The Slemish Mountain Walk: Parking, The Trail + How Long It Takes

The Slemish Mountain walk is one of our favourite Glens of Antrim rambles.

Rising to an elevation of 437 m (1,434 ft), Mount Slemish is a tough aul slog, and there’s a near vertical ascent in places.

However, those that reach the top of Slemish on a clear day will be treated to one of the finest views in Northern Ireland.

Key information for the Slemish Mountain walk

Although the Slemish Mountain walk is much easier in comparison to some of the other hikes on the nearby Antrim Coast Road, it’ll still pose a challenge for most.

The walk up Mount Slemish is short (info below), but hard, thanks to the steepness of the mountain. Be sure to be prepared and check the weather in advance.

1. How long it takes

The Slemish Mountain walk takes between 1-1.5 hours to complete. The distance to the summit from the car park is 1.2 miles.

2. Difficulty

Though short, the Slemish Mountain walk is steep and rocky at times and the path will become slippery in wet weather. Still, those with a moderate level of fitness shouldn’t have too much trouble scaling Slemish. 

3. Parking + toilets

There’s a fine bit of parking right at the base of Slemish. If you’re not familiar with the area, just pop ‘Slemish Car Park’ into Google maps. You can’t miss it. There are toilets in the car par, too.

4. Safety

There’s often no clear path to follow on Mount Slemish. This can make the descent, in particular, tricky in places – especially if you visit when the ground is wet. Take care and wear walking shoes with good grip.

About Slemish Mountain

Just a cursory glance at the distinct shape of Slemish Mountain will tell you that it’s actually the central core of an extinct volcano.

Located in County Antrim, it rises to an elevation of 437 m (1,434 ft) and can be seen for miles around due to the surrounding land being relatively flat. 

After being captured by pirates at the age of 16, Saint Patrick was alleged to have worked as a shepherd on the slopes of Slemish for six years before escaping.

These days St Patrick’s Day sees people participate in an annual pilgrimage to Slemish, drawing large crowds prepared to make the climb to the summit.

An overview of the Slemish walk

The information signs about Slemish Mountain are excellent, with info on everything from the mountain’s history, geology and wildlife. So, have a read before you set off!

Starting the walk

Follow the grassy track to the base of the mountain and at this point, you can choose your own ascent up towards the 400-metre summit.

Rocky in parts, you may be required to do some scrambling at times, but the effort is all worth it!

Prepare for the views

Stunning panoramic views of the rolling fields of Antrim countryside are rewarded to those who reach the top.

On clear days you should be able see the Antrim coast and the distant outline of the Scottish coast to the east. To the west lie the Sperrin mountains of County Tyrone. 

Making your descent

On a dry day, the descent on the Slemish walk is, you’ll be relieved to hear, much easier than the ascent.

However, when wet, it can be very tricky, so wear walking shoes and take your time.

Places to visit near Mount Slemish

One of the beauties of the Slemish walk is that, when you’re finished, you’re a short distance from many of the best places to visit in Antrim.

• Post-walk food (15-minute drive): There are some great Ballymena restaurants for a post-hike feed
• Glenariff Forest Park (25-minute drive):  One of the most impressive places to visit in Northern Ireland
• Causeway Coastal Route (20-minute drive): You can join the route near Glenarm Castle. It will take you to the likes of Torr Head, the Fair Head Cliffs, Murlough Bay, Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, the Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle