Three quite different kinds of water are gathered here: a sheltered sea lough, the falls and rivers of the Glens, and the largest lake in the British Isles. Belfast Lough is the almost tide-free inlet that made the city a shipbuilding port, and its inner mudflats fill with wintering waders. The 21 km North Down Coastal Path traces the southern shore through Holywood and Bangor, while Whitehead and Kilroot sit further out on the same water, the first a small seaside village with the Blackhead cliff path, the second a half-industrial stop east of Carrickfergus with Swift’s ruined parish house.
The Glens supply the falling water. Ess na Larach is a double drop on the Glenariff waterfall walk, an easy 3 km boardwalk loop through a wooded gorge with steps, steeper sections and a parking charge. North of it the Glenshesk runs off Knocklayde to the sea at Ballycastle, the Glenmakeeran threads through Ballypatrick Forest, and the Carey rises there too, fed underground from Loughareema, the vanishing lake.
Then the big inland water on the western side. Lough Neagh covers 383 km², with Oxford Island for wintering wildfowl and a 113-mile shore trail, though summer algal blooms make the water-quality notices worth checking. The Bann leaves it for the Atlantic. In Belfast itself, the Lagan Weir footbridge and the buried Farset are both walkable from the city centre.
A sheltered, almost tide-free sea inlet whose inner mudflats hold internationally important numbers of wintering waders, with the North Down Coastal Path along its southern shore.
A thundering double drop on the Glenariff waterfall walk, reached on an easy 3 km boardwalk loop through the wooded gorge past two other falls.
A tidal sea lough between Islandmagee and the mainland, holding Ramsar status since 1997 for its wader flocks, with a flat paved shore path.
The largest lake in the British Isles at 383 km², with boat trips to ancient islands, wintering wildfowl at Oxford Island and a 113-mile shore trail.
Runs from the Mournes through Lough Neagh to the Atlantic, cruised from Portglenone or Coleraine and one of the North's best salmon rivers.
14 of 15 shown — tap a pin for the place.
Bangor, antrim
Belfast Lough is a sheltered, almost tide-free sea inlet, which is why it grew into a shipbuilding port and why wading birds winter on its inner mudflats in internationally important numbers. The 21 km North Down Coastal Path traces the southern shore through Holywood and Bangor; Carrickfergus Castle guards the northern side.
Glenariff Forest Park, antrim
Ess na Larach is a thundering double drop on the Glenariff waterfall walk, one of three falls the boardwalk trail passes through the wooded gorge. It's an easy 3 km loop, though the boardwalk has steps and steeper sections. There's a parking charge, and Laragh Lodge at the entrance has fed walkers on this spot since 1891.
Larne, antrim
A tidal sea lough between the Islandmagee peninsula and the mainland, important enough for its wader flocks and mudflats to hold Ramsar status since 1997. A flat, paved path runs along the shore, the Belfast train shadows the far side, and the town of Larne sits at its mouth.
Northern Ireland, antrim
At 383 km², Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles and supplies 40.7% of Northern Ireland's drinking water. Visitors can reach ancient islands by boat, track wintering wildfowl at Oxford Island, and follow the 113-mile shore trail through heritage villages – though summer algal blooms mean checking water-quality notices first.
Banbridge, down
The Bann runs from the Mourne Mountains through Lough Neagh and out to the Atlantic, splitting Northern Ireland along the old 'Bann divide'. You can cruise the Lower Bann from Portglenone or Coleraine, fish one of the North's best salmon rivers, or walk the greenways under its 19th-century bridges.
antrim
The River Bush runs 54 km through the Antrim hills to Bushmills and the sea at Portballintrae. Its basalt-filtered, magnesium-rich water holds Atlantic salmon and brown trout, and feeds one of Ireland's oldest distilleries. Three angling beats sit within walking distance of the village.
Belfast, antrim
Culverted under Belfast's streets by 1848, the Farset still shapes the city – the curve of High Street, the lean of the Albert Clock, the name Belfast itself (Béal Feirste, 'mouth of the Farset'). This self-guided walk traces the buried river that powered the linen trade.
Whitehead, antrim
Whitehead is a small seaside village of about 3,800 people on Belfast Lough in County Antrim, wrapped around a colourful shorefront promenade. Its best-known walk is the Blackhead cliff path, an engineered route of steps and ledges out to the lighthouse, though it is prone to landslips and part of it may be closed. There is a railway museum, a sailing club and a municipal golf course, all within a few minutes of each other.
antrim
Dervock, antrim
Ballypatrick Forest, antrim
Ballycastle, antrim
Kilroot, antrim
Belfast, antrim
antrim
← All things to do in County Antrim
Book tours & tickets
We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Book tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips with GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on most experiences.
See tours & tickets in County Antrim →