Ballypatrick Forest Park
Situated five miles from Ballycastle, on the main Ballycastle to Cushendall Road. BallyPatrick is a pleasant forest park, which consists of a main car-park,where you’ll find some picnic tables, and a special "forest drive". At the end of it, you are turfed back onto the main Ballycastle road, although confusingly, on the opposite side to which you entered.Remember that the speed limit around the six mile forest road is 20mph. The circuit, sorry, I mean drive, is One Way and full of interesting corners, humps and bumps and gravel. You won't be tempted to go fast now, will you? You mightn’t be, especially as there is no tarmac on the last section.
You'll be pleased to note that the £1.50 (correct at time of writing¡) ticket last's all day, so you can race around (Of course, that's "drive slowly around, absorbing the wonders of Nature") as many times as you like.
Bad points: if you do find yourself behind a Mini Metro full of over 90s, then there are few places to overtake. There is also a ford to cross, full of very slippy stones. Some of those corners are simply too tight, then when you get round it you find your way blocked with a tree / party of school children / wild feral sheep.
Good points: bring a picnic. There are plenty of tables to stop at and heat up some soup or fry some sausages. Most of the stops aren't too slippy (there is a lot of gravel around generally) and although there are no amenities as such, there are plenty of trees. The other park visitors seem to enjoy staring at bikes, so bring your most offensive T-Shirts.
