Slideshow: Walk the North Antrim Coastline

It’s all very well to just pull into a car park and take a few steps onto a sandy beach with gently lapping waves and ice-cream shops just around the corner.

But for those with a little more adventure in their bllod - and a desire to truly justfy all those calories in the fish supper you can guiltlessly devour afterwards - then you’ve got to find your inner wild thing.

And, to be honest, we’ve got some really wonderful wilderness country just a half hour’s drive from home.

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Let’s start at Fair Head, the stunning promontory which dominates the shoreline and you loo eastwards from Ballycastle.

Believe me, it may look beautiful from a distance but you’ve got to pull on your hilking boots and take a treak across some rough terrain to really appreciate the awesome views out over the Sea of Moyle, Scotland and, of course, Rathlin Island.

Follow the signs for Fair Head from Ballycastle, turn off at Ballyvoy and, taking care, follow the narrow road through the wild landscape until you come to a clachan of white cottages where you can park and embark on your journey.

Walk across the scrubland, bog and gorse until you reach the edge of the spectacular cliffs, always bearing in mind that safety comes first despite the temptation to get close to the edge.

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A good round trip to the cliffs allowing time for pictures and a picnic should take about three hours.

Another superb walk into wild territory begins at the little car park at Dunseverick Castle and winds it way along the magical cliffs and coves of the causeway coast.

From Dunseverick, you can walk all the way to the Causeway Centre, seeing parts of the landscape which few of the tourist who merely pose on the stones will ever experience.

The distance to the Causeway is given as 4.8 miles but this is a testing piece of terrain with a number of steep climbs and descents, thankfully aided by steps and handrails in the toughest places.

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If you do intend to try out any of these walks, please ensure you have a rucksack with a bottle of water, suitable clothing and something to eat. Always let people know where you are going and when you expect to return. Aside from that, a little common sense, a good sun cream and a bright day is all you need!

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