Days Out NI
Castle Estate · Wedding & Events Venue Loughguile, Co. Antrim

Lissanoure Castle

A private estate at the foot of the Glens of Antrim — castle ruins, a restored clock-tower courtyard, a lake and parkland.

5 photos
Private estateVisit for a wedding, event or stay
Prices varyEnquire ahead
LoughguileCounty Antrim
Get directionsOfficial website
PrivateEstate
Weddings& events
Stay overAccommodation
Lake& parkland
Ruins& courtyard

A private estate at Loughguile, at the foot of the Glens of Antrim — old castle ruins, a restored clock-tower courtyard and coach house, and a lake set in parkland. Lissanoure is said to be one of Antrim's loveliest country estates — and it opens its gates for weddings, events and stays.

  • What you'll find — the ruins of the old castle, a restored courtyard around an iconic clock tower, the coach house and barn, and a quiet lake in mature parkland and woods.
  • It's a private estate and events venue — you visit for a wedding, an event or a stay, not a casual walk-in. There's no ticketed day-visit or open gate for a stroll.
  • Enquire ahead — always. Dates, availability and what's on are all by arrangement with the estate, and it's said to host only one event a day, so get in touch before you plan anything.
  • How to visit — book it for your wedding or event, come as a guest to one, or arrange a stay in the estate's accommodation.
  • How long — a whole day and evening for a wedding or event; longer if you're staying over.
  • Price — varies by what you're booking — enquire with the estate for current rates. We don't list a set price.
  • Food & parking — catering and a licensed bar are part of the events set-up, and there's parking on the estate; confirm the details with them when you book.
  • What to bring — for an evening event, a warm layer for the courtyard and shoes you can walk the grounds in.
Plan your visit

You can't just turn up — it's a private estate you book

Lissanoure Castle is a privately owned estate that runs as a wedding and events venue, so there's no ticketed day-visit and no open gate for a wander. You experience it one of three ways: book it for your own wedding or event, come along as a guest to one being held there, or arrange a stay in the estate's accommodation. Everything — dates, availability, catering, prices — is by arrangement, so the first step is always to enquire with the estate. It's said to hold only one event a day, which keeps it wonderfully private but means dates go early. We don't publish set hours or prices here — confirm those directly when you get in touch.

Wedding & events venue Courtyard, coach house & barn On-site accommodation Lake, parkland & woods Licensed bar & catering
Before you set your heart on it:

Lissanoure is a private estate, not a public attraction — there's no casual walk-in visit. You come for a wedding or an event, or to stay. Enquire with the estate for dates, availability and prices, and don't turn up unannounced.

On the estate

What you'll find at Lissanoure

  • 🏰The castle ruinsThe remains of the old house sit within the estate — a reminder of the grander place that once stood here.
  • 🕰️The clock-tower courtyardThe restored courtyard gathers around an iconic battlemented clock tower — the heart of the venue.
  • 🚪The coach house & barnRestored event spaces with log fires and a licensed bar, and en-suite accommodation overlooking the courtyard.
  • 🌊The lake & parklandA quiet lake sits a few minutes' walk away, ringed by mature parkland and woods across the estate.
Good to know

Everything before you go

What it is
A privately owned country estate at Loughguile, at the foot of the Glens of Antrim, run as a wedding and events venue with its own accommodation. Not a ticketed public attraction.
How to visit
Book it for your wedding or event, come as a guest to one, or arrange a stay. There's no casual day-visit or open gate for a walk — always enquire first.
The setting
Castle ruins, a restored clock-tower courtyard, a coach house and barn, all set in parkland and woods with a lake nearby.
Accommodation
The estate offers on-site accommodation — said to include an en-suite room in the coach house overlooking the courtyard — with a list of recommended local hotels and B&Bs for guests. Confirm what's available when you enquire.
Hours & prices
By arrangement — we don't publish set opening hours or prices, as it depends entirely on what you're booking. Get current rates and availability directly from the estate.
Food & bar
Catering and a licensed bar are part of the events set-up rather than a walk-in café. Details are arranged as part of your booking.
Parking
Parking is available on the estate for weddings and events. Confirm arrangements when you book.
One a day
It's said the estate hosts only one event per day, which keeps every occasion private — so dates can go early. Enquire well ahead.
Questions

Before you go

Can I just turn up and look round?
No — Lissanoure is a private estate, not a public attraction. There's no ticketed day-visit or open gate for a stroll. You visit for a wedding or event, or to stay, and everything is arranged in advance. Enquire with the estate first.
How do I visit, then?
Three ways: book it for your own wedding or event, come as a guest to one being held there, or arrange a stay in the estate's accommodation.
What does it cost?
It depends entirely on what you're booking, so we don't list a set price. Enquire with the estate for current rates and availability.
Is there accommodation?
Yes — the estate offers on-site accommodation, said to include an en-suite room in the coach house overlooking the courtyard, plus a list of recommended local hotels and B&Bs for guests. Confirm the details when you enquire.
What's actually there to see?
The ruins of the old castle, a restored clock-tower courtyard, the coach house and barn, and a lake set in mature parkland and woods.
Why is it in ruins?
A gunpowder explosion is said to have wrecked the old house in 1847 — powder stored on the estate ignited, and the family lived on in the surviving buildings afterwards. The full story's below.
Getting there

Lissanoure Castle, Loughguile, Co. Antrim — in the countryside near Ballymena and Ballymoney, at the foot of the Glens of Antrim. As it's a private estate, only visit by arrangement.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website

Book or check ahead: 028 2764 1132

See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the trip

Glens of AntrimGlens & coast · nearby BallymoneyMarket town · a short drive BallymenaTown & shops · nearby Causeway CoastAntrim coast · to the north
The story

The Macartneys, an envoy to China, and a night that changed everything

Lissanoure passed to the Macartney family in the early 1700s, when George Macartney bought the estate from the O'Haras. It was a Macartney of Lissanoure — George, the first Earl Macartney — who went on to become Britain's first envoy to China, leading the famous embassy to the Qing court at the turn of the 1790s.

After his death the estate passed down the family, and a descendant set about rebuilding the house in the grand manner through the 1830s and 40s. It was meant to be the making of the place.

Then came 1847. Accounts differ on the exact spark, but the story goes that a large store of gunpowder — said to have been kept in the vaults since the 1798 rebellion — was disturbed and ignited, and the explosion tore through the newly rebuilt house. The lady of the house is said to have been killed, and the great house was left a ruin. The family lived on in the surviving buildings, and the coach house and stables you see today are what came through.

Today those survivors have been restored and the estate opens its gates again — this time for weddings, events and stays, with the old ruins, the clock-tower courtyard, the lake and the parkland all part of the setting.