotis daubentonii2012
Myotis daubentonii2012
Brown RatRattus norvegicusBrown RatRattus norvegicusFeral CatFelis catusFeral CatFelis catusGrey SquirrelSciurus carolinensisGrey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2019
2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2019Azure DamselflyCoenagrion puella2019Silver YAutographa gamma2018Silver YAutographa gamma2018Humming-bird Hawk-mothMacroglossum stellatarum2017Humming-bird Hawk-mothMacroglossum stellatarum2017RingletAphantopus hyperantus2016RingletAphantopus hyperantus2016Migrant HawkerAeshna mixtaMigrant HawkerAeshna mixtaLily BeetleLilioceris lilii2020Lily BeetleLilioceris lilii2020Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2019Hawthorn ShieldbugAcanthosoma haemorrhoidale2019Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2019Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2019Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2019Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus2019Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus2019Spiked ShieldbugPicromerus bidens2019Spiked ShieldbugPicromerus bidens2019Small WhitePieris rapae2019Small WhitePieris rapae2019Great Diving BeetleDytiscus marginalis2019Great Diving BeetleDytiscus marginalis2019Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus2018Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus2018Green Tiger BeetleCicindela campestris2016Green Tiger BeetleCicindela campestris2016Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus2015Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus2015Green-veined WhitePieris napi2015Green-veined WhitePieris napi2015Common White WaveCabera pusaria2010Common White WaveCabera pusaria2010Common HeathEmaturga atomaria2010Common HeathEmaturga atomaria2010Ranunculus penicillatus2011
Ranunculus penicillatus2011
White Beak-sedgeRhynchospora alba2010White Beak-sedgeRhynchospora alba2010Common Pocket-mossFissidens taxifolius2012Common Pocket-mossFissidens taxifolius2012Fissidens bryoides var. bryoidesFissidens bryoides var. bryoides2012Fissidens bryoides var. bryoidesFissidens bryoides var. bryoides2012Smaller Lattice-mossCinclidotus fontinaloides2011Smaller Lattice-mossCinclidotus fontinaloides2011Cladophora glomerataCladophora glomerata2011Cladophora glomerataCladophora glomerata2011Endive PelliaPellia endiviifolia2011Endive PelliaPellia endiviifolia2011Sweet-GrassGlyceria2011Sweet-GrassGlyceria2011Water-StarwortCallitriche2011Water-StarwortCallitriche2011Hildenbrandia rivularisHildenbrandia rivularis2011Hildenbrandia rivularisHildenbrandia rivularis2011Long-beaked Water Feather-mossRhynchostegium riparioides2011Long-beaked Water Feather-mossRhynchostegium riparioides2011Kneiff's Feather-mossLeptodictyum riparium2011Kneiff's Feather-mossLeptodictyum riparium2011Winter-cressBarbarea vulgaris2010Winter-cressBarbarea vulgaris2010HeatherCalluna vulgaris2010HeatherCalluna vulgaris2010Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum2010Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum2010Common DuckweedLemna minor2010Common DuckweedLemna minor2010Medium-flowered Winter-cressBarbarea intermedia2010Medium-flowered Winter-cressBarbarea intermedia2010Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2010Field HorsetailEquisetum arvense2010DeergrassTrichophorum cespitosum2010DeergrassTrichophorum cespitosum2010Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2010Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2010Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum2010Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum2010ElderSambucus nigra2010ElderSambucus nigra2010Bristle Club-rushIsolepis setacea2010Bristle Club-rushIsolepis setacea2010BrackenPteridium aquilinum2010BrackenPteridium aquilinum2010Cut-leaved Dead-nettleLamium hybridum2010Cut-leaved Dead-nettleLamium hybridum2010Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana2010Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana2010Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix2010Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix2010Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata2010Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata2010Broad-leaved PondweedPotamogeton natans2010Broad-leaved PondweedPotamogeton natans2010SunflowerHelianthus annuus2010SunflowerHelianthus annuus2010BlinksMontia fontana2010BlinksMontia fontana2010Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2010Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2010Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum2010Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum2010Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2010Common Dog-violetViola riviniana2010Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium2010Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium2010Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2010Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne2010Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia2010Round-leaved SundewDrosera rotundifolia2010