Crumlin: Natural Landscape and Architectural History

Crumlin can be explored from two different perspectives: through the landscape around the Glen and river, and through the town’s architectural history. If you are looking for a hotel in Crumlin, you can first consider which of these focuses you would like to give greater weight to during your trip.

Nature and Trails in Crumlin

The Crumlin River has carved a short, deep gorge into the eastern slopes of Divis Mountain: Crumlin Glen. On its way to Lough Neagh, the river shapes a landscape where the gorge and watercourse belong together. The Nature Trail explores Crumlin Glen and starts at the Glen’s car park. The History Trail, by contrast, focuses on the history of the village; it starts at St James GAA Club, 15 Glenavy Road, Crumlin. Their different themes help you weigh up the natural landscape and local history. Check current access conditions before setting out on a walk.

Conairí Chromghlinne offers self-guided audio tours about Crumlin’s history, nature, and culture. These cover several aspects of the town, while the two trails each have a narrower focus: the Glen on the Nature Trail and the village’s history on the History Trail.

The Crumlin River flows through the town and is named after it. It is about 13 miles long. Small pools and fast-flowing stretches support a good population of native brown trout. In late summer and early autumn, Dollaghan—trout from Lough Neagh—and occasional salmon are also found, especially in the lower pools and stretches of the river. The time of year makes a difference here: brown trout are found in various stretches of the river, while Dollaghan and salmon are associated particularly with the later summer and autumn months.

Architectural History and Local Traditions

Crumlin’s buildings also give a trip a historical focus. In 1765, Rowley Heyland built one of the first industrial grain mills in the north of Ireland in Crumlin. The Orange Lodge was founded in 1829 as Lodge 471; its Orange Hall is considered a notable local landmark.

Gartree C. of I. Church was built as a chapel in 1831 to relieve the parish church at Killead. It retains original features inside and out, including the preserved family gallery of the former landlord. The church has been designated a monument since 11 December 1974. The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church on Main Street dates from 1820 to 1839 and is listed as a Grade A historic building. Together, the two churches reflect different designations and historical associations, without reducing their history to a single construction date.

A smaller building with its own story is the Cockle House: it has a Gothic arch and stands among mature beech trees; from there, there are impressive views of a nearby waterfall. According to local tradition, a local landlord had the building constructed for a Muslim servant and aligned it towards Mecca. This story has been passed down as a local tradition.

The town’s history goes back at least to 1306. The church of Camelyn mentioned for that year was destroyed in 1689 by the army of King James II. Its ruins can still be seen in a field on the edge of the town. The site may only be entered with prior permission. This access notice is important when planning a visit; do not visit the ruins without prior permission.

Discover more destinations: Larne, Ballymoney, Cushendall, Carnlough, Dunadry, Newtownabbey, Antrim, Aldergrove.

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