Best known as one of Northern Ireland’s leading wedding venues, Larchfield Estate near Lisburn offers large group accommodation for up to 43 guests in heritage cottages on a private Georgian estate. Gavin and Sarah Mackie explain why family reunions, corporate retreats and incentive groups from as far away as New York are booking the whole estate.
Finding somewhere in Northern Ireland where a large group can stay together, privately and in real comfort, is harder than it should be. At Larchfield Estate, up to 43 guests can stay side by side in heritage cottages on a private Georgian estate, just under 30 minutes from Belfast.
Over the past 16 years, Gavin and Sarah Mackie have restored a collection of 1800s stone cottages, carriage rooms and an 1878 gate lodge on their family’s 425-acre estate. Together with Myrtle, a 1952 Swiss Army truck turned glamping retreat, the accommodation now sleeps up to 43 guests across 20 rooms, making Larchfield Estate one of the most distinctive options for large group accommodation in Northern Ireland.
“Guests would stay with us for a wedding, fall in love with the estate and ask whether they could bring their family, their team or their clients back,” says Sarah. “Group stays are where we see the biggest opportunity, because there are very few places in Northern Ireland where 40 people can stay together, privately, somewhere with real character.”
Large group accommodation at Larchfield Estate: at a glance
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Large group accommodation for up to 43 guests near Belfast
Because the cottages sit close together on one private estate, a group can stay side by side while every household still has its own front door, kitchen and space to retreat to. Groups can book a few properties together or take over the whole of Larchfield Estate, for a single night or a full week.
“A whole-estate buy-out means nobody has to drive home, everyone wakes up in the same place, and the celebration carries on over breakfast,” says Gavin. “Whether it’s one night or seven, the estate is entirely yours.”
Event management is available for every type of group stay. The Larchfield Estate team can plan itineraries, arrange transport and private tours, book activities and caterers from its trusted local suppliers, and organise private dining in The Old Piggery, a restored estate building used for group meals, meetings and workshops. Activities range from candle-making with the estate’s beekeeper to yoga, archery, axe throwing, fly fishing, cookery masterclasses and private chef experiences.
For breakfast, groups can choose between hampers of local artisan produce delivered to their cottages or a group breakfast together in The Old Piggery.
Family reunions and milestone birthdays for every generation
Family groups are at the heart of Larchfield Estate’s accommodation business, from milestone birthdays and anniversaries to christenings and family reunions. The team is proud to host groups with a wide range of ages, from toddlers to grandparents and everyone in between, and plans the stay so there is something for all of them.
“The best family stays are the ones where the grandparents are relaxing with a coffee, the teenagers are in the hot tub and the little ones are off meeting the alpacas,” says Sarah. “We’ll help put together a plan that works for every age, so the person organising it actually gets to enjoy it too.”
The estate’s pedigree alpacas and miniature donkeys, woodland walks and open space make it easy for younger guests, while Royal Hillsborough, with its castle, forest park and restaurants, is just ten minutes away.
Corporate retreats: space to think
For businesses, Larchfield Estate offers something hotels and city venues can’t: space to think. Teams stay in the cottages, meet and dine in The Old Piggery, and step outside onto 425 acres of countryside, while still being just under 30 minutes from Belfast.
“Teams do their best thinking when they’re out of the office and somewhere that feels completely different,” says Gavin. “You can have a strategy session in the morning, a walk or an activity in the afternoon and dinner together in the evening, without anyone having to leave the estate.”
Full event management is available for corporate retreats, leadership away days, team-building and client hospitality, with the Larchfield Estate team arranging everything from meeting set-up and catering to transport and evening entertainment.
Incentive trips and international groups
Larchfield Estate is also building a reputation in the incentive travel market, hosting reward trips and client groups who want something more personal than a hotel. Groups have flown in from New York and returned again, drawn by the uniqueness of the offer, the personal touch of a family-run estate and the heritage setting.
“Our New York groups keep coming back because it feels like being welcomed into a family home rather than checking into a hotel,” Sarah says. “They get a private Georgian estate, a team that knows them by name, and easy access from Belfast’s airports and Dublin. For an incentive trip, that combination is hard to beat.”
The team can combine an estate stay with tailored itineraries across Northern Ireland, including private tours of attractions such as Titanic Belfast, the Causeway Coast, the Mourne Mountains and Strangford Lough.
Self-catering cottages with character
Every property at Larchfield Estate started life as part of the working estate or, in Myrtle’s case, somewhere rather more unusual, and each has been restored to keep its character while adding the comforts guests expect today. Every property has access to a hot tub.
“As an engineer, I love taking an old building and working out what it can become,” says Gavin. “The carriage rooms, the gate lodge, even an old army truck: they all had a past, and we wanted to give them a future without losing what made them special.”
| Property | Sleeps | Highlights |
| No. 23 | 11 (5 bedrooms) | The largest property, a short walk from the main venue, with gardens. Ideal for bigger family groups and friends’ weekends |
| The Gate Lodge | 6 (3 bedrooms) | Built in 1878 and restored in 2023, with a sunroom, spacious living and dining area and garden with views across the Co Down hills |
| Rose Cottage | 2 to 4 | A 5-star 1800s stone cottage restored to a very high standard, with an open fire and a grand antique-style bathroom |
| Farm Cottage | 5 (or 7 with Archway 4) | One of the first cottages built on the estate, with ensuite bedrooms and open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas |
| The Willows | Up to 7 | Fully refurbished, with stone walls, oak beams and oak floors. Ideal for guests staying for a wedding or larger event |
| The Archways | 2 per room (4 ensuite rooms) | Ensuite rooms in converted carriage rooms, combining classical structure with modern comforts |
| Myrtle | 2 | A 1952 Swiss Army truck converted by Gavin and Sarah into a high-end glamping retreat, with log-burning stove, sun deck and sauna. Open March to October |
Overnight stays for couples and smaller groups
Not every stay is a big occasion. Each cottage can also be booked on its own for a night or two, whether it’s a couple wanting a break with a hot tub, a small family exploring the area, or guests attending an event nearby.
A carbon-negative place to stay
Every stay at Larchfield Estate is carbon negative, and income from the accommodation goes straight back into restoring the estate. “Every booking helps us look after this place for the next generation,” says Sarah, “and our guests like knowing they’re part of that.”
Frequently asked questions
Where can a large group stay together in Northern Ireland?
Larchfield Estate near Lisburn offers large group accommodation for up to 43 guests across five heritage cottages, four ensuite rooms and a glamping truck on a private Georgian estate, just under 30 minutes from Belfast. Groups can book several properties or the whole estate.
How many guests can stay at Larchfield Estate?
Up to 43 guests across 20 rooms from March to October, and 41 across 19 rooms from November to February, when Myrtle the glamping truck is closed.
Can a group book the whole of Larchfield Estate?
Yes. Whole-estate buy-outs are available for a single night or a full week, with event management available to plan the stay.
Is Larchfield Estate suitable for corporate retreats and incentive trips?
Yes. Corporate teams and incentive groups, including repeat groups from New York, stay in the cottages and use The Old Piggery for meetings, private dining and workshops, with full event management available.
Is Larchfield Estate suitable for family reunions with children and older relatives?
Yes. Larchfield Estate regularly hosts multi-generational family groups, from toddlers to grandparents, with activities, farm animals and space for every age.
Do the properties have hot tubs?
Yes. Every property at Larchfield Estate has access to a hot tub.
Where is Larchfield Estate?
Larchfield Estate is near Lisburn in Northern Ireland, 10 minutes from Royal Hillsborough, just under 30 minutes from Belfast city centre and around 90 minutes from Dublin.
Notes for editor
Larchfield Estate is a family-run wedding, events and self-catering accommodation venue on a 425-acre Georgian estate near Lisburn, just under 30 minutes from Belfast, owned by Gavin and Sarah Mackie.
Suggested links: larchfieldestate.co.uk and the accommodation page at https://larchfieldestate.co.uk/staying-over
Accommodation enquiries: [email protected]
