Mid and East Antrim sits on the northeast coast of County Antrim and includes the towns of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne, plus the Islandmagee peninsula and surrounding countryside. Carrickfergus Castle stands on the town’s harbour and dates from the 12th century, and Larne functions as a ferry port with regular sailings to Cairnryan. The district contains Slemish, a solitary basalt hill north of Broughshane linked in tradition to St Patrick, and a network of rivers and loughs that feed local agriculture and industry.
Coastal features range from sheltered inlets to rugged cliffs. On Islandmagee a cliff-face walkway known as the Gobbins runs through tunnels and across bridges close to the sea, while the Knockagh Monument sits on high ground overlooking the approaches to Belfast Lough. Ballymena remains a regional service centre with markets and commercial streets, and smaller villages around the district provide access to walking routes, shoreline access and local heritage sites.
