Glenarm: Explore the first of Antrim’s Glens

(8 reviews)

Glenarm audio tour: Glenarm: Explore the first of Antrim’s Glens

This is a 1.6mi walking tour

It takes an average of 35 mins to complete.

Glenarm

The United Kingdom

$6.99

Access all 24 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

Glenarm is the oldest chartered village in Ireland. It’s also the current seat of the Earl of Antrim. On our walking tour around this 13th Century village, you’ll hear about its architectural history, some Game of Thrones trivia, its industrial heritage and many more riveting stories.

Walking around the village, there’s lots to see and this tour points out all the little sites that you’d otherwise miss. There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way, and the chance to explore Glenarm Forest. You’ll also see many of the locations used for film and TV, and spectacular views over the bay to the Paps of Jura. There’s even a chance to find some “fairy gold” which, legend has it, is hidden on Straidkilly road.

Tour Producer

Martin McAuley

1 tour

I am a Blue badge guide who has lived and worked all my life in Northern Ireland. Seeing myself as an ambassador for the country in which I live it is my joy to share it with people from all around the world and look forward to sharing my insights with you

Preview Location

Location 1

Start and Introduction

Welcome my friend, to the scenic and historic village of Glenarm, nestled in the similarly named glen, along the North Antrim coast road.

My name is Martin McAuley and I'll be the voice in your head for a little walk around. I'm a Blue badge guide and have lived in Norther... Welcome my friend, to the scenic and historic village of Glenarm, nestled in the similarly named glen, along the North Antrim coast road.

My name is Martin McAuley and I'll be the voice in your head for a little walk around. I'm a Blue badge guide and have lived in Northern Ireland all my life. This tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and does involve walking up some steep hills, but it is worth it trust me. Glenarm is a wonderfully pretty little village and I wanted to create this tour to share the place with people like yourself. Along the way, we'll talk about the Castle, Game of Thrones, Links to Scotland and much more.

You should find yourself in a car park at the bottom of Mark Street, across the road from the marina. Mark Street is named after the 5th Earl of Antrim, Captain Mark Kerr McDonnell, who we'll hear more about later.

So Glenarm is one of the 9 Glens of Antrim which are a series of valleys along the northeastern coast of the island of Ireland. These Glens were dugout during the last Ice Age when where you are now would have been under half a mile of ice.

As these glaciers slide down into the sea they carved out these picturesque places. The nine glens are Glenarm, Glencloy, Glenariff, Glenballyeamon, Glenaan, Glencorp, Glendun, Glenshesk, and Glentaise. Each name has a different meaning and also a different character. Glenarm means the Glen of the Army, the origins are obscure but it likely relates to the fact that a castle has stood in the village since at least 1270.

Before we go I’d like to point out the Jewellers, beside the tourist office in Seaview hall. Please turn to face it.

This is Steenson’s family jewellers and they created the jewellery, for the television series Game of Thrones. A family jewellers, who live and work in the village. They were founded back in 1976 and were approached by the makers of the TV show.

Setting off, head back out the gates and turn right, taking you up the hill. It's a bit of a trek up but take your time, there's no rush. So off we go up the hill.

While you walk, let me briefly explain how VoiceMap works.

It uses your location to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. This means that you can put your phone away now. Don't worry if I'm silent at times, when I'm not giving directions or telling stories. There's a map on your screen if you ever feel lost, and if you do get way off track without noticing, VoiceMap will let you know. Read More

View locations and route

How VoiceMap Works

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen

The VoiceMap app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place, so you can focus on your surroundings, not the screen.

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VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

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Major Landmarks

Glenarm Castle
Conjurers Tower
Glenarm Bay

Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Castle St, Glenarm, Ballymena BT44 0AT, UK
Total distance

3km
Final location
1 Toberwine St, Glenarm, Ballymena BT44 0AA, UK
Distance back to start location

44.2m

Directions to Starting Point

Travelling from the south along the A2 Antrim coast road you will happen upon Glenarm, which is well sign posted. Take a left onto Mark Street and then immediately right into car park. A blue and white building that contains tourist information centre and a sign for Steenson's jewellers

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Glenarm forest is en route and is packed with Red squirrels and a wide variety of birds. Art house Tea Emporium for a wonderful cup of tea and a scone. Charlene's shop on Toberwine Street. The Castle grounds are usually open and the garden is a wonderful place to spend some time, cafe and shop is worth a trip into, where you can find amazing Shorthorn beef burgers. Public toilets are open towards the end of the tour on the sea front.

Best time of day

An hour before Sunset the views over the bay can be spectacular, especially to see the Paps of Jura, which are ont he left of the horizon at the top of the hill.

Precautions

If you struggle to climb up hill, or down hill, then this might be a problem. Please take care when crossing roads as these are rural roads and do not have pedestrian crossings.

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Questions and Reviews

4.5 / 5

8 Ratings

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