| Glenariff Forest Park is situated amid the world famous Glens of
Antrim, an area to which tourists have been coming for over a century. Glenariff, the
Queen of the Glens, is considered by many people to be the most beautiful of the nine
Antrim Glens. The Park, now including the former Parkmore Forest, covers an area of 1185 ha of which 900 ha have been planted with trees. The remainder consists of several small lakes, recreation areas and open space left for landscape and conservation reasons. |
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| Bisecting the Park are two small but beautiful rivers; the Inver
and the Glenariff, containing spectacular waterfalls, tranquil pools and stretches of fast
flowing water tumbling through rocky steep-sided gorges. The soil over most of the forest is of low fertility being mainly peat over basalt. Along the river glens the relatively more fertile clays support a greater variety of plants and better tree growth. The main tree species is Sitka spruce, a North American conifer, but Douglas fir, Japanese larch, Lodgepole pine and Norway spruce are also grown. Along the Inver and Glenariff rivers there are some beautiful areas of broad-leaved woodland mostly Oak and Beech. The diversity of topography, woodland and habitats found within Glenariff Forest Park provide, for the visitor, an area of superb natural beauty in which to walk, enjoy the tranquility and admire the spectacular views. |
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| Four way-marked trails of varying length wind through the forest leading you into some of the Parkís most beautiful wooded areas. These trails follow a circular route and are sign posted from the car park. |
| SCENIC TRAIL (9.0 Km) This energetic trail passes through forest and open mountain and crosses the Inver River at the head of the glen. From there it follows the higher ground on the west of the Forest Park where it offers panoramic views down the glen to the coast and beyond. The latter part of the trail runs alongside the Inver River before turning uphill through the forest to the car park. |
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| WATERFALL TRAIL (4.5 Km) This is probably the most spectacular trail of all. It follows the Glenariff River with its famous waterfalls and passes through the National Nature Reserve with its protected flora, namely mosses, liverworts and ferns. |
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GARDEN TRAIL (1.0 Km) This trail follows the edge of the grassland area from which there is a spectacular view down Glenariff Glen. It continues through the gardens and pheasant pens before returning to the car park.
GLENSWAY NATURE TRAIL (2.5 Km) This delightful trail passes through the gardens, from where it descends through an area of natural mixed woodland as it follows the Inver River down the glen. |
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