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Slemish Mountain Walk

0.93 miles (1.5 km)

Open Streetmap Follow the Slemish Path to the 1437 ft summit of this mountain in County Antrim. The challenging path starts from the Carnstroan Lane car park near Broughshane and climbs steeply to the summit. Here you are rewarded with fine views over Antrim, the Scottish coast, Ballymena town, Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains.
The area is great for wildlife with large black ravens, buzzards, wheatears and meadow pipits to look out for on the walk.

Postcode

BT42 4PF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Slemish Mountain Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Head west into Broughshane and you could enjoy some post walk refreshment at the Thatch Inn. They do a fine Sunday lunch and serve an excellent pint of Guinness which you can enjoy in front of the roaring fire. The 18th century pub includes many of its original features, including its stone build exterior, slate flooring & thatched roof, together with two roaring open fires. You can find them at 57 Main St, Broughshane, Ballymena BT42 4JP.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head east to the coast and you could visit the lovely Carnfunnock Country Park. There's 191 hectares to explore with woodland trails, a maze, a beautiful sculptured walled garden and a wonderful coastline. The epic Gobbins Cliff Path and the Blackhead Lighthouse are further south along the coast and well worth a visit.
A few miles to the north there's miles of woodland trails to enjoy in the expansive Glenariff Forest Park and Ballypatrick Forest.
To the west there's the popular Portglenone Fisherman's Walk which will take you along a lovely section of the River Bann. In this area there's also the pretty Portglenone Forest with its spring bluebells and attractive memorial garden.
To the east there's Glenarm where you can visit the historic Glenarm Castle and enjoy a walk around their beautiful grounds and gardens. Near here there's more fine coastal views and an ancient ruined church in Cushendall.

Photos

Slemish (2) - geograph.org.uk - 352410

This is Slemish seen from Carnstroan Lane. 

Slemish - geograph.org.uk - 206769

To geologists Slemish is a volcanic plug. It is also the supposed site of where, in the 5th century, St Patrick blessed the shamrock.

Sign of Saint Patrick - geograph.org.uk - 363274

Sign of Saint Patrick. One of the many signs providing lots of information in the car park. Tradition holds that Saint Patrick, enslaved as a youth, was brought to this area and tended sheep herds on Slemish, and that during this time he found God.

Slemish country - geograph.org.uk - 556254

Slemish country. Although the mountain is largely barren the surrounding countryside is, very much, the patchwork landscape.

Stile, Slemish (1) - geograph.org.uk - 880264

One of two stiles crossing drystone walls on the path to Slemish. 

Steps to Slemish - geograph.org.uk - 880210

Steps to Slemish. These steps lead from the Antrim Hills Way towards the foot of mountain.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Slemish Mountain.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Slemish Mountain.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)