randalstown farr s bay

Randalstown Forest and Farr's Bay are two small adjacent nature reserves on the north shore of Lough Neagh. The shoreline here is part of a much larger wildfowl refuge that extends from the River Sixmilewater in the east to Blackrock Bay in the west. The area is not typical of most of the Lough Neagh shoreline as it is not grazed by cattle and is therefore heavily wooded. Parts of the wood are dry with ash, hawthorn and blackthorn but other parts are very wet with alder and willow trees. Rare plants such as large bitter cress, lanceolate water plantain and elongated sedge grow where the wood is wettest. The birdwatching hide overlooking the lough shore and a sheltered lagoon is an excellent point from which to see many of the wetland lagoon is an excellent point from which to see many of the wetland birds typical of Lough Neagh. In winter look out for mallard, teal and gadwall. In summer great-crested grebes, mute swans and coot nest in the reedswamp fringe of the lagoon. Facilities: Car park at Forest entrance.