Overview
Garron Plateau is the largest intact blanket bog in Northern Ireland – roughly 4,652 hectares of living peat above the Antrim Coast and Glens, protected as an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and, since 1998, a Ramsar wetland of international importance. Set that expectation before you come: this is a bog, not a cliff-top promenade. The reward is a rare mosaic of peatland, fen, oligotrophic lakes and heath, and the birds and plants that go with it, laid out between the coast at Garron Point and the inland valleys of Glenravel. The name comes from the Irish Gearr Rinn, ‘short’ or ‘cut headland’, for the plateau’s steep drop to the sea.
Landscape & Geology
The plateau sits on a basaltic headland that generally lies between 330 and 380 metres above sea level, with peaks reaching 440 m. Upper basalt flows dominate the surface, creating the acidic, water-logged conditions essential for blanket bog formation. Variable peat depths have shaped a highly diverse terrain: deep peat supports hummock, lawn and pool complexes, while mineral-rich flushing from underlying rocks creates alkaline fens in sheltered hollows. The area also acts as a natural watershed. The Glenariff River begins here and drops six miles north to the sea at Red Bay, while the Glenravel Water flows south to join the River Bann and eventually Lough Neagh.
Flora & Fauna
The peatland is internationally noted for its specialist flora. It is the primary Irish location for the few-flowered sedge (Carex pauciflora) and tall bog-sedge (Carex magellanica). Walkers keeping to the boardwalks will spot carpets of cross-leaved heath, hare’s-tail cottongrass and several species of Sphagnum moss. In flushed, mineral-rich areas, look for black bog-rush, bog orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) and the delicate marsh saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus).
The open moorland is a stronghold for the red grouse, with a large breeding population calling the plateau home. This abundance of game supports a thriving raptor community, including merlin, peregrine falcon, buzzard and hen harrier. Wetland birds such as snipe, curlew, teal and mallard are regular visitors, while mammals like fox, hare, rabbit and stoat navigate the heath and scrub edges.
The Dungonnell Way Trail
If you do one thing here, walk the Dungonnell Way – it’s the only real way to get inside the bog rather than looking at it from a car park. The 9.5-mile (15 km) circular route skirts the northern edge of Glenravel Glen, fully way-marked, on a mix of quiet tracks, public roads and timber boardwalks laid to keep boots off the fragile vegetation underneath.
The route can be started at three free car parks: Dungonnell Dam, Cargan village, or Drum Wood. A highlight is the Dungonnell Dam reservoir, completed in 1971. Covering 30 hectares when full, it supplies drinking water to several coastal villages and is a popular spot for brown-trout fishing. The walk takes you through the heart of the bog, offering close encounters with the rare flora and excellent visibility for birdwatching. Sturdy footwear is essential, as bog terrain remains soft and damp year-round.
Garron Point & Coastal Views
A short detour south to Garron Point rewards visitors with dramatic coastal scenery. The headland is famous for its “Magpie Coast” cliffs, where striking bands of white limestone contrast with black basalt. On clear days, the view stretches across the North Channel to the Scottish coastline, including the Mull of Kintyre and Ailsa Craig. During summer months, local residents sometimes set up informal stalls near the car park selling freshly harvested dulse, a salty edible seaweed popular in traditional Irish cooking.
Practical Information
- Parking & Access: Free parking is available at Dungonnell Dam, Cargan and Drum Wood for the Dungonnell Way, and there’s a separate free car park at Garron Point (about 20 spaces, including disabled bays, run by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council) for the coastal detour. Boardwalk sections are wheelchair-friendly, though much of the trail is uneven and best tackled in hiking boots.
- Dogs: Permitted on the Dungonnell Way but must be kept on a lead to protect ground-nesting birds and grazing livestock.
- Opening Hours & Fees: The plateau is open year-round with no entry charge. There are no formal opening hours.
- Getting There: The plateau is accessed via the Antrim Coast Road (A2). Driving from Larne through Glenarm and Carnlough, look for turn-offs to the designated car parks before reaching Waterfoot. Public transport is limited, so a car or bike is recommended.
- Visitor Tips: Download the official trail map PDF from the Visit Causeway Coast and Glens website before setting out, as mobile signal can be patchy across the plateau. Always stay on the marked paths and boardwalks; picking plants or trampling off-trail can damage centuries-old peat layers.
Conservation & Management
Garron Plateau’s status as an ASSI, SAC and Ramsar site means it is protected under strict Irish and European conservation legislation. The plateau acts as a vital carbon store and a refuge for species threatened elsewhere in Europe. Local management, overseen by Mid and East Antrim Council and supported by conservation volunteers, focuses on peatland re-wetting, controlled grazing and invasive-species control – slow work, because a blanket bog this deep took thousands of years to form and drains in a fraction of that. For a visitor the ask is simple: stay on the boardwalks and marked tracks, and leave the plants where they are. Off-trail footfall is what does the damage here.