Overview
The scenic drive that once let you take Ballypatrick Forest by car is closed – tree harvesting has put an end to it, so this is now a walking and cycling forest rather than a touring one. That matters for planning, because much of the old route description assumes a car. What remains is good: an extensive upland forest on the Causeway Coast just south of Ballycastle, bisected by the A2, with a waymarked Wildlife Trail from the main Horseshoe car park, the stone-arched Irish Ford, and elevated ground that opens out towards Rathlin Island. Entry and parking are free.
History and heritage
The land’s connection to timber goes back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when the Stuart family cut native oak and larch for Royal Navy shipbuilding. Later the ground was used for hunting, lead mining and, during the Second World War, military training. The oldest surviving planted block dates to 1948 and stands at the entrance, its filtered light falling on the upland sheep pastures around the headwaters of the Carey River.
The standout feature is the Double-Horned Cairn, a Neolithic burial mound built somewhere between 4000 and 2000 BC – between four and six thousand years ago. Instead of the usual single chamber it holds two, making it one of the few double-chambered megalithic tombs in Northern Ireland.
The other thing to seek out is the Irish Ford, a stone-arched crossing where the forest road and the Corratavey Burn run together. Through the archway is a picnic area with bench seating, and it is the most reliable photo stop in the forest.
Wildlife and nature
Ballypatrick is a working forest, so its cover shifts between commercial conifers – Norway spruce, Scots pine – and native broadleaf stands of oak, birch, rowan and holly. Higher up there is open grassland and a stand of eucalyptus, planted decades ago and now naturalised.
The habitat carries a steady run of mammals. Red squirrels have been re-established in recent years, and pine martens and red deer range across the wider estate. Otters work the watercourses at dawn and dusk. Birdwatchers can expect jays, finches and seasonal waterfowl; spring brings bluebells and wild garlic, and autumn fills the floor with chanterelles and boletes. Keep dogs on leads near grazing sheep and give the wildlife distance.
What to see and do
- Waymarked Wildlife Trail – A gentle loop from the Horseshoe car park, passing deer lawns and fenced ponds, with repeated chances to spot deer and waterbirds.
- Loughareema (the Vanishing Lake) – A moorland basin a short way off on the A2 that fills after heavy rain and drains away in dry spells. Its level is a decent read on how wet the week has been.
- Upland views – From the higher ground, on a clear day, you can trace the coastline to Fair Head, pick out Rathlin Island and look south to Knocklayd.
- Long-distance walking – The Moyle Way and the Ulster Way both pass the western edge of the forest; trailheads are marked near the main car park.
- Cycling – A network of gravel forest roads links the trail junctions. Surfaces run from tarmac to loose stone, so road bikes need care.
- Picnic area – Tables and bench seating sit by the Irish Ford and along the burn. No booking needed.
Practical information
- Opening hours – Open daily year-round. Sections close without notice for harvesting or forestry machinery, so check the on-site signs before heading off the main paths.
- Admission and parking – Free entry and free parking at the Horseshoe car park.
- Facilities – Public toilets and a visitor information board at the main car park. The “Touring in the Trees” caravan site sits next to the entrance for overnight stays.
- Accessibility – The main Wildlife Trail suits families and moderate fitness; steeper, root-strewn upper routes are not for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
- Dog policy – Dogs welcome under close control; leads near sheep and the burn.
- Safety – Timber lorries use the internal roads. Stay on the marked paths, wear high-visibility clothing in poor light, and give machinery a wide berth.
- Contact – Forest Service Northern Ireland, Ballypatrick Forest, Ballycastle, County Antrim BT54 6RN; +44 (0)28 7034 0848.
Tips for visitors
- Pack a waterproof and sturdy shoes. The ground near the watercourses stays damp year-round and the higher trails turn muddy after rain.
- Mobile signal drops in the denser conifer blocks, so photograph the trail map at the information board before you set off.
- Early morning or late afternoon gives the best wildlife sightings; deer and pine martens are most active in those quieter hours.
- Bring binoculars for the red squirrels – they keep to the upper canopy of the mature stands.
If you do one thing here, walk in to the Irish Ford and stand under the arch; it is a short, easy stretch and the best of the forest in one spot. From there it is a longer half-day on foot to the ruins at Kinbane Castle if the legs want more, out along the wider Antrim Coast and Glens.