Larne is a ferry port on the Antrim coast where Larne Lough cuts into the basalt cliffs of the Antrim plateau — the gateway to the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast for passengers arriving from Cairnryan in Scotland. The Lough shores carry sea-thrift and coastal scrub; the town's mature garden lime and sycamore give urban forage. The Antrim plateau above Larne rises steeply to moorland carrying ling and bell heather from late July — Carnfunnock Country Park, north of the town, protects estate parkland with sycamore and beech avenues. Whitethorn hedgerows are thick on the coastal farm lanes; bramble covers the sheltered cliff-top scrub between Larne and Ballygally.
Collectors attend swarms in the Carnfunnock Country Park estate sycamore and beech margins, along the Larne Lough shoreline scrub and hawthorn, in the whitethorn hedgerows on the coastal farm lanes north toward Ballygally, and in the older residential garden walls and eaves of the town centre and Lower Bank Road streets.
Nearest BBKA-affiliated associations to help with swarm collection and local advice.
BT26 6NH· approx. 46 km
CA24 3HZ· approx. 151 km
Visit websiteCA13 0AU· approx. 159 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.
