Garden Walks - Donegore

The Landscape Centre is located in the historic and picturesque hamlet of Donegore in Co. Antrim.

Set in six acres of rolling countryside, there are spectacular views over the historic Six Mile Valley. Enjoy a wander though the garden centre, and follow the nature trail out of the Design Forum - you never know what you might see! Kids can enjoy our specially designed treasure trail - can you find the secret hiding place of Lady Bankes' jewellery? (Please ask in the coffee shop for a copy of the clues!)

Donegore Moat

Climb to the top of Donegore Moat and enjoy a panoramic view over 6 counties of Ulster. That is, of course, if its not raining!! The moat is one of the most prominent landmarks in south County Antrim. It is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1798 Battle of Antrim. An attempt was made by Henry Joy McCracken to rally The United Irishmen here but it failed and the resistance collapsed.

The moat however, has a longer and more complex history, beginning with suggestions that it was used as a Burial Chamber in Neolithic times. The presence of a souterrain or rock cut cave can be dated back with reasonable certainty to the Early Christian Period, 500 - 1000AD. The entrance to the cave can be seen but it is in poor condition and unfortunately closed to visitors. Archaeological excavations on the Moat in the early 1980s uncovered over 100,000 items of historic value.

Apart from being an old and important historic site, Donegore Moat is worth a walk. Wander from the Design Forum to the natural woodland of the moat where you can simply enjoy the silence of the green trees, and the magnificent views from the top.

Download the Donegore Moat poem

Donegore Church

St Johns Parish Church in Donegore is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Connor.Â The earliest written record of a church on this site was in 1306 but its proximity to Donegore Moat suggests that a church may have existed here much earlier.

The graveyard of Donegore Church is the burial site of several famous people including some of the weaver poets and the poet Sir Samuel Ferguson. The porch of the church contains amongst others, a memorial to a member of the Adair family who was killed aboard HMS Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar.

Download the Churchbell poem