Three Days On The Causeway Coastal Route: A Fleadh Cheoil 2026 Itinerary

This August, Belfast will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - the world's largest celebration of traditional Irish music and culture. For one incredible week, the Fleadh will transform the city into a vibrant and immersive carnival of sound, colour, culture and craic. But either side of the Fleadh itself, Belfast serves as the perfect gateway to explore all that Northern Ireland has to offer.

The Causeway Coastal Route needs little introduction. One of the greatest stretches of coastline in Europe, it spans Northern Ireland's northernmost shoreline from Belfast all the way to Derry~Londonderry and boasts a spectacular mix of astonishing scenery, rugged geology and gloriously pristine beaches.

From the world-famous basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway to clifftop castle ruins, epic landscapes and iconic locations from the silver screen, rare wildlife you won't find anywhere else and the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery, the Causeway Coast is extraordinary and unmissable. And all along the way you'll find great places to eat & drink, admire the views and enjoy a famously warm welcome.

This famous route can be done in a day, but to get the most out of it you really should take at least two or three. This itinerary starts in Belfast and covers the very best of what the North Coast has to offer. Whether you're planning a visit around Fleadh Cheoil - or using the festival as the excuse for a longer trip - the Causeway Coastal route is well worth your time.

Day 1: Belfast to Portrush

Morning: Travel To The North Coast

The resort town of Portrush makes an ideal base for the itinerary, with easy access, great restaurants and bars, excellent beaches and plenty to do. There's a wealth of accommodation options in Portrush itself - as well as in neighbouring towns like Portstewart, Coleraine, Castlerock, Portballintrae or Bushmills - from hotels to self-catering, B&Bs, guest houses, hostels and much more. Demand is always high during the summer season and so booking your accommodation early is essential.

The most straightforward way to get to the Causeway Coast from Belfast is via train or bus departing from Grand Central Station. Trains run directly to Portrush from Grand Central via the Translink Derry~Londonderry service, with the journey taking approximately 1 hr 45 mins and Portrush train station located right in the heart of the town, just minutes from the beaches.

Translink also operates the Goldline 218 bus, which runs from Grand Central to Coleraine bus centre. You can then change at Coleraine for the 140a bus direct to Portrush, or take a connecting bus to any of the other towns in the area.

If you're travelling by car, the most direct route is via the M2 motorway which runs from Belfast to Ballymena. From here, join the A26 road which will take you directly to Portrush, Portstewart or the surrounding areas via Coleraine. Total journey time is approximately 1 hr 30 mins depending on traffic.

Several operators also offer bus and coach tours that depart from Belfast. It's worth checking the details before you book: most operate full-day tours that last approximately nine hours and drop you back in Belfast the same day, but others offer multi-day packages or hop-on, hop-off services so you're free to explore on your own time.

Afternoon: Explore Portrush

Once you've arrived, dropped your bags and got your bearings, it's time to explore Portrush itself. Situated on a peninsula that juts out into the North Atlantic ocean, Portrush is compact, easily walkable and features two excellent beaches either side of the town. East Strand is considered the main beach, a long stretch of white sand that spans all the way down to the stunning limestone cliffs of White Rocks and is well worth a walk, while West Strand is more central and closer to the town's restaurants, bars and attractions.

The town has a wealth of activities and attractions for all visitors: it's a world-class destination for golf and water sports, but Portrush has plenty to do whether you're travelling solo, as part of a group or with the whole family in tow.

• For The Family: No day out with the kids at Portrush is complete without a trip to the iconic Curry's Fun Park (formerly Barry's Amusements). Northern Ireland's largest indoor fun park, it features rides and attractions to please all ages, from teacup rides for younger children to the thrills of rollercoasters, dodgems and the ghost train. Kids will also love the Portrush Coastal Zone, a free-to-enter discovery centre with displays, activities and interactive exhibitions that give visitors a chance to experience and learn about Northern Ireland's marine wildlife and coastal heritage.
   
• For Golfers: For golf fanatics, Royal Portrush Golf Club needs little introduction. Widely considered as one of the best - and most demanding - links courses in the world, it's a bucket list destination for many golfers. There are also plenty of other fantastic golf courses nearby: the historic Rathmore Golf Club sits right alongside Royal Portrush, while Ballyreagh Golf Course sits between Portrush and Portstewart and is open to the public, making it an ideal option for novices and more casual players.
   
• For Adrenaline Junkies: Portrush is Northern Ireland's premier surfing destination, with summer considered the best season for beginners and novices. If the waves are on, take a surf lesson from Portrush Surf School's expert instructors or, if conditions are calmer, why not rent a stand-up paddleboard from Sub6 SUP School. For those who want to experience the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the North Coast directly from the water rather than on top of it, Freedive Northern Ireland offers beginner-friendly freediving and snorkelling tours hosted by professional dive guides.
   
• For Nature Lovers: There are a number of boat tours available in Portrush, with different tours and experiences that cater to anglers, photographers and wildlife lovers. Enjoy stunning views of Portrush, the Skerries islands and the Inishowen Peninsula, while on a clear day you can even see as far as Scotland in the distance. Snap a picture of the wild dolphin pods that regularly visit the waters surrounding Portrush during the summer months, and admire wildlife and fauna from seabirds to seals and more.

For a slower pace, simply grab a coffee and a pastry from one of Portrush's multiple excellent cafes and take a walk. There are plenty of spots to grab a quick bite to eat, from chip shops to sit-down restaurants, and a range of vibrant pubs and bars from which to enjoy a cold pint and watch the world go by.

Evening: Dinner, Drinks & Live Music

The town is lively during the summer and an ideal place to spend a first evening on the coast, with a food scene that makes great use of the local seafood catch and produce coming from the surrounding areas. Shanty, at the tip of Ramore Head, is a popular restaurant situated inside a historic ex-lifeboat shelter, while the Ramore Complex's range of eateries including the Ramore Wine Bar, Neptune & Prawn and the Harbour Bistro offers something for all tastes and preferences.

After dinner, there are several bars that offer live music: the Springhill Bar on Causeway St. often runs traditional Irish music sessions, as does the Harbour Bar. For something a little different, Kiwi's Brew Bar on Main St. offers craft beers and hosts live bands and comedy gigs, while bars in the town centre like the Elephant Rock Hotel, the Station Bar and The Quays offer a mix of local acts, karaoke nights and DJs.

Day 2: Giant's Causeway & Bushmills Distillery

Morning: The Giant's Causeway

One of Northern Ireland's most famous landmarks, the Giant's Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited attractions on the island of Ireland. It's busy year-round but August is peak season, and so early morning is recommended as the best time to appreciate it properly with the basalt columns in low morning light and the coastal path largely to yourself.

The Causeway is a 20-minute drive from Portrush, but the best way to get there is by taking the Ulsterbus 402 Causeway Rambler service. This seasonal bus starts at Coleraine Bus Station and stops at all the major attractions on the Causeway Coastal Route before terminating in Ballycastle. After breakfast, simply hop on in Portrush or the nearest stop to where you're staying, and disembark at the Giant's Causeway.

Entry to the Causeway itself is free, but tickets are required to access the National Trust visitor centre - worth seeing for the excellent geological and mythological context on the columns' formation - and pre-booking is highly recommended during the busy summer period.

You can also purchase a ‘Green Ticket’ from the Bushmills Visitor Information Centre, allowing you to park, and travel to and from the Giant’s Causeway via a local bus service operated by Translink. The Green Ticket includes your bus fare and admission into the Visitor Experience. 

The route encompasses the lower path, which includes the famous Causeway columns, and will take around 45 minutes at a relaxed pace. You can choose to either walk back the way you came or opt for the clifftop route, which will add an additional hour or so to your journey, but is worth doing for the spectacular views of the coastline. Alongside the stunning geological formations, nature lovers and birdwatchers will spy seabirds such as cormorants, guillemots and petrels, while the area is also home to numerous rare plant types.

Afternoon: Old Bushmills Distillery

After you're finished at the Causeway, it's just a few minutes' return journey to the village of Bushmills. If you're taking the bus or the Causeway Rambler, the most convenient will be The Diamond in Bushmills town centre.

Licensed in 1608, the Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest working whiskey distillery in the world. The tour will take you through the full whiskey-making process - from malting to mashing, fermentation, distillation and maturation - in the actual working buildings rather than a museum reconstruction. It ends with a complimentary drink, as all good distillery tours should, and the whiskies produced here are among some of the finest in the world

Hosted by expert guides, there are three levels of tour available that range from one hour to two and a half hours in length. The core distillery tour is the same for all, with the difference between the longer tours being the level of tasting experience at the end. Tickets can be booked online, and it's highly recommended to book your tour slot in advance.

If you've worked up an appetite after your wee dram, Bushmills has a wide range of restaurants, bars, cafés and pubs. Maegden is a popular spot just around the corner from the Distillery, serving coffee and grilled cheese sandwiches made with small-batch local ingredients, and also stocks a range of locally-made breads, cheeses, charcuterie and honey.

Evening: Dine & Unwind In Portstewart

After a long day's sightseeing, Portstewart offers the perfect place to unwind and dine in the evening. Just a few minutes' drive or bus journey away, this popular tourist town offers a slightly quieter alternative to the bustle of Portrush and is packed with fantastic bars and eateries.

Amici Ristorante is a popular restaurant that offers Italian cuisine made using the highest-quality North Coast ingredients, while Harry's Shack on the shore of Portstewart Strand is highly regarded as the go-to spot for local seafood. Both offer stunning sea views and a place to watch the sun set over the North Atlantic, and both are in very high demand during peak season - early booking is essential.

For afters, kick back with a cocktail from Villa bar on the Promenade or enjoy a top pint of Guinness and live music at the Anchor Bar across the street before calling it a night ahead of the third and final day.

Day 3: Ballintoy, Carrick-a-Rede & Ballycastle

Morning: Ballintoy & Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

If you have the time on your final morning, there are several stops between Portrush and Carrick-a-Rede that are worth a look. The dramatic ruins of Dunluce Castle, perched high on a steep-sided basalt outcropping and the nearby Magheracross View Point - which offers stunning panoramic views of the entire North Coast - are both worth stopping for, but the famous rope bridge is the next major attraction on your itinerary.

A National Trust site and one of Northern Ireland's best-loved attractions, the bridge itself is constructed of rope and wooden planks suspended almost 100ft above sea level. First erected by salmon fishermen over 250 years ago, the bridge is narrow and bounces slightly underfoot, offering a thrilling experience as you cross the dizzying 20-metre gap between the mainland and Carrick-a-Rede island.

Once your heart rate has settled, you'll enjoy excellent views of the sea, offshore basalt stacks and summer wildflowers. The site and its surrounding area is designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest for its unique geology, flora and fauna, while underneath there are large caves and a traditional cottage which once served as a home for boat builders and as shelter for the fishermen during stormy weather.

Tickets are required to access the rope bridge, and early booking is essential during the summer months.

Ballintoy village is mere minutes away from the rope bridge. The harbour is now iconic as one of the key filming locations for HBO's Game of Thrones, and also offers a brief hike to the nearby Elephant Rock basalt formation, plus activities like paddleboarding and sea kayaking.

Afternoon: White Park Bay

From Ballintoy, continue east along the coast. This stretch of A2 coastal road is consistently named as one of the greatest driving roads in the world, so if you're travelling by car be sure to allow plenty of time to soak in the scenery en route.

White Park Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on the North Coast and a true hidden gem, and so is well worth a stop. A wide curve of white sand backed by steep dunes with the cliffs of the Giant's Causeway visible to the west, it's an ideal stop to snap a picture and admire the views. The bay is also home to a herd of friendly cows that belong to a local farmer, and who can be seen relaxing on the sands throughout the year.

Bothy, located at the top of the hill before you walk down to White Park Bay, is a quirky café that makes for an ideal place to stop and refuel. Open from Tuesday - Saturday, you can grab a coffee and a pastry to take with you, or sit in to enjoy brunches, soups or sandwiches.

Evening: Trad Trail & Dinner In Ballycastle

Ballycastle is a relaxed harbour town towards the eastern end of the Causeway Coast, with a stunning seafront, a choice of unique independent shops and a number of cosy pubs and bars - many of which host regular traditional music sessions.

The town itself has a long-standing traditional Irish music scene that's entirely its own thing and separate from the Fleadh circuit, making it a must-visit for trad fans. Ask locally about what's on - sessions are largely informal but the quality is consistently good. For a more curated experience, the Ballycastle Traditional Music Trail tour is hosted by skilled local musicians and will take you off the beaten track to explore the history, stories and tunes that have been kept alive in Ballycastle and the Glens throughout generations.

Weekly public tours take place every Saturday afternoon, while private tours can be arranged upon request. The tour lasts for approximately 2 hrs 30 minutes and tickets are available online.

If you've worked up an appetite, most pubs in the town will do excellent pub grub, while Marconi's Bar & Bistro at the Marine Hotel is a popular spot with a wide range of options and specials, including à la carte menus, seafood evenings on the first Friday of each month and a five-course Sunday carvery.

Alternatively, no trip to the seaside is complete without fish and chips, and Morton's - located by the Rathlin Island ferry terminal - is among the top recommendations from locals. In business for over 100 years, it was named as one of The Sunday Times' Best Fish & Chip shops and offers everything from the classic fish supper to fried crab fritters and more.

If you're staying for a final night before returning to the city, Ballycastle is the ideal spot to spend it. Otherwise, it's easy to get back to Belfast: buses regularly run from Ballycastle to Coleraine, Portrush or Ballymena where you can hop back on the Derry~Londonderry train line or the 218 Goldliner bus and head directly back to Grand Central Station. If travelling by car, the A44 road directly joins the A26 and M2 motorway, from which it's a straight road southbound directly to Belfast city.

Not In A Hurry? Try A Taste of the Glens

Alternatively, if you wish to extend your journey even further you can explore the Glens of Antrim - nine spectacular glacially-carved valleys that run from the Antrim hills to the Atlantic, each with its own unique character and history.

You don't need to go far to get a sense of them: Glenariff is the largest and most accessible of the glens, with a forest park and waterfall walk whose deep woodland offers a stunning contrast to the Causeway Coast's open clifftops. The Ulsterbus 162a bus route runs from Ballycastle to Waterfoot, a journey of roughly 1 hr 30 mins, though it should be noted that there's no direct stop at Glenariff Forest Park itself.

Instead, the best way to reach the Glens is by car, with the drive from Ballycastle passing by the scenic villages of Cushendun, Cushendall and Waterfoot and taking approximately 35 minutes. From here, you can follow the coast road round as far as Larne to complete the final stretch of Antrim shoreline before joining the A8 motorway back to Belfast.

For music fans, the Glens also have strong connections to traditional Irish music. Local pubs like Mary McBride's in Cushendun and Johnny Joe's in McCollam's Bar in Cushendall both regularly host music sessions and unaccompanied sean nós singing.

Getting To The Causeway Coast From Belfast

There are a number of routes to the Causeway Coast starting from Belfast, but the most direct way is to use the Portrush area as a base for this itinerary. Portrush town is around 60 miles from Belfast city, with several ways to get there and get around:

• By Train: The most straightforward option to reach the Causeway Coast from Belfast. The Belfast to Derry~Londonderry line stops directly at Portrush, Coleraine and Castlerock, making it an easy and scenic journey from Belfast Grand Central or Lanyon Place stations. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, with timetables available at translink.co.uk.
   
• By Bus: The Translink Goldline 218 service connects Belfast to Coleraine, with direct transfers that go to Portrush and other neighbouring towns. The seasonal Causeway Rambler service links Coleraine, Portrush, all the main visitor attractions including the Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, before ending in Ballycastle. A highly practical option for getting around the North Coast without a car. Check translink.co.uk for current routes and timetables.
   
• By Car: Travelling by car will give you the most flexibility, particularly for reaching the quieter stretches of the Causeway Coast. The M2 motorway links Belfast to Ballymena, with the adjoining A26 taking you directly to Coleraine, Portrush and beyond. Car hire is available at all airports and at several other locations.
   
• By Tour: Guided tours depart Belfast for the Causeway Coast, which cover the main attractions with commentary. A good way to see the sights if you'd prefer to cover the highlights efficiently, with day trip options available.

Explore More Of Northern Ireland From The Fleadh

Belfast is an excellent base for the Fleadh and for Northern Ireland as a whole. The region is small enough that almost everything worth seeing is within two hours of the city centre.

Co. Down is just south of Belfast and home to some of Northern Ireland's most captivating destinations, from the Mourne Mountains to the Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough. The walled city of Derry~Londonderry is a scenic train journey away to the north-west, while Co. Fermanagh's stunning lakelands and waterways offer a slower pace of life, roughly 90 minutes' drive to the south-west.

Co. Armagh and Co. Tyrone both offer history and heritage in abundance within an hour and half of Belfast. Armagh city is the island of Ireland's ecclesiastical capital, with two cathedrals and the legendary Iron Age site of Navan Fort nearby. In Tyrone, outdoor adventure awaits with exciting attractions like the OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory, while the excellent Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh tells the story of the people of Ulster's historic emigration to America.