Glenarm is a picturesque village on the Causeway Coast and home to Glenarm Castle and its magnificent walled garden. When I read on Instagram two weeks ago that the garden was re-opening after weeks of endless lockdown, I made the short trip to visit on the second day. It was a Friday, the start of my new longer weekend, the sun was shining, it was warm and off I set along the glorious and blissfully empty coast road to reach my destination just before 11am.
Currently the garden is open between 11am and 3pm. Admittedly, this is not the best time to take photographs due to the harshness of the light and it was already very sunny. But I could hardly complain…freedom to wander round the garden with the sun on my face was more than enough.
With so much to take in and enjoy, I perhaps got a little carried away with the camera. It can be a challenge sometimes to strike a balance between capturing the moment and enjoying the moment, particularly when you have perfectionist tendencies ! I won’t be too hard on myself this time round, but I’ll definitely have to try and reign this in – my aim is to take fewer, but better photographs. I am getting there – slowly.
The walled garden is one of Ireland’s oldest walled gardens. Originally created to supply the castle with fruit and vegetables, it is now filled with beautiful borders and colour throughout the year. I’ve visited the garden twice before – once during the magnificent tulip display in May (you can find the post here ) and then again in early September (you can find that post here )
Needless to say, I won’t share all the photos from my most recent visit – just a few of the key things that caught my eye as I meandered around the garden for almost two hours. I do hope you enjoy.
Secret doors and forget me nots…
Mother and child
Acquilegias in sun and shade and still in bloom…
Wildflowers in a meadow…
The greenhouse and the play of light and shadow…
If you are interested in visiting, I should add that there is ample car parking and good social distancing measures in place including hand sanitiser, contactless payment and good signage for queues. The tea room is currently closed, but you can purchase takeaway coffee/tea, cakes and light snacks to eat at the picnic tables outside.
For more information, you can visit their website here
Have a lovely weekend,
Paula x
This place looks lovely Paula, and your photos are gorgeous as always!
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Ah thank you very much chum…it was so lovely to finally get out somewhere. Hope you are keeping well 🙂
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Despite several visit to the North to visit gardens, we have yet to get to Glenarm and friends have recommended it many times. And, of course, there is also the attraction of native orchids along the coast. Hopefully, we will get to visit when next in the North.
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Yes…its a lovely spot. I also recommend Benvarden…not too far from Bushmills!
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I could easily be tempted to bypass Benvarden and continue to Bushmills!
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Yes my husband says the same thing !!
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The flowers look stunning. A beautiful place to amble around with your camera. X
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Yes…its good to be finally getting out. Hope you are well ?
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Yes very good thanks. Still a bit in limbo workwise as my boss is not being very forthcoming about whether the cafe I was working in will reopen . However I am on furlough still so not all gloom and doom. Nice that you are getting some longer wknds at the mo. X
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Hopefully it will open as things move forward. Yes the longer weekend is great as the working week is pretty intense and I’m knackered by Thursday night !
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Lovely photos – so well done in using the light and shade! I can definitely relate to balancing capturing moments and fully being in them to savor them, as I am working on that myself.
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