Randalstown Forest

Walking through Randalstown Forest feels like stepping into proper woodland that's actually meant to be walked through rather than gawped at from a car park. You get genuine forest here - dense enough to feel away from things, with trails that wind through mixed woodland and alongside the Sixmilewater River. It's the sort of place where you notice the light filtering through trees rather than thinking about how many Instagram shots you've got.

The trails vary in difficulty, so it works for families with younger kids on the easier sections, but there are longer walks that will keep keen hikers occupied for a couple of hours. The river adds something different from your standard forest walk - there's water, wildlife to spot, and the whole thing feels properly maintained without being over-engineered with too much infrastructure.

It's best visited outside peak summer weekends when the car parks don't get rammed. Allow anywhere from an hour for a quick potter to half a day if you're making a proper outing of it. Free to access, which is always a bonus. Location-wise, you're close enough to Antrim town for supplies, but far enough away to feel genuinely separated from things. If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Blair's Castlewood or Six Mile Water both rate well - this makes an excellent morning or afternoon break without needing to travel far. It won't blow your mind if you're used to mountain walking, but as a solid local forest reserve with decent paths and riverside scenery, it's well worth the detour.