Continuing our Allianz Best Drives series – showcasing some of the most scenic and unforgettable drives across the country – this time, we’re turning down darker roads and heading north for a special Halloween edition.

From eerie forests and misty moorlands to abandoned villages and ancient legends, this drive through Antrim – with it’s wild coast and inlands – is not for the faint-hearted. Combining Ireland’s natural beauty with its deep-rooted myths, it’s the perfect spooky Halloween road trip for anyone ready to embrace the spirit of Samhain.

The Lost Hidden Village

Our journey begins high above the Hidden Village of Galboly, tucked beneath rugged cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Once home to a small rural community, the village has long since fallen silent – its stone cottages now empty and shrouded in mystery. While you can perch at the lookout point and take in the haunting beauty from afar, the brave can still hike carefully down to see what remains of this forgotten place, feeling the presence of the previous inhabitants.

From here, we follow the Causeway Coastal Route, one of the most breathtaking drives in Ireland. As the road winds along dramatic cliffs and past crashing waves, every turn feels steeped in magic and mist.

Still Waters

Our next stop brings us inland to Altnahinch Reservoir, where moody skies hang low over dark, still waters. Fallen trees line the edges of the moor, and the quiet here would give you goosebumps. It’s the kind of place that feels both peaceful and unsettling – perfect for a Halloween adventure.

Enjoy the peace as endless horizons of exposed peatland and silent forest wrap around the road. It’s easy to see why this landscape has inspired so many ghost stories.

Into the Woods

A short detour leads to Breen Oak Wood, an area of outstanding natural beauty — and, some say, supernatural presence. Drive through the woods as sunlight struggles to break through the dense canopy of ancient trees. As you wander beneath the creaking branches, you can almost feel the past pressing close. It’s often quiet. Too quiet. Don’t linger too long!

The Dark Hedges 

No spooky drive would be complete without a stop at the Dark Hedges — one of Ireland’s most famous and photographed roads. Lined with old beech trees that uniquely arch creepily overhead and twisting into a tunnel of shadows, you’ll recognise this view from Game of Thrones. By day, it’s enchanting. By dusk, it’s haunting.

Local adventure content creator Chris Connolly tells us the legend of the Grey Lady, a ghostly figure said to drift silently along the avenue before vanishing among the trees. Whether you believe the stories or not, there’s no denying the otherworldly beauty of this place — especially in the fading autumn light.

Chris Connolly - Irish Travel Blogger

Here Be Giants

Our final destination is the legendary Giant’s Causeway, where myth and geology collide. Formed by ancient volcanic activity (or, as legend goes, by the mighty giant Finn McCool himself), the causeway’s hexagonal stones rise from the surf like something out of another world.

Take a walk along the coastal trail, listen to the waves crash against the basalt columns, and let your imagination wander. It’s easy to see why this mystical site has become one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks. 

From the ghostly ruins of Galboly to the windswept beauty of the Causeway Coast, this drive is the perfect Halloween scare fest. Whether you’re chasing legends, taking in the views, or just testing your courage, Ireland’s haunted roads are waiting.

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