Until the middle of the eighteenth century the Antrim Estate extended all the way up the coast to Dunluce Castle, Ballycastle and beyond. However, following a series of misfortunes, including the loss of a vast acreage brought about by the wreckless gambling habit of the 5th Earl of Antrim in the 18th Century, the division of the Estate in the 19th Century and finally the final Irish Land Acts of the early 20th Century, the Estate is now almost entirely limited to the land that sits within the walls of the Castle Demesne.
Today the Demesne, which was once a deer park, is a working estate consisting of forest, farmland and the Glenarm River. The Estate is continually adapting to the challenges of modern farming. Our livestock currently consists of a flock of around 400 grey-faced ewes; a herd of Aberdeen Angus/Cross Suckler cows, as well as a small herd of pedigree Highland Cattle. We are also starting a programme to build up a herd of pedigree Short Horn cattle.
A forester is employed throughout the year to manage the plantations on the Estate. A tree planting scheme is in place to replace hardwoods which have been lost over the years, both in the forest and throughout the Estate.
The Glenarm River is approximately 5 miles long, with the Glenarm Angling Club fishing 2 miles and a private syndicate fishing the remaining 3 miles.