Things to do
Local Attractions
Randalstown is a townland and small town in County Antrim. It has a very prominent disused railway viaduct and lies beside Lough Neagh and the Shane's Castle estate. There are many attractions nearby including fishing, hiking, and golfing. The town of Antrim is also a short drive away and offers a variety of shops and restaurants.
Escarmouche
As Ireland’s largest Paintball & Multi-Activity Park, boasting 5 Dynamic Paintball Zones, The Gauntlet Assault Course, Gladiator Combat and many more activities, we will make sure your day with Escarmouche is an experience you will want to repeat over and over again.
Escarmouche are a company dedicated and focused in providing seamless events for all our guests. We strive to to create events that are as as fun as they are challenging.
Regardless of the occasion, or the reason for your visit, we will blow you away with our enthusiasm and our dedication.
Shanes Castle
Shane’s Castle is the family seat of the O’Neills of Clanaboy. The Demesne is one of the most beautiful and well maintained in Ireland.
Although the Castle has been in ruins since a fire in 1816, the remaining structure, including a unique Camellia House, is a striking feature on the landscape.
The site has been used extensively in the renowned TV series 'Game of Thrones'.
The O'Neill Banshee
In olden times one of the O'Neills went to help McQuillan in one of his warlike raids. On his arrival he saw a cow caught in a thorn tree. As this tree was considered sacred by the fairies, no one would cut a branch to release the poor animal. O'Neill however did so and freed her. On his successful return home
he found that his daughter, Kathleen, had been carried off by the "wee folk" to the bottom of the Lough. From then onwards when evil threatened a member of the family, her shriek was heard upon the shore and along the ruined walls of the castle. Legend also blames the banshee for the fire, which destroyed Shane’s Castle in 1816.
The Black Face of Stone
On one of the eastern walls of Shane’s Castle there is a curious female figurehead, with a sad expression. Some say that this figurehead was brought from the east and is much older than the ruins among which it stands. Folklore states that the O'Neill family will come to an end if ever it falls.
Opening Times:
Apr-Sept visits by appointment only
Available for private parties, special and corporate events.
Dark Hedges
This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century.
It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their Georgian mansion, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland. In fact, the iconic trees have been used as a filming location in HBO's epic series Game of Thrones®, representing the Kingsroad.
Featured Scene: Season 2, Episode 1: The North Remembers - On the King's Road, Arya Stark has escaped from King’s Landing, disguised as a boy. She is with Yoren, Gendry, Hot Pie and others who are to join the Night’s Watch, in a cart, travelling north on the Kingsroad.
Randalstown Viaduct
The viaduct was constructed from random basalt in the late 18th century and has nine arches. The top of the Viaduct and part of the railway track have been converted into a walkway and cycle path leading from Station Road to New Street. This development provides spectacular views of Randalstown, the River Maine and the adjoining parkland of Shane’s Castle.
Antrim Castle Gardens
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There are many wonderful parks and gardens throughout Antrim and Newtownabbey. The jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the beautifully restored 400-year old Antrim Castle Gardens; its Anglo Dutch canals, ponds and avenues provide a unique walkway into the past. There is also the Walled Garden at Greenmount. This dramatic and colourful formal garden dates from 1801 and forms a centrepiece at Greenmount College. Or why not enjoy the casual ease of Ballyrobert Cottage Garden; you might even pick up some ideas for your own garden in its nursery!
If you enjoy relaxing by the water’s edge, then you can choose between the fresh water delights at Antrim Lough Shore Park, on the shores of Lough Neagh, or the crisp sea air of Jordanstown Loughshore Park. There are great views, whichever way you look!
Massereene Golf Club
This challenging and picturesque 18-hole par 72 Championship Golf Parkland Course covers 140 acres of mature tree-lined fairways adjacent to the shores of Lough Neagh, with views as far as County Tyrone to the west.
Massereene is a host club for many GUI and ILGU competitions, as it is a challenging but enjoyable course with easy access to all parts of Northern Ireland and only eight minutes from Belfast International Airport. Winner of the GGI ‘Hidden Gem’ award 2018 and due to co-host the N.I. Open in August 2019.
Overseas visitors, societies and causal golfers are always welcome at Massereene Golf Club.
If you enjoy relaxing by the water’s edge, then you can choose between the fresh water delights at Antrim Lough Shore Park, on the shores of Lough Neagh, or the crisp sea air of Jordanstown Loughshore Park. There are great views, whichever way you look!
Lough Neagh Tours
Lough Neagh Tours offer a range of
experiential tours, boat trips, food and heritage tours. Our group tours allow visitors to engage with the locals and discover what life is really like in rural
Ireland. Our tour portfolio includes
incredible traditional thatched cottages,
meet the makers such as fishermen
and farmers and artisan food producers
and gives the visitors the chance to roll
up their sleeves and learn skills such
as traditional Irish bread making.
We have a number of itineraries
already designed, but also offer
bespoke tours which can be tailored
to the interests of your group.
