Northern Ireland is a pretty beautiful place, but so many people fly right into Ireland and forget about visiting the North – which is a bit of a shame. Northern Ireland is safe and rich with history, and the friendliness of the locals truly cannot be compared to anywhere else in the world. The landscape is visually stunning (especially along the coastline) and there is a ruggedness to the entire land which just begs to be explored. There are so many hidden gems in this part of the world and Lynsey Patterson has jotted down just a few for you to add to your next Irish adventure.  THE DARK HEDGES If you’re looking for Instagram-perfect pictures then you have to check out this avenue of spiral trees known as The Dark Hedges. It is probably one of the most photographed locations in Northern Ireland ever since Game of Thrones made it famous (it’s where Arya Stark walks down when she first escapes from King’s Landing if you need a reminder). In the early 18th century, the Stuart family planted all the beech trees along the road to create an impressive entrance to their mansion, and have grown in an unusual twisted manner – which only adds to the mysterious aura of the area. If you have an interest in the supernatural, you can see if you can spot the lady in grey who has allegedly been seen darting from tree to tree. There are many beliefs on who this lady might be, with one story being that she’s a maid from a nearby house who died in very suspicious circumstances – spooky!CUSHENDALL is a picturesque seaside town on the Causeway Coast of County Antrim. Only 10 minutes away is Glenariff Forest Park, Cushendun and Torr Head which is only a 30-minute drive away. This little town is a great place to stop and explore and has some absolutely beautiful Georgian buildings to take a gander at. There is also a pretty lovely beach in Cushendall with some amazing views, and if you happen to visit on a clear day then you might be able to see Scotland from the shore. A sight worth seeing is Curfew Tower in the centre of town which was previously used as a prison, but nowadays it is used as a place for artists to write, create and collaborate. For a drink or some food head to Joe Mc Collom’s Pub which has been around since the mid-19th century for a truly authentic Irish experience. Patrons often go in for an hour and then end up leaving hours later because the craic was so good!Image Credit: Discover North Ireland

GLENARIFF FOREST PARK Another place you need to put onto your itinerary. This beautiful forest is 15 minutes away from Cushendall and covers 1000 hectares of lush woodland – if you like hiking in the fresh air, then this is the perfect place to do it. There are also a series of waterfalls dotted throughout the entire park, which would provide a breathtaking background for your Insta pics (and make all of your friends super-jealous back home). The walks themselves can be steep and involve walking up and down many steps, so make sure to take your time to really enjoy the environment. When you have finished walking for the day, you can relax at Laragh Lodge for some yummy refreshments. It was originally built in 1890 as a tea house and is located right beside the Ess na Laragh waterfall – which the restaurant is named after.Image Credit: The Jungle North Ireland

JUNGLE NORTHERN IRELAND If walking alongside some very cute llamas sounds like a lot of fun to you, then make sure to head to Jungle Northern Ireland in Magherafelt. Llamas are pretty good-natured animals and extremely placid creatures (as long as you stay out of their spitting range) and they love sharing their company with humans. This is only one unique activity from a great selection provided by Jungle Northern Ireland; archery, clay pigeon shooting, laser tag and paintball are just some of the excellent activities on offer. If you are feeling like having a quirky experience, Jungle Northern Ireland is something you shouldn’t miss out on.Image Credit: The Gobbins Cliff Path

THE GOBBINS For a truly incredible experience, you have to visit The Gobbins. It is a spectacular walk over tubular and suspension bridges located in Island Magee, with staircases tunnels and caves carved throughout the walk. The Gobbins hang directly over the Irish Sea from basalt cliffs. The Gobbins cliff path was originally designed by the remarkable engineer Berkely Deane Wise in 1902 but closed in 1954 due to lack of materials. Full of exciting walkways, the Gobbins will not fail to impress and you can be sure that you will walk away with enviable post-worthy pictures.