WE’RE luxuriating in the warmth of our family-sized Jacuzzi, watching the sun set over the rolling countryside, while a pair of peacocks settle down for a nap by a lake.
The words “hidden gem” get thrown around a lot these days online, but I actually think we might have found one here.
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I’m no stranger to Co Antrim.
Its stunning coastline is home to the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and a wealth of Game of Thrones filming hotspots like Ballintoy Harbour, Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges.
Over the years I’ve spent holidays on beaches at Portrush and Ballycastle.
The county’s other end is equally familiar with Belfast straddling the border with Co Down, divided by the River Lagan.
It’s a visitor hotspot, home to the birthplace of the Titanic and a flourishing food scene.
But, until now, my experience had largely been confined to those tourist hubs and the M2 inbetween, and it turns out there’s so much more to explore.
Spanning from Lough Neagh to Belfast Lough, there’s a plenty to enjoy all in a small area, from stunning gardens and incredible walking and cycling routes to one-of-a-kind wildlife attractions, adventure activities and historical sites.
Our family of four started our two-night adventure with lunch at the award-winning Rabbit Hotel midway between Belfast and Antrim, savouring their delicious Sunday roast before heading on to set sail on our boat-trip with River Bann Tours.
Our pick-up spot was at the Lock Keeper’s cottage in Toome, where the Sunday artisan market was in full swing.
There’s been a lot of bad press around the state of nearby Lough Neagh, but the River Bann was gleaming on our visit and we cruised along enjoying our guide Jim’s informative but unobtrusive commentary on passing landmarks, hidden herons, whooping swans and entertaining us with lesser known history of the region.
The 45-minute tour was rounded off with the kids on board allowed to try their hand at the wheel – a high point for our 10-year-old, Tom.
A short 15-minute drive brought us to Cotters Park, a new luxury glamping site on the outskirts of Randalstown.
With seven stylish pods housing a communal kitchen and games room, all nestled around a lake with its own tiny island, the setting was idyllic.
We were staying in The Beltie, a double-height unit with a mezzanine floor the kids quickly claimed their own, before grabbing the bag of birdseed in our welcome basket and heading out to feed the peacocks, geese and hens happily roaming the grounds.
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A covered deck housed our own private Jacuzzi, swing chair, fire pit and heaters while inside, the pod’s quirky design also included plenty of home comforts like cabin wifi, a smart TV, coffee machine, fluffy bathrobes and a generous sized shower room.
It was the perfect spot to base our exploration of the area around us.
So the next day – after a quick trip to the hot-tub and and lake-side sauna – we drove 15 minutes through picturesque Randalstown, with its stunning 18th-century viaduct, now converted into a walkway and cycle path, to Castlewood Tree Top Adventure for an amazing morning of fun.
Weaving your way through 40 obstacles, tightropes and zip-lines, this was without doubt one of the best activities we’ve ever done as a family.
Our six-year-old, Finn, has autism and staff could not have been better with him.
While my husband and I were still figuring out our cables, Tom had practically completed the first section of the course, joyfully leaping from platform to platform and whooping on the zipline.
The lack of crowds also paid off at lunch when we wandered into Antrim Town to enjoy brunch at the beautiful Third Day Coffee – and werer delighted to get a seat in an eaterie that would definitely have been packed to the rafters at a more touristy hot-spot.
Fuelled by oozy eggs Benedict and maple-syrup drenched French toast, we set off for a dander around the 400-year-old Antrim Castle Gardens, climbing to the top of its 12th-century motte, marvelling at the moving Platinum Jubilee Clockwork Garden, designed by Diarmuid Gavin, and revelling in the newly created sensory garden.
The Gardens are home to plenty of events throughout the year, one of the biggest being the Enchanted Winter Garden Christmas extravaganza.
GO: CO ANTRIM
STAY: ‘The Beltie’, which sleeps six, at Cotters Park (cotterspark.com) costs from £215/€260 per night. Chrissie and her family were guests of TourismNI.
VISIT: Antrim Castle Gardens.
DO: River Bann Tours, Lough Neagh Artisans market, Castlewood Tree Top Adventure.
EAT: At the Boathouse Antrim, Third Day Coffee, the Rabbit Hotel.
And there’s a dizzying amount of places to explore throughout the year all within a tiny area: Skate 100, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest skate parks, the World of Owls centre, boasting one of the largest collections of owls in Ireland, Airtastic, a newly launched entertainment centre home to a vast inflatable park, 18-hole space-themed mini golf and one of the largest amusement arcades in Northern Ireland.
At The Boathouse over our gorgeous dinner – seafood linguine (for me), juicy burgers for the lads and a very kindly-made, off-menu cheese toastie for my youngest with his rigid eating – we tucked and marvelled at panoramic views of Lough Neagh and started planning when our next visit would be.
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