Cranny Falls

The walk down to Cranny Falls is what makes it worth the trip - not the waterfall itself, to be honest. You're near Ballymena, and once you've parked up, there's a proper woodland path that drops steeply through beech trees before opening onto a small ravine where the water tumbles into a dark pool. It's intimate rather than dramatic, with moss-covered rocks and the kind of quiet you don't often find.

The falls work best after heavy rain - visit them on a dry spell and you'll see why locals call them underwhelming. But catch them in full flow and there's something almost secretive about the spot. The whole experience takes maybe 45 minutes if you're pottering about, taking photos, having a sit-down by the water.

It suits walkers who like a gentle woodland ramble more than those chasing Instagram moments. Families with young kids will find the path manageable on the way down, though the return uphill catches people out - it's steeper than it looks. The ravine can get slippery after rain, so decent boots matter.

If you're staying at Ocean View Pods just down the road, this makes a decent half-morning excursion to stretch your legs. Don't make it your main event though. Use it as part of a wider morning exploring the Mid and East Antrim area rather than a destination in itself.