Kirk Hill

Kirk Hill rises above Ballymoney with the kind of views that make the short climb worthwhile, even on a grey day. You're looking out across the Causeway Coast and Glens landscape - rolling farmland, distant hills, and on clear days, proper countryside stretching to the horizon. It's not a dramatic peak, but it doesn't need to be.

The walk takes maybe 30 minutes up from Ballymoney town itself, making it ideal for families who want something less demanding than a full fell day out. There's a decent path, though it gets a bit muddy after rain. Once up top, you get a real sense of the geography - you can see how the glens carve through the terrain and why this area has drawn people for centuries.

It's best visited on a morning when the light's decent and you've got a fighting chance of visibility. Afternoons can bring mist rolling in off the coast. Allow a couple of hours if you're not rushed, and bring proper footwear.

If you're staying at Thornfield Farm's glamping pods near Dark Hedges, Kirk Hill works as an easy add-on to your park holiday - you're only 3 miles away. It's the sort of walk that locals do regularly, nothing touristy about it, which is rather the point. Worth the detour if you're in the area exploring the wider Causeway Coast and Glens, though don't expect crowds or facilities.