Ballycastle is the main town of the Glens of Antrim, set at the mouth of the Margy River where it meets the sea below the Fair Head basalt cliff — the most dramatic coastal headland in Northern Ireland. The town's setting between the open sea, the sheltered Glens valleys and the Antrim plateau means a varied and long forage season: whitethorn and blackthorn on the deep glen hedgerows open the year; sycamore carries May; the Glens moorland above Glenariff and Ballycastle carries ling and bell heather from late July in a flow that has been commercially exploited for generations. The Fair Head plateau above the town holds some of the purest native Irish honey bee populations in Europe. Bramble is dense on every sheltered glen bank.
Collectors attend swarms in the Glens valley hawthorn and sycamore hedgerows above the town, on the heather and gorse moorland of the Ballycastle plateau toward Fair Head, along the Margy Water willows through the town, and in the garden walls and eaves of the older town-centre and harbour-area properties.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 86 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 189 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 194 km
Association data sourced from the British Beekeepers Association directory via SwarmBase.
Blackthorn and whitethorn on deep field hedges open the year. Sycamore is the backbone of May; hawthorn follows hard. Lime lines Belfast and Ballymena streets. The Glens of Antrim contribute bell and ling heather on the high moors between Cushendall and Glenariff, a late summer crop still commercially worked. Bilberry in basalt scree hills, bramble in every sheltered townland, and a long ivy flow on white-rendered cottage walls close the year.
More on beekeeping in County AntrimReport it in under a minute and a trained local beekeeper will arrange safe collection.
