Coolaveely Wood

The woodland floor is proper carpeted with moss and ferns when you push through into Coolaveely Wood near Ballycastle. It's a quiet sort of place - the kind where you can actually hear yourself think, which feels increasingly rare these days. The trees are mixed broadleaf, nothing too dramatic, but there's real character to the walks once you get in among them. You're looking at a good hour's amble if you take it steady, longer if you're the type to stop and photograph every toadstool.

This works well for families with kids old enough not to need constant entertainment - so five upwards, really. The paths are manageable without being flat, and there's enough variety to keep young walkers engaged. History types won't find much here, so don't come expecting ruins or ancient sites. It's purely about the woodland itself: the light filtering through, the burn running through the lower sections, the way it all feels separate from the coast road you've just left.

Access appears to be open dawn to dusk, and you won't pay for it. Given you're out in this corner of the Causeway Coast, pair it with a stay at either Watertop Farm or the rather lovely North Coast 9 Glamping - both within quick reach. Then you can tackle Coolaveely as a morning walk before heading down to Ballycastle itself or pushing further along the coast. It's not a destination in itself, but it fills a gap between bigger attractions nicely.