Ballymena

The Bann Valley rolls out in gentle green folds here, with Ballymena sitting like a well-worn market town that's seen generations come and go. This is proper Northern Ireland countryside - not showy, just honest farmland punctuated by church spires and the odd plantation wood.

Tully peak rises to the east, offering cracking views across the valley for those willing to make the climb. The town itself has that lived-in feel of a place where people actually work and shop rather than just visit. Churches dot the landscape - Trinity Presbyterian and St Mary's RC among the most prominent - testament to the area's deep community roots.

Ahoghill sits nearby, a smaller settlement that's home to the charming Community Garden and the rather intriguingly named Piper Sam and Irish Dancer Roisin gallery. The Icehouse Plantation provides decent walking through mixed woodland, particularly lovely in autumn when the leaves turn.

Getting here couldn't be simpler - Ballymena sits on the main Belfast to Coleraine railway line, making it an easy hour from either city. The M2 motorway also cuts through nearby, so driving is straightforward enough.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the area makes perfect sense if you're exploring this slice of Mid and East Antrim. The Six Mile Water runs through the valley, and several parks like Castlewood Cove take advantage of the peaceful waterside setting. It's a proper base for discovering the Causeway Coast - just 45 minutes to the Giant's Causeway - without the tourist crowds of the coast itself.