A friendly community urban farm at Kilcreggan in Carrickfergus where families come, completely free, to meet the pet goats, pigs, a Shetland pony and the poultry — with a garden centre and the Dancing Goat Café on the same site.
What's here — pens of pet goats, pigs, a pony, poultry, waterfowl, geese and small pets that children can get right up close to, wandering the paths between a garden centre and a busy little café.
Don't miss — saying hello to the goats and the small Shetland pony at the fence, then a wander round the polytunnels and outdoor plant displays of the garden centre — a proper local plant nursery.
How long — it's a gentle hour or two rather than a full day: perfect as a free morning stop, or paired with the café for lunch.
Cost — free to visit. There's no charge to see the animals; you only spend if you buy plants or a bite at the café.
When — generally Monday to Saturday through the daytime. It's run as a community project, so hours can shift — a quick check of the day before you set off is wise.
Free entry, but closed Sundays. Check the day and the current opening hours on the farm's website before you travel, as times can change.
It's a small farm, not a big attraction. Come for a lovely low-key animal wander and a coffee — not rides, soft play or a big adventure park.
Plan your visit
A free, easy morning with the animals
Carrickfergus Urban Farm sits at Kilcreggan on Elizabeth Avenue, an easy run off the main roads through Carrickfergus. It's a community project — a relaxed space where anyone can drop in for free to see the pet goats, pigs, the Shetland pony, the poultry and the small pets. The farm is generally open Monday to Saturday through the daytime and closed on Sundays; because it's run as a community enterprise the hours can shift with the seasons, so it's worth a quick check on the day before you travel. Alongside the animals there's a well-stocked garden centre with polytunnels and outdoor plant displays, and the Dancing Goat Café for a coffee, a bun or lunch. Nothing here costs a penny to look at — you only spend if you pick up a few plants or stop at the café.
Dancing Goat Café on siteGarden centre & polytunnelsFree parking on siteWorking farm — pet dogs best left at home
Worth knowing:
The farm is a community enterprise and its opening hours can change with the season and with staffing. It's closed on Sundays. Check the current hours on kilcreggan.org.uk, or give them a ring on 028 9335 9588 before you make a special trip.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
👟Sturdy shoes or welliesThe paths between the pens can be damp and muddy after rain, so shoes that don't mind a splash are the ones for the day.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingMost of it is outside among the pens. Rain or shine, the animals are still out — and the café is a warm, cosy backup if a shower blows in.
🧴Hand gel or wipesThere's plenty of leaning over fences to see the goats and pony, so handy for little hands before a café snack.
☀️A hat and a bottle of water on bright daysThe pens are open to the sky with little shade, so on a sunny day a hat, a drink and a shady pause make it lovely.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to visit — there's no charge to walk round and see the animals. You only spend if you buy plants at the garden centre or food and drink at the Dancing Goat Café. Groups, individuals and families are all welcome free of charge.
Opening hours
Generally open Monday to Saturday through the daytime, and closed on Sundays. As a community enterprise the exact hours can change seasonally, so check the current times on the farm's website or by phone before a special trip.
What you'll see
Pet goats, pigs, a Shetland pony, poultry, waterfowl, geese and small pets in their pens, plus a working garden centre with polytunnels and outdoor plant displays. It's a gentle look-and-say-hello farm rather than a rides-and-play attraction.
Ages
Best for toddlers up to around eight — the close-up animals are the whole draw for little ones. Handy too for grandparents and anyone who fancies a relaxed, no-cost potter.
Food
The Dancing Goat Café on site does coffee, tray bakes, buns and light lunches — a friendly community café rather than a big restaurant. A nice reason to linger after the animals.
Garden centre
A genuine local plant nursery on the same site, with bedding plants, shrubs and seasonal stock under the polytunnels and out on the display beds. Worth a browse while you're there.
Parking
Free parking on site by the entrance.
Dogs
It's a working farm with livestock, so it's kindest to leave pet dogs at home. If in doubt, check with the farm before you bring one.
How long
A gentle hour or two — a lovely free morning stop rather than a full day out. Easy to pair with somewhere else in Carrickfergus.
Accessibility
The site is largely level around the pens, café and garden centre. Paths can be damp underfoot after rain, so an all-terrain buggy copes better than a light umbrella stroller on a wet day.
Contact
Kilcreggan, kilcreggan.org.uk/farm-and-garden · 028 9335 9588 · [email protected]. Check current hours before a special trip.
Questions
Before you go
Is it really free?
Yes — there's no charge to visit and see the animals. Groups, individuals and families are all welcome free of charge. You only spend if you buy plants at the garden centre or something at the café.
What animals will we see?
Pet goats, pigs, a Shetland pony, poultry, waterfowl, geese and small pets in their pens. Children can get right up close at the fences to say hello.
When is it open?
Generally Monday to Saturday through the daytime, and closed on Sundays. Because it's a community project the hours can change with the season, so check the current times on kilcreggan.org.uk or ring 028 9335 9588 before a special trip.
How long does it take?
A gentle hour or two rather than a full day — a lovely free morning stop. It's easy to pair with something else in Carrickfergus to make more of the day.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Yes — the Dancing Goat Café on site does coffee, tray bakes and light lunches. It's a friendly community café, a nice place to sit after the animals.
Can I bring the dog?
It's a working farm with livestock, so it's best to leave pet dogs at home. Check with the farm first if you're unsure.
Getting there
Kilcreggan, Elizabeth Avenue, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, BT38 7UY — a short run off the main roads through Carrickfergus, with free parking on site. About half an hour from Belfast up the shore of Belfast Lough.
Carrickfergus Urban Farm grew up at Kilcreggan on the edge of Carrickfergus as a community project — a relaxed, welcoming space that runs as a social enterprise rather than a commercial attraction. The idea is a simple, warm one: an ordinary patch of ground turned over to pet animals, a plant nursery and a café, open to anyone who fancies dropping in, free of charge.
Locals sometimes call it a best-kept secret in Carrickfergus, and it has the feel of one — no turnstiles, no big ticket, just pens of goats, pigs, a Shetland pony, hens, ducks and geese that children can lean in and say hello to. Around them, the garden centre has become a proper little plant nursery, its polytunnels filling with bedding plants and colour through the growing season, while the Dancing Goat Café keeps the coffee and tray bakes coming.
It's the kind of gentle, unhurried outing that suits the very youngest best — a free hour among friendly animals, a browse for a pot of flowers, and a cup of tea before home. Nothing showy, and all the nicer for it.