Craigmore Fishery

You won't find Craigmore Fishery on many tourist maps, which is rather the point. It's a working fishing lake just outside Antrim - the sort of place where you turn up with a rod if you know what you're doing, or simply to watch the water and think about things. The lake itself is modest in size but genuinely peaceful, ringed by trees that catch the light nicely in late afternoon.

This is absolutely a spot for anglers. Pike, perch, and roach feature regularly in catches, and the fishery operates as a proper working concern rather than a theme park version of fishing. If you're not equipped to fish, the appeal is more limited - you can walk the bank, admire the quietness, maybe bring binoculars if birds interest you. An hour's visit is realistic unless you're casting a line.

The nearest towns and glamping spots tell you something useful. Sett on The Lough and Lough Beg Glamping are both nearby and highly rated, suggesting this corner of Mid and East Antrim is quietly developing as a rural retreat. Craigmore works as a half-day addition to a park-based holiday rather than a destination in itself.

Contact the fishery directly for current charges and whether they accept day visitors - opening times and admission fees vary. It's the sort of place that rewards a phone call before you visit rather than turning up on spec. Worth a look if you're bunking off the leisure facilities for an afternoon of actual quiet.