Antrim Coast & Glens AONB

The cliffs here are something else - towering red sandstone faces that drop straight down to a churning sea, with the Scottish coast just visible on a clear day. This isn't a single attraction you tick off; it's an entire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that stretches across the Causeway Coast and Glens, inland from the dramatic shoreline most people come for.

You get proper walking country. The coastal path from Ballycastle down towards Cushendall takes you past waterfalls, through wooded glens, and along headlands where the wind nearly blows you sideways. The nine glens - Glenarm, Glenshesk, Glentaisie and the rest - cut inland with beech trees, streams, and quiet valleys that feel a world away from the tourist crowds at the Giant's Causeway. Most of it's free to explore, though some forest sections have small car park charges.

Historically minded visitors will find themselves wandering past old castles and ruined churches. Families work best with the coastal sections - Waterfoot beach is manageable with younger kids, while serious walkers should tackle the longer glen trails. Allow a full day if you're doing it properly, though even a morning's ramble beats most seaside breaks.

Stay at Watertop Farm or North Coast 9 Glamping - both highly rated and well-positioned for accessing the glens from Ballymena. The landscape here is genuinely special: less manicured than English AONBs, more raw. Worth the detour if you're in the area beyond just the Causeway.