Kiddieland Amusements

The rides at Kiddieland are small-scale and a bit worn, truth be told, but that's rather the point. This is proper old-school fun - the sort of place where a five-year-old can have the run of things without you needing a second mortgage. Located near Bushmills on the Causeway Coast, it's the kind of attraction that fills a rainy afternoon when the Giant's Causeway gets too crowded or the weather turns.

You're looking at bumper cars, a modest log flume, spinning cups, and a handful of gentler rides - nothing that'll thrill teenagers, but perfectly adequate for younger kids who still think a dodgem is the height of excitement. The whole site can be done in two hours, three if you're being leisurely about it. Admission won't break the bank, and it's the sort of place where the novelty of eating candyfloss in public tends to be half the appeal anyway.

If you're staying at Causeway Country Pods nearby, this works as a backup plan rather than a main event. The real draws around here - the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the coastal walks - are far more worthwhile. But if you've got restless younger children and the weather's against you, Kiddieland does its job without fuss or pretension. Don't expect anything flashy. Just bring a bit of patience and loose change for the arcade games.