Craigy Hill

The walk up Craigy Hill from Ballymena takes you through proper moorland terrain - nothing fancy, but genuinely rewarding once you're standing at the top. The views across Mid and East Antrim are the real draw here: on a clear day you can see for miles across the rolling countryside, and the sense of isolation is surprisingly complete given you're only a stone's throw from a decent-sized town.

It's a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical climb, so families with older kids will manage it without drama. Younger ones might find the trudge tedious if you're not used to getting them outdoors, but the summit is worth the effort and the descent is quicker. Allow a couple of hours return journey if you're not rushing.

The moorland feels wild in a way that catches you off guard - heather, rough grass, not much shelter if the weather turns. Spring and summer are when most people tackle it, though autumn light here is genuinely special if you catch a clear afternoon. Winter's a different beast altogether.

If you're staying at Ocean View Pods nearby, this fits nicely as a morning or early afternoon excursion. The location means you're close enough to Ballymena for supplies and a decent coffee afterwards, but far enough away to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. It's the sort of walk that doesn't take all day but genuinely clears your head.