Glenside Farm - Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend

Friday: Open for School Visits Only
Saturday: Not Open
Sunday: 11am – 4pm

Glenside Farm covers approximately 80 acres and is found in the beautiful drumlins of County Down. The farm is home to award winning Glen Cowie pedigree Aberdeen Angus and Blue Texel sheep. The farm is owned by Iain and Malini Colville. Iain was brought up in Newtownards and is from a fourth-generational farming family. In 2021, following the pandemic, Iain and Malini created a social enterprise (Glenside Farm Comber CIC) on part of the land that supports the community to find a sense of health and wellbeing through farming, nature and community. This is primarily achieved through workshops, space hire and events. This year they have been delivering a Farm to Fabric project, funded by the Heritage Fund, that allows participants to learn how to prepare the raw fleece from the sheep on the farm, ready for spinning, weaving, dyeing and fabric work. Visitors during the Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend will have the chance to meet the farmer, learn more about sheep farming, meet the Glen Cowie pedigree Aberdeen Angus and visit our sensory garden that is in the process of being created and enjoy the open countryside over refreshments. There will be some hands on activities linked to our heritage project Farm to Fabric which takes raw fleece from the sheep for spinning, weaving, dyeing and fabric work.

Parking will be at La Mon Hotel (41 Gransha Road, Newtownards, BT23 5RF) as parking at Glenside Farm is limited. There will be a shuttle service to and from the farm on the hour and half past the hotel. Farm has limited accessibility for wheelchairs. If you have a disability and need parking please get in touch with the farm. Safety Notice: For the safety of our animals and guests, we kindly ask that no dogs are brought onto the farm, except for assistance dogs. Thank you for your understanding.

What you can see & do:

Self-guided farm tours

Meet the farmer Q&A

Meet Blue Texel sheep lambs and goat

Meet our pedigree Aberdeen Angus

Hands on activities in the sensory garden

Learn about the heritage of wool

Spinning demonstrations

Tractor display

Refreshments (£)

Wool and wool kits (£)

Safety Notice: For the safety of our animals and guests, we kindly ask that no dogs are brought onto the farm, except for assistance dogs. Thank you for your understanding.