Sunflower Fields in Northern Ireland: A Visit to Hillstown Farm

August has arrived, late summer beckons and here in Northern Ireland the sunflowers are in bloom. I’ve always wanted to visit a sunflower field. And at the weekend I finally managed to tick that off my bucket list. So in this post I thought I’d share some photographs from a visit to see the sunflowers at Hillstown Farm.

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Hillstown Farm, County Antrim

If you’re looking for sunflower fields in Northern Ireland, Hillstown Farm in County Antrim is a beautiful place to spend a summer morning. Located near Randalstown, around 40 minutes from Belfast, the farm’s seasonal sunflower field offers sweeping views across the surrounding countryside and towards Slemish Mountain.

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The sunflower field

After parking, making a few purchases at the farm shop and saying hello to the chickens, off we set for a wander around the sunflower field. The weather conditions were perfect. It was dry underfoot with just a slight breeze. And that elusive sun even made an appearance from behind the clouds. There were sunflowers as far as the eye could see and the field was gently buzzing with the sound of bees and other pollinators.

A pathway had been made to allow you to walk round easily and round every turn the view of sunflowers greeted you. In the distance, you could see Slemish Mountain, the legendary first known Irish home of Saint Patrick. The mountain rises about 1500 feet above the surrounding plain. And it’s actually the central core of an extinct volcano *

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Sunflowers and Slemish Mountain

The view across to Slemish Mountain

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Pick your own sunflowers

As you wander round, and for a small donation, you can pick your own sunflowers to take home with you. All donations are in aid of the Air Ambulance NI, a very worthwhile cause. Needless to say, I came home with a bunch !

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Planning a visit to Hillstown Farm

Hillstown Farm is located in County Antrim, close to Randalstown and within easy reach of Belfast. The sunflower field is a seasonal attraction, so opening arrangements and dates can vary from year to year. It’s worth checking Hillstown Farm’s current website or social media before visiting.

A lovely day out

All in all, we had a lovely morning enjoying the sunflowers at Hillstown Farm. It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning. Sunflowers seem to put people in a good mood and everyone seemed to be smiling on their walk through the field. We finished off our visit with breakfast in the cafe and a good strong cup of tea – just how I like it !

Thanks for stopping by,

Paula