Things to do, things to see

Golf
One eighteen hole and two nine hole golf courses, Whitehead and Larne Golf Clubs and the Bentra Golf Course, are within an easy drive of each other. Both Whitehead and Larne Clubs have bar and restaurant facilities, while the Bentra Roadhouse Restaurant bar overlooks the Bentra Course.

If you’re still feeling energetic, visit the Whitehead Golf Driving Range, balls and clubs supplied.

Sea Angling

For the angler, the clan rocky outcrops, scoured by winter storms offer excellent vantage points in beautiful settings. Alternatively, hire a boat and try your skill in the fertile waters of the North or South Klondyke, Maidens or Hunter Rock to catch cod, pollock, conger, mackrel and herring.

Portmuck, Ballykeel, Browns Bay and Skernaghan Point are excellent for shore fishing.

Diving

There are over 30 shipwrecks and spectacular drop offs abounding in a wide variety of sealife. From the novice to the processional, the waters here have something to offer all diving enthusiasts. Launching jetties at Ballylumford, Portmuck and Whitehead give access to some of the most exciting dives on the east coast.

North Irish Lodge : Luxury holiday cottages and dive centre. www.activityholsni.co.uk

Horse Riding

Rainbow Equestrian Centre offers professional coaching to both able bodied and disabled riders, with an all weather paddock and supervised hacking. This BHS registered school provides a choice of ponies and horses to suit all skills.

Rainbow Equestrian Centre
24 Hollow Rd
Islandmagee
County Antrim

Phone: +44 (0) 28 93382929

Email: shelagh@activityholsni.co.uk

website: www.activityholsni.co.uk

Brown’s Bay Beach

Brown’s Bay is a stretch of sandy beach, set in a natural amphitheatre of green hillsides at the head of Ballyprior Valley. A popular resort for many in the summer months, its shallow waters are a perfect place to enjoy watersports, a swim or to sunbathe on the beach.

A popular stroll takes you between field and shore to the "Rocking Stone" on the adjacent headland.

Portmuck

Portmuck, at the east side of the island, is a delightful and picturesque harbour with car parking and toilet facilities.

An ancient abbey once stood here and was mentioned in papal taxes as far back as 1306.

A water front from the abbey is now in St MacNissis Roman Catholic Church in Larne.

The small port was also, incidentally, a haven for smugglers in bygone times, and a row of coastguard houses was erected in the yard of the farmhouse on the hill in order to keep an eye on the comings and goings.Just above the narrow channel of water lies steep sided Muck Island. The island was also known on old maps as Nagloragh Island, or the Island of Rushing Waters. The island is a bird sanctuary with nesting seabirds, shags, puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, gannets, gulls and migrating land birds to be seen.

Birdwatching

Larne Lough is a wetland of international significance and is used by a wide variety of species as a breeding and feeding ground. Swan Island, in the Lough, is one of the seven areas in Northern Ireland with an SPA (special protection area) classification. Larne Lough has also been designated as an area of special scientific interest and an international RAMSAR site. 137 species of birds have been recorded on Islandmagee and a bird observatory is available at Ford Open Farm.

Gobbins Lodge

Set in 14 acres of woodland, Northern Ireland’s newest Health spa is the ideal place to relax and revitalise – the natural way, in superbly appointed bedrooms all with private en-suite facilities and most with sea views.

With emphasis on organic produce, the healthy diet is combined with exercise and relaxation classes, spa baths, steam room, sauna and therapeutic massage daily with many other complementary therapies to guarantee that wonderful "get away from it all" experience. Special weekends, 3 and 5 day breaks and taster days. Brochures on request (01960 353536).

Millbay Inn

A traditional Inn with an adjacent guest house, the Millbay Inn offers a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

The bar is in traditional cosy country style and the visitor can choose from an extensive bar snack menu featuring local produce.

Oyster Mussel Farm

Situated at the Harbour in Mill Bay this Oyster and Mussel Farm offers the opportunity to buy oysters, mussels, lobster and crab direct from the sea. The farm is open Friday through Sunday all year round or by arrangement by phone. A tour of the sea farm is available during opening hours.