Things To Do

Belfast City has now become very cosmopolitan offering an amazing night-life to cater for every taste. Because Abbeydene House is situated at the end of the M5 motorway, it is so easy to get into town – you can be parked in the city centre within twelve minutes.
There is also a good bus and train service into Belfast from very convenient stops.

Abbeydene House is exactly at the start of the Causeway Coastal Route. You could make a day of visiting the Giant’s Causeway by driving north along the beautiful Antrim coast – wiggling in and out of the Glens and maybe stopping off at the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.Once you have had your G.C. experience and you want to get home quickly, you can take the motorway back to Abbeydene – it’s a great day out !

For the horsey people, there are two equestrian centres within fifteen minutes drive – Laurel View and Beeches - both are BHS approved.

An amazing collection of flowers and shrubs awaits you if you visit the Ballyrobert Cottage Garden – a peaceful technicoloured stroll through the well maintained garden will impress….
Or you could visit Patterson’s Spade Mill where you will be taken through the ancient techniques of making a spade….
Or you could visit Sentry Hill – a nineteenth century farmhouse…..
Or you could visit the historic Whitehouse where King William landed….
All these are within fifteen minutes drive of Abbeydene House.

There is a well equipped playground at the Hazelbank Park right beside Abbeydene House. Also there are a number of bicycles available (at no charge) at Abbeydene for adults and children if you want to take a family ride along the shore side cycle path at Hazelbank. For the older children there is the “Need 4 Speed” – an indoor Karting arena based near Doagh – about fifteen minutes drive.
Or what about ten pin bowling at the Glengormley Sportsbowl … about six minutes drive
Or you could go to the Belfast Zoo – about seven minutes drive

The Tildarg Fishery at Ballyclare(about twenty minutes drive) is a seventeen acre lake which is well stocked with trout.You can fly fish for ten pounds a day. Up to four fish can be brought home at three pounds each. Most anglers can catch up to twenty fish a day(and release them). You can also hire tackle and a boat.There is a small clubhouse beside the lake.Angling competitions are often held at Tildarg. Open all year from 9am to dark.

There are over a thousand titles in the Abbeydene DVD library for you to choose from at no extra cost. All rooms are equipped with DVD players.

There are many local restaurants and bistros where you can enjoy an evening meal to suit any pocket. Most visitors would go to the Bureau – a few minutes walk from Abbeydene – where you can sample Haute Cuisine or their excellent pub grub. There are a number of local Carry-outs if you just want to eat in at Abbeydene – we will provide the utensils!

There are always venues on most nights of the week where you can enjoy good blues music – the Enler Blues Club at the Comber Rec football club is an example(about twenty minutes drive) which runs on on the third Saturday of each month.

Also there are Blues festivals which happen several times a year throughout Northern Ireland – The Blues on the Bay at Warrenpoint in May, the Derry Jazz and Blues Festival in May and more…

The big venue for international artists is the Odyssey Arena which is six minutes drive from Abbeydene House.Parking is 3 pounds for the evening – if you are stuck for transport, we can drop you off.The Waterfront Hall is the next biggest followed by the Kings Hall. By staying at Abbeydene House you are very convenient by car to all of these venues. Artistes who have stayed at Abbeydene House have appreciated the ease of access to their venues plus the privacy when they are at home with us.

There are two local theatres within a few minutes drive – the larger brand new Theatre at the Mill and the more intimate Ballyearl Courtyard Theatre. Of course plays and operas are staged in Belfast in all the theatres there – the Waterfront Hall,Grand Opera House, the Ulster Hall and the Odyssey Arena – all within ten or fifteen minutes drive from Abbeydene House

There are a number of golf clubs within fifteen minutes drive of Abbeydene House.

Why not have a look at the Ballyclare Golf Club website?

Or even Greenacres Golf Centre with their challenging golfing range and crazy golf …

Or what about the nine hole golf clubs at Ballyearl and Burnfiield House…

Abbeydene House is situated right beside the beautiful Hazelbank Park which leads down to the shoreline of Belfast Lough.The Ulster Cycle path also runs along the the shore side into Belfast. It doesn’t cost a thing to enjoy….