Squiress of Glens Wood Chantale Forster

The woodland trails here wind through some proper dense ancient forest, the kind where you forget what decade it is. Squiress of Glens Wood is a nature reserve that rewards wanderers willing to get their boots muddy - it's not a manicured visitor attraction with cafes and gift shops, just genuine woodland with character. The paths take you through dense deciduous trees, past streams, and over uneven ground that keeps you on your toes. You'll spot evidence of old forestry work, occasional clearings where light floods through, and if you're quiet enough, wildlife moves between the trees.

It's strongest for serious walkers and anyone after a bit of solitude away from the coastal crowds around nearby Ballycastle. Families with younger children might find it a slog - the trails aren't marked for easy navigation and there's not much in the way of stopping points or obvious "sights." For naturalists and photography types, though, this is the real deal. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to explore properly rather than just dash through.

The reserve sits in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, which means you can combine it with a larger park holiday - Watertop Farm is under four miles away and gives you a solid base. Go when the ground isn't waterlogged; autumn and spring probably work best for both the light filtering through the canopy and avoiding the worst of the mud.