6 Best Things To Do In Glenarm, Northern Ireland

The small but scenic village of Glenarm is located on the ‘North Coast’ of Northern Ireland.

It’s one of the ‘Nine Glens of Antrim’ & is also said to be one of the oldest towns in Ulster, dating back to the 12th century.

We stayed overnight here quite recently during the summer & it was actually the first time we’d ever been to Glenarm!

If you’re visiting Northern Ireland or heading for a drive up the Causeway Coastal Route, we think it’s definitely worth a stop-off.

A scenic view of a coastal village with colorful flowers and rolling hills in the background.

In This Post

How To Spend A Day In Glenarm

1. Walk Through Glenarm Forest

If you make your way up through the village, at the top of Altmore Street you’ll find Glenarm Forest. Whether you are walking or driving, head on through the stone archway & you’ll eventually find yourself at a small car park & the map below showing you the routes you can take around the forest.

It’s a lovely walk through the woodland & down past the Glenarm River. Shouldn’t take you much longer than one hour to walk the circular trail. For more details check out All Trails.

A weathered map display of Glenarm Forest with trails, signage icons, and foliage around.

Person walking a white dog near a 'Glenarm Forest' sign amidst tall trees.

2. Visit Glenarm Castle & Gardens

No trip to Glenarm is truly complete without exploring Glenarm Castle, a stunning private estate owned by the McDonnell Family, Earls of Antrim.

The castle & its grounds are open to visitors all year round – & honestly you could probably spend the guts of a whole day here!

You can book a tour of the inside of the castle, explore it’s walled gardens, walk the woodland trail or even have afternoon tea in the castle’s dining room!

We chose to get the Walled Garden & Woodland Walk ticket, as you could bring your dog along with you. They also have a dog park which you can book into starting from £2 per dog for 30 mins which we thought was brilliant!

For all the details on Glenarm Castle & to purchase tickets head to the official website h e re.

A large, green field framed by trees leads to Glenarm Castle in the distance, with rolling hills in the background under a lightly cloudy sky.

A green door leading to the Woodland Walk trail at Glenarm Castle.

A person with long hair and a dog walk on a neatly trimmed lawn pathway surrounded by the walled gardens of Glenarm Castle under a partly cloudy sky.

A person with a white fluffy dog by a welcome sign to Glenarm Castle. — Glenarm Castle & Gardens entrance

3. Enjoy Glenarm Marina

As you enter Glenarm, you’ll see the marina to your right. There’s a car park right beside it or you can take a walk down to it from anywhere in the village.

It’s a lovely spot to watch the boats coming in & to enjoy a moment of relaxation!

Glenarm Marina with various sailboats docked on a cloudy day.

4. Chill out at Glenarm Beach

Whilst it’s not the most sandy beach on the North Coast – Glenarm Beach is definitely still worth a stroll along. It’s very peaceful & a great spot to just sit & watch out across the ocean. We even saw a few girls doing a sunrise dip when we stayed overnight in our campervan!

Person with a dog on a pebble beach near the sea, with hills and clear skies in the background.

A white fluffy dog stands on a pebble beach with the sea and green hills in the background.

Coin-operated telescope by the seaside with instructions, overlooking calm blue waters under a clear sky.

5. Grab a coffee or bite to eat

Even though Glenarm is small, you’ll still find a few places to grab some lunch or stop for a hot (or cold!) beverage.

One place we recommend is Cove Glenarm, which is a coffee shop right in the middle of the village. It does yummy traybakes, stews, soups & more! You can also buy some fabulous art prints here too.

There’s also The Bridge End Tavern, if you want more of a pub-style lunch or even fancy a pint of Guinness!

For seafood lovers, give the newly opened restaurant Moran’s At Glenarm a try!

Exterior of a quaint cafe with "COFFEE BAKES ART" painted on its white and black facade. — Cove Coffee in Glenarm

6. Take a wander through the village

Last but not least, be sure to take a stroll through the village. We suggest walking up through Toberwine St & Altmore St, which are full of beautiful old buildings & brightly coloured terraced houses.

Don’t miss Castle Street, where you’ll find one of the castle’s barbicans (a great place for a picture!) & a enjoy a beautiful view over the river.

We also came across these mermaid sculptures on the road into the village which were lovely to see!

Colorful townhouses line a street in Glenarm with parked cars and a person walking a dog. — Walking through Glenarm village

Vintage storefront with a sign "Juniper Berries," lace curtains, and display of jars and berries.

Vintage facade of "Margaret's Bed & Breakfast" with arched windows and a phone number.

A tranquil scene with a bridge over a river leading to a church spire, under a partly cloudy sky. — The river in Glenarm

Vivid garden with mermaid statues, flowers, and blue sky. — Mermaid sculptures

Where To Stay In Glenarm

Person walking with a dog on a sunny street in a quaint town with a hill in the background. — Rose Cottage (yellow building ahead)

Here are some of the best places to stay in Glenarm, Northern Ireland:

Glenarm Castle Ocean View Pods (in the castle grounds)
Briarfield Farm Stays (just outside the town)
Rose House (right in the centre)

Van Park-Up Spots In Glenarm

Statue of a puffin surrounded by flowers with a rural landscape and RVs in the background. — Motorhome/Campervan parking site in Glenarm

Marina Coach Car Park – Park4Night App #40102 – this spot was just beside the marina, fairly flat & quiet. Can be busy with other motorhomes & vans. Toilets nearby in the other car park. Recommend staying here only for a night or 2.

More posts about Northern Ireland:

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6 Best Things To Do In Glenarm, Northern Ireland