Forest bathing at Randalstown Forest

Randalstown Forest covers 172 hectares and was once the deer park of the Shane's Castle estate. The Forest Service took it over in 1934 and planted spruce and larch with groups of oak, elm and ash; felled areas have been replanted with more broadleaves on the better soils. At the southern end a steep bank marks the old shore of Lough Neagh, and below it a National Nature Reserve protects alder woodland slowly turning to ash, with younger willow and alder nearer the water.

The entrance is off Staffordstown Road, a mile west of Randalstown, and the car park is about a mile from the shore. Keep to the path through the reserve to reach the lough, where a large hide looks over Farr's Bay. Winter brings diving ducks such as goldeneye and scaup. A herd of fallow deer lives in an enclosure with a viewing platform. A full loop on foot is about two and a half miles.