Shepherd's Steps

A flight of stone steps carved into the hillside near Bushmills, Shepherd's Steps is one of those places locals know about and tourists somehow miss. The steps lead up to decent views across the Causeway Coast - nothing that'll make you gasp, but on a clear day you can see why someone bothered cutting them into the rock in the first place.

They're old, proper old, and the story goes they were used by shepherds moving stock across the hills. Whether that's entirely accurate, who knows, but it gives the place a bit of character. The actual climb takes maybe ten minutes depending on your fitness and how much you stop to catch your breath. The steps themselves are uneven in places - worn smooth by centuries of feet - so decent shoes matter.

This is a walker's spot rather than a family attraction, though kids won't struggle with the gradient. It's free, naturally, and there's parking nearby though it's limited. Worth combining with a visit to Giant's Causeway if you're in the area - you could knock this out in the morning, head to the coast in the afternoon.

Stay at Causeway Country Pods a few miles away and you've got a decent base for exploring the whole region. Best time is early morning when the light's good and you won't be crowded out. Late afternoon works too if you don't mind the wind picking up.