woods and forests antrim

Rea's Wood stretches for one mile along the shores of Lough Neagh and is a fine example of a wet woodland, dominated by alder, willow and birch trees. The Lough level has been lowered several times and the woodland now straddles parallel sand bars with wet peaty hollows in between that were once part of the lake bed. The luxuriantly vegetated woodland floor provides ideal habitat not only for many plants but also for many rare invertebrates including snails, slugs, horseflies and beetles. So...

High on the slopes of Slieveanorra Mountain are four plots of peat bog which show different stages in the formation and erosion of peat. The owennaglush plot is a rare example of a raised bog in which the peat is actively growing, while the Orra Bog and Slieveanorra plots show what happens when shallow blanket peat is eroded. The plant life varies from heather and deer grass in drier areas, to damp patches where sphagnum moss, sedges and cotton gras grow. Bog asphodel, bog-bean and insect-eat...

Cascading down from the Antrim Plateau to the sea, the Glenariff River has cut a narrow gorge through the hard basalt rock. Spectacular waterfalls within the gorge throw up fine spray which catches shafts of sunlight in a rainbow of colours. About 100 years ago, trees were planted to enhance the native woodland of oak, hazel, ash and willow, and to make the area more attractive to visitors. Catwalks, paths and footbridges were built throughout the gorge to make the waterfalls easier to reach....

Miced conifer forest on slopes of Knocklayd Mountain. Magnificent views over town to Rathlin Island and Scotland....

Mixed conifer forest with broadleaves on banks of Glenarm River...

Glenariff Forest Park covers an area of 1185 hectares of which about 250 hectares have been left open for recreation, landscaping and conservation. In the park are two small rivers containing spectacular waterfalls, tranquil pools and stretches of fast flowing water tumbling through rocky gorges.
There's a café, toilets, and an exhibition centre. Four way-marked trails of varying length (1-9 km) wind through the forest leading you into some of the park's most beautiful wooded areas....

Peatland forest of mixed conifers. Five mile forest drive offering views of Ballycastle and Rathlin Island. Irish Bridge. Archaeological site. Beautifully situated Forest Park with many viewpoints, walks, caravan site, picnic area, a scenic drive and pony trekking. Forest Trails and Archaeogical site....

Woodlands and walks in Lagan Valley. Walk to Giant's Ring and Edenderry village from here. National Trust. On B205 3-1/2 miles south of Belfast at Shaw's Bridge....

Attractive riverside walks beside the Bann. Augustine Henry Commemorative Grove. Bluebells a feature during May....

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. Rar...