Sitting on the scenic Antrim coast road, Cairndhu House is a must-visit attraction in Northern Ireland for fans of all things paranormal and history lovers.
Once a grand country home, Cairndhu House now stands empty, derelict and is said to be haunted. Very haunted. Rumoured to be the most haunted house in Northern Ireland.
Haunted or not, it’s certainly a house with an interesting back story.
The History of Cairndhu House
Cairndhu House was built in the late 1800’s by Scottish business man Stewart Clark as a summer residence for his family. Clark made his fortune in textiles, giving him the means to purchase the estate, demolish the existing house and have Cairndhu House built.
The original two storey home was extended multiple times, giving it a sprawling appearance. Even in its derelict state, it’s clear that this was once a grand home. On the ground floor the wooden verandah can still be seen, at the upper floors ornate balconies and gables.
The house sits on a hillside by the coast and would have enjoyed beautiful views across the grounds and out to sea. You can just imagine the scene; garden games on the lawn, tea taken on the verandah, the country life of a wealthy family.
The wealthy family in this case were the Clark family: Stewart, his wife Annie and their five children. Put a pin in the idea that this is a family home. There’s a neat little twist coming.
I haven’t been able to find many pictures of the interior other than some shots taken long after it was empty, but before it was quite so derelict. Remains of staircases and some old paneling suggest that inside was as grand as out, once upon a time.
In 1917, Stewart Clark sold up. The Notice of Sale describes the house as having, ‘ 6 public rooms and 20 bedrooms, with ample bathrooms and servants accommodation…pantries, sculleries, larders… glasshouses, stables and two lodges. Lighting by means of gas… land in whole 244 acres’.
Doesn’t sound too shabby, does it?
You might think the sale of Cairndhu House meant the place became home to a new family, but that’s not quite how it went. Remember that the Clark family had five children?
The youngest daughter Edith married Belfast boy Sir Thomas Dixon, son of a family who’d made piles of money in timber and shipping.
He bought the house back, modernised and redecorated the old place and then snapped up the land surrounding it.
With the new Lord & Lady Dixon at the helm, Cairndhu House entered a new era. One of gala dinners, garden parties and country pursuits in the Antrim countryside.
As well as being wealthy, fashionable and fabulous the couple were known for their philanthropy. Lady Edith Dixon was a tireless fundraiser, passionate about improving access to healthcare for the poor.
The outbreak of WW2 meant change for Cairndhu House. The Dixons took an apartment within the house and turned the rest over for use as a hospital.
Lady Dixon took an active role in the war effort, fundraising and even having a family Rolls Royce converted into an ambulance.
In 1947, Cairndhu House was donated by Lord and Lady Dixon to the Northern Ireland Hospitals Authority, becoming a convalescent hospital. I find it fascinating that Edith Dixon was so attached to the place. Love for her childhood summer home or something more?
The hospital was open until the mid 1980’s, when lack of funding forced closure. Cairndhu House settled into a slumber, without people or purpose. Unless you count the ghostly residents, in which case we need to talk about…
The Ghosts of Cairndhu House, Northern Ireland
The big question: Is Cairndhu House really haunted?
Disappointingly, I didn’t personally see anything. I did get a really weird feeling around one particular spot. Power of suggestion or something more? I couldn’t say.
Visitors who have seen or felt something at Cairndhu have reported:
- A servant girl in dress suggesting the late 1800’s- early 1900’s
- An American soldier, WW2 era
- A nurse figure
- Most interesting of all, a man in a suit. Reported by several people but never tied into the history of the house.
I took The Little Wolf exploring with me, as always. He didn’t flicker. He’s usually a good barometer for strange folk and strange vibes.
Maybe there was nothing there, maybe the place was teeming with ghost but he liked them all. Who knows? Does any part in particular stand out to you?
How to Find Cairndhu House
The easiest way to find Cairndhu House is to head for Carfunnock Country Park.
The country park is land that once belonged to the estate. You’ll find miles of walks, fantastic views and some original features including an old ice house and walled gardens.
Carfunnock Country Park is located on the Antrim Coast Road, a short distance from the town of Larne and about 20 miles out of Belfast. For parking, use the address:
182A Coast Road
Larne
BT40 2QG
Tips for Visiting Cairndhu House
Access: The grounds around the house are open to the public. The immediate grounds around the house are private property. Up to you how close you want to get. If you trip, fall, land through a hole in the fence and decide to explore while you are in there, I won’t judge.
The House: Don’t go in, it’s dangerous. You can’t get in anyway, it’s solidly bricked up. I checked. If exploring the old courtyards and so on, proceed with caution. I’d avoid in high winds or rough weather.
Footwear: I seem to type this is every post: sturdy footwear. Covered in, preferably waterproof. This is Northern Ireland, it’s wet much of the year. Country tracks are rough underfoot. Sturdy boots for the win.
The Future of Cairndhu House
It looks uncertain. The site has been purchased by a business man and rumours abound concerning future development.
If you want to see Cairndhu House, you’ll need to be quick. Come demolition or development, the days are numbered. Nice to think that its past and its people won’t be forgotten, isn’t it?
Visit if you dare!
If you enjoyed this post you might like to read about another abandoned place; Beelitz, near Berlin.
Helen x
That’s a lot of house for a holiday home, even with 5 children! I thought Cairndhu sounded Scottish and Clark’s origins confirm why. A shame it has been left to rot, that so often happens.
It does sound Scottish, any idea to the meaning? So many links to the Scottish in this part of the world, although I tread carefully when speaking or writing about it. Very sad that the house is left to decline, I can’t imagine what it would take to save this one though!
I thought it sounded familiar, just checked and there’s a cairndhu gardens near Helensburgh. Do as black and garlic so I expect black rocks or black Hill?
Oh no, that went off before I could correct spellcheck! The last bit should read dhu is black in Gaelic!
I thought the same as Anabel about the name of the house. It sounds like you had a good visit.
It was an interesting place, sad to see it left but fun to have an explore.
Fascinating post, as ever, Helen
Thank you!
Ooo it looks creepy! I don’t believe in spirits but if they exist, they’d surely be here!
It’s the classic haunted house look, isn’t it? No ghosts about on the day but fun to have a poke about.
It definitely looks creepy but I think if Wolfie couldn’t detect anything amiss, there are probably no bad spirits. Looks like a film set!
It has actually been used as a filming location, it’s quite the back drop!
Such an interesting house. Happy New Year
Thank you, all the best to you too!
Thank you 😊