Squiress of Glens Wood Soraya Forster

The woodland around Ballycastle holds something rather special if you're willing to wander off the beaten path. Squiress of Glens Wood is a nature reserve that rewards the curious - it's a proper patch of ancient forest that feels genuinely wild despite being minutes from town.

You're walking through mixed woodland where the canopy closes in above you, sunlight filtering through leaves in that particular way that makes everything feel hushed and a bit magical. The paths wind between mature trees, and in spring the ground cover comes alive. It's the kind of place where you notice things - moss patterns, bird calls, the smell of damp earth after rain.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a tick-box attraction with benches and interpretation boards; it's a proper woodland ramble. Allow ninety minutes if you're taking your time and actually looking around. Families with kids who can manage uneven ground will find it engaging, though very young children might lose interest once the novelty of the trees wears off.

If you're staying at Watertop Farm - the excellent five-star spot just under four miles away - this makes a solid half-day outing on a decent weather day. The Causeway Coast's dramatic cliffs and giant's causeway pull most of the attention, which means Glens Wood stays refreshingly quiet. That solitude is worth something.