walks antrim

The scenic beauty and the variety of the landscape make Northern Ireland a great place to explore on foot. The wide scatter of villages and small towns across the country means that forest trails, clifftop paths, mountain hikes and pleasant strolls in country parks are literally on everybody's doorstep. The best known trail - certainly the longest at 560 miles ! - is the Ulster Way . This famous circular path, now largely waymarked, runs all round Northern Ireland and has other trails com...

A 5 mile circular walk starting from the centre goes down to the Grand Causeway and along a narrow path past majestic amphitheatres and rock formations, with names like the Organ and the Harp, past Port na Spaniagh and Lacada Point where golf treasure from the wrecked Spanish Armada galleass, Girona was recovered by divers in 1968, and up a wooden staircase to Benbane Head, returning along the cliff top. A 2 mile circular walk is via the Sheperd's Path. A minibus shuttles between the visitor cen...

This castle is to be found at the north end of Pollan Strand. It is now in ruins. It is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster and dates from the sixth century. The Mac Faul’s were the early chieftains but the castle ended up in the hands of the O’ Doherty’s. This has to be an interesting circular tower attached to the square tower on which the remains of a number of gun loops can be seen....

Cascading down from the Antrim Plateau to the sea, the Glenariff River has cut a narrow gorge through the hard basalt rock. Spectacular waterfalls within the gorge throw up fine spray which catches shafts of sunlight in a rainbow of colours. About 100 years ago, trees were planted to enhance the native woodland of oak, hazel, ash and willow, and to make the area more attractive to visitors. Catwalks, paths and footbridges were built throughout the gorge to make the waterfalls easier to reach....

Historically Ballyboley has been used by man since early times and there is still the remains of a 'Boley House' in the south-west corner of the forest which was used when the cattle were brought up the hill for summer grazing. Today it is a good example of multiple land-use with its large catchment area supplying water to the surrounding communities and the forest with its 673 hectares growing raw material for the saw mills. The forest was first planted in 1957....