Cushendall is the capital of the Glens of Antrim — a small red-sandstone village at the meeting of three glens (Glenaan, Glencorp and Glenballyemon), set on the Antrim coast between Glenariff and Cushendun. The deep Glens carry some of the most intact traditional Irish hedgerow landscape in the north: whitethorn in every boundary, sycamore in every sheltered corner, and bramble covering every bank. The Dall and Glendun rivers carry willows through the village; the upland moors above the glens carry ling and bell heather from late July in a flow long valued by Antrim beekeepers for its quality. Native Irish honey bee populations in the Glens are among the best-preserved in Europe.
Collectors attend swarms in the whitethorn glen hedgerows above Cushendall toward Waterfoot and Cushendun, along the Dall River willows through the village, on the heather and bilberry moorland above the glen heads, and in the red-sandstone garden walls and eaves of the village centre properties.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 73 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 173 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 179 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.
