County Down is a stronghold of the native Irish honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, a dark bee suited to cool, damp weather, and several producers here keep it. Loughshore Apiary (Vee's Bees) near Greyabbey has kept native black bees across the Ards Peninsula since 2004, and The Honeysuckle Bee & Me at Killinchy is a designated conservation area for the native bee, with honey from the pastures, trees, wildflowers and hedgerows of the Killinchy hills. Other Down conservation areas registered with the Native Irish Honey Bee Society range from a drumlin wood west of Strangford Lough to a pasture farm on the coast at Orlock.
In the south of the county, Nigel's Wildflower Honey, sold by Field Day Ireland in Newtownards, comes from hives in wild fields on the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, with notes of mountain heather and clover. Hillsborough Honey sells unblended runny, soft-set and naturally set honey for collection in Hillsborough only.
Killinchy and District Beekeepers' Association is the local association around Strangford Lough, and the Comber Show has a honey and bee products section. Vee's Bees make honey only in small amounts, so it isn't always available.
Use the listing details to choose how to buy, then contact the producer before travelling.
The directory does not track live stock or harvest dates. Availability, collection, delivery, prices and seasonal varieties can change, so ask the producer to confirm what is currently available.
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