Ballycastle Forest

Ballycastle Forest sits on the side of Knocklayde mountain, with two entrances — one at the end of Fairhill Street, just off the Diamond, and another on the high Glenshesk Road. Both have parking and picnic benches, but the Glenshesk Road entrance is the more scenic and tranquil of the two.

It’s not a particularly dramatic forest in itself, but the trail leads you halfway up Knocklayde, high enough to place you above most of the surrounding hills and glens — the views are the real reason to come.