Walking
People's Park Ballymena
3 miles from Ash Lodge
The Peoples park has a lot to offer its many visitors throughout the year. The park boosts a well equipped children's play area, tennis courts, picnic areas, toilets.
The parks offers secure surroundings for a family visit with the parks pavillon overlooking a large lake, home to a range of wild ducks and geese.
Glenariffe Forest Park
18 miles from Ash Lodge
Glenariff, the "Queen of the Glens", is home to the spectacular Glenariff Forest Park. The unique Waterfall Walkway, a popular tourist attraction since it opened 80 years ago, has been significantly upgraded along its 3 mile length Three waterfalls provide a rich backdrop for photographers, as do the other forest trails that offer panoramic landscapes and peaceful riverside walks. A visitor centre, exhibition, interactive display, shop, Laragh Lodge Restaurant (open all year round) complement this “gateway to the Glens”.
The Gobbins
32 miles from Ash Lodge
On the very edge of the Irish Sea lies The Gobbins cliff path, one of the best kept secrets along NI's Causeway Coastal Route on the Islandmagee peninsula.?This dramatic and challenging two-mile-long cliff-face path combines spectacular tubular and suspension bridges, caves, steps, and tunnels carved through the rock. Follow the curves of curious geology to immerse yourself in this exhilarating journey and discover the ancient stories and fascinating heritage of this unique attraction.
Attractions
Giants Causeway
30 miles from Ash Lodge
Not to be missed on any itinerary is this geological wonder which gives the route its name. The Giants Causeway sits at the centre of an Area of Outstanding Beauty and is Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site, famously steeped in myth and legend.
Begin your visit at the state-of-the-art Visitor Centre then stroll down to the intriguing polygonal stones to search out distinctive formations such as the Camel, Wishing Chair, Granny and Organ.
Causeway Coastal Route
10 miles from Ash Lodge
This Route was rated one of the Top Five Road Trips worldwide and when you drive it, you'll see why. Start your journey in Ballymena and follow the coast road through the nine Glens of Antrim, winding between picturesque villages and unforgettable scenic locations, including Rathlin, Northern Ireland's only inhabited off-shore island, and Binevenagh with its dramatic cliffs. The route peaks at the Giant's Causeway on the North Antrim coast, before continuing west toward the walled city of Derry~Londonderry.The ever-changing tapestry of scenery and colours, set against a dramatic coastal backdrop will take your breath away, making it the perfect place for a leisurely tour.
Bushmills Distillery
26 miles from Ash Lodge
Take a guided tour through the heart of Ireland's oldest working distillery, its original grant signed by King James I in 1608. The finest Irish whiskeys have been produced here for over 400 years, using the same traditional methods and the water from the distillery's own stream.
Take in the sights and smells, enjoy tutored tastings and relax with a whiskey (or soft drink) in the 1608 Bar at the end of your tour, before browsing the excellent gift shop.
Titanic Visitor Centre
30 miles from Ash Lodge
Titanic Belfast extends over nine interactive galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way.
Explore the shipyard, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic.
Ballintoy Harbour
30 miles from Ash Lodge
Ballintoy harbour is one of the joys of the north coast. Once it did a thriving trade with Scotland, which began in the 1500s, and within living memory the fishermen who berthed their boats here sold fish in the shelter of the old lime kilns. The harbour itself has a good car park and in summer, families wander on the rocks or sit on the small pebbly beach while others try their luck at shore fishing.
Ballintoy is one of the locations used to film the infamous Game of Thrones television series.
Golf
Royal
Portrush
29 miles from Ash Lodge
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club ranks amongst the world?s greatest courses. Voted Number 12 in the world by Golf Magazine, it is a masterpiece of golf course architecture. Unimaginable rough and testing greens, combined with the unpredictable weather of the roaring North Atlantic make this course an admirable test for even the most seasoned golf aficionado. The Royal Portrush is the only club in Ireland to have hosted The Open Championship.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club
3 miles from Ash Lodge
Galgorm CastleGolf Club is located adjacent to Tullyglass and is one of Ireland's finest Championship parklands and is the Home of the European Tour?s Northern Ireland Open. Awarded the IGTOA's Parkland Course of the Year 2014 award, Galgorm Castle is consistently ranked among the Top 3 Parklands in Northern Ireland. The Championship layout is nestled in the heart of 220 acre Galgorm Castle Estate, providing a mature setting that promotes an easy, relaxing rhythm that makes playing golf so pleasurable
Royal County Down
57 miles from Ash Lodge
The Championship Course at Royal County Down measures over 7,200 yards (6,580m) from the back tees, and the fourth and ninth holes are featured in the book The 500 World?s Greatest Golf Holes.
In 2005 the Championship Course was ranked as the fourth best course in the world outside the United States by Golf Digest, and in 2007 it was ranked first. In 2016 it was voted the best Golf Course in the world by US magazine Golf Digest.