Shaftesbury Park and Carrickfergus Mill Ponds
Shaftesbury Park and Carrickfergus Mill Ponds
Shaftesbury Park and Carrickfergus Mill Ponds
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4.0
30 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
15
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Steveodo
Carrickfergus, UK5,706 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Saw a heron grab a fish. It marched around a corner where a bunch of kids were all shouting excitedly that it had swallowed the fish whole. Yes, birds can’t chew, and have very elastic throats. They’d never seen anything like it, and I’d never seen a heron catch such a big fish just three metres away from me.
While that was exceptional the residents you can see here every time include swans, greylag geese, coots, mallards, pigeons and gulls. The birds are used to people and you can even walk close by them.
While that was exceptional the residents you can see here every time include swans, greylag geese, coots, mallards, pigeons and gulls. The birds are used to people and you can even walk close by them.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveodo
Carrickfergus, UK5,706 contributions
Jan 2015 • Solo
I like to visit places in midwinter, to test if they’re fun without the sunny weather. This place? Definitely. I started off from the leisure centre, passing a kids’ play area. At the Mill Ponds one of the swans kept sailing right over to me. That’s great, except I could no longer fit the whole bird into shot with my camera – it was too close! Lots of ducks and geese were everywhere. If you like them, plenty of quiet trains go by.
To get to Shaftesbury Park go through the 1927 tunnel under the railway. On the other side a robin was hopping about right beside me on the path. Love it. There were exercise machines on the path’s other side. They might be new.
To get to Shaftesbury Park go through the 1927 tunnel under the railway. On the other side a robin was hopping about right beside me on the path. Love it. There were exercise machines on the path’s other side. They might be new.
Written 24 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
letterkennycaint
Letterkenny, Ireland12,167 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
This lovely little park is just off Marine Highway, opposite Marine Gardens, and has four entrances. A few months back I went in for a stroll, but it wasn't until I read Steveodo's review, that I realised that there was another section (Carrickfergus Mill Ponds), which makes it much more attractive. Thanks Steve. I wouldn't imagine many "tourists" like myself happen upon it, as it's not advertised, but if you like some quiet time, and see a bit of wildlife, make sure you visit.
Written 27 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveodo
Carrickfergus, UK5,706 contributions
Apr 2014 • Solo
There's a pedestrian entrance to Shaftesbury park on Joymount Road, a big archway opposite the war monument park. You'll find a park with benches, lawns, trees and flowers hidden inside. Go out the back right-hand corner, and take a tunnel under the railway to get to the Carrickfergus Mill Ponds. There you can stroll around a lake, or cross bridges to islands. On the water are swans, geese, ducks, coots and other bird life. These places are a great green oasis in the town. Many people park at the leisure centre on Prince William Way and come down to the pond from there.
Written 29 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hanni_LR43
Whitehead, UK1,654 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
I lived very near here for two years and always walked through to get to he shops in Carrick. It wasn't as busy as the roads with the cars on. I love the old trees, but its not very well kept. There was no water in the pond 20 years ago. Today I see it from the train most often. It is very tranquil to walk through.
Written 18 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iatros1
9 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
There are few redeeming features of Carrickfergus but this is one of them.
It somehow reminds me a little of a mini version of Bryant Park in NYC.
Everyone has heard and goes to Central Park in New York.
Bryant Park is where native New Yorkers flock too to leave the Central Park free for the tourists.
Likewise Shaftesbury Park - Carrickfergus' best kept secret.
Even better when they have the open-air Shakespeare Plays here on occasion.
It somehow reminds me a little of a mini version of Bryant Park in NYC.
Everyone has heard and goes to Central Park in New York.
Bryant Park is where native New Yorkers flock too to leave the Central Park free for the tourists.
Likewise Shaftesbury Park - Carrickfergus' best kept secret.
Even better when they have the open-air Shakespeare Plays here on occasion.
Written 22 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shirley W
United Kingdom23 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
This park gives you a tranquil feeling away from it all. Really well kept and a lovely place to sit and watch the world go by. Beautiful trees and well kept lawns. Nice place to walk the dog too.
Written 10 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveodo
Carrickfergus, UK5,706 contributions
Jun 2017 • Solo
In June this place is really alive. Along the paths from Shaftesbury park towards the Mill Ponds a robin was hopping along beside me. Very close. At the ponds the male swan swam right up to me, hoping for a hand-out. All I had was a camera! Next mom and a fleet of her "ugly ducklings" are steaming over to see me. I spotted a baby coot that looked very odd. Great place for some close-ups of wildlife.
Written 14 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steveodo
Carrickfergus, UK5,706 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
I took a turn in the two parks, needing some air. Lots of birdsong from robins in the trees in Shaftesbury park. Planting trees in straight rows seems daft, but some are wonderfully gnarled and twisty. Great colours on the trunks of some. Many puddles on the lawns, and someone’s dog went joyously splashing through during a game of fetch. Disappointed to see vandalism, lots of it. Great spray-painted messages on a wall along one entrance, a whole sign gone leaving only the support posts, and a tall lamp with every glass pane shattered. Some among us apparently love to destroy.
Much of the vegetation on the Mill Ponds had been cut back, affording amazing views of the trees on the far side reflecting with the winter sky across the water. The swans were sleeping on the shore. Hordes of tiny coots ran away. Big geese ignored me. So they should.
Much of the vegetation on the Mill Ponds had been cut back, affording amazing views of the trees on the far side reflecting with the winter sky across the water. The swans were sleeping on the shore. Hordes of tiny coots ran away. Big geese ignored me. So they should.
Written 1 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hanni_LR43
Whitehead, UK1,654 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
There are crocuses growing in rings around the trees, but nearly none are yellow, they are all purple and white ones. The trees are starting to show off some spring blossom. There is one very funny tree that looks like a witch waving her arms in the air.
Written 12 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don't know if your allowed or not but have witnessed a few kids fishing from one of the bridges supervised by the mother! They looked like they caught small mackerel ?? Weird I know !! But they looked just like them 🐟
Written 10 August 2017
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