Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal Route is among the most stunning in Europe. Around every corner, up every wooded pathway and into every clearing you’ll come across spectacular sites and sounds that teem with nature. There is an abundance of wildlife on the Causeway Coastal Route, amongst the jagged hills, wave-crashed cliffs and endless sea. Visitors can enjoy the sandy beaches, the subtle beauty of nearby forests and the rhythmic pour of romantic waterfalls.

Into the woods at Glenariff

Indeed, three wonderful waterfalls await you at the astounding Glenariff Forest Park. There are several paths you can take in this stunning forest, including the five kilometre Waterfall Walkway which was first installed 80 years ago. The forest park is situated in one of the nine Glens of Antrim. This one, Queen of the Glens, is considered to be the most beautiful. And it’s easy to see why. Fans of Game of Thrones® will recognise it as the setting for dueling practice in the Vale of Arryn.

Bird-watching, seal-watching, dolphin-spotting on Rathlin

For bird enthusiasts a day trip over to the rugged beauty of Rathlin Island by ferry is certainly worth the fare. This is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited offshore island though it’s often so quiet you wouldn’t know. There are scenic walking trails that bring you to seal colonies and whilst there you can visit the popular RSPB Seabird Centre situated at the West Light which houses a bird colony. The island is hugely important for breeding puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and fulmars. It is also home to Northern Ireland's only pair of breeding chough. Watch out for seals, dolphins and porpoises on the way there and back.

Climb the cliffs or take the scenic path at Fair Head

Near the town of Ballycastle is Fair Head. Legend has it that locals named this proudly jutting headland after a fair-haired maiden who fell to her death in tales of yore. There are spectacular views over to Rathlin Island and on good days you can even see Paul McCartney’s favourite beauty spot in Scotland, the Mull of Kintyre. According to those in the know, this is one of the best cliffs faces to climb in the whole of Europe.

Step into garden heaven at Benvarden

The red-bricked Benvarden Garden near Ballymoney is a five-acre horticultural wonderland. In spring and summer, the colourful spectacle of rhododendrons, camelias, bluebells and many other wildflowers really is a sight to behold and quite the show for the senses. The gardens were laid out in the late 18th century and include the River Bush, famous as the Bushmill’s Whiskey river. You will notice a large bridge that spans across part of the river. This was built by Robert James Montgomery, a survivor of The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at The Battle of Balaclava. His cousin Hugh took part in the other well-known Charge of the Light Brigade but was not quite so lucky.

Walk through the woods to the fort

Mountsandel Wood on the banks of the River Bann is home to the remains of a 9,000-year-old monolithic fort. To the best of our knowledge, this is the site of the first human settlement in Ireland. The fort appears suddenly and dramatically through a clearing in these quiet sheltered woods. At first its heart-shaped layout is hard to comprehend. On closer inspection you will discover exactly how it might have worked. It is utterly intriguing and there is a certain spirituality about a walk through the woods to this sacred spot.

Sand as far as the eye can see at Portstewart

The famous Portstewart Strand is a four-kilometre stretch of golden sand. This Blue Flag beach is clean, safe and has the added advantage of being drive-in. That’s right, you can drive down to the beach, set out your picnic table and enjoy the views of the sea and Mussenden temple perched high above the water. For the hardiest of visitors, this is the start of the fifty kilometre ‘Causeway Coast Way’ which takes you past Whiterocks, Dunluce Castle, the Giant's Causeway, and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

All along the Roe river

Right on the doorstep of lovely Limavady is Roe Valley Country Park. This park runs five kilometres along the banks of the River Roe, and offers spectacular riverside views and woodland walks. Fans of fishing will probably already know it as a spot full of trout and salmon. There is also the chance to go canoeing, walk beautiful wildlife trails and go rock climbing.

The visitor centre and tea-room is named after the local inventor J.E. Ritter, who established Ireland's first hydro-electric power station on the very same site.

Brooding Binevenagh

In the early 18th century the flora around this mountain had become so famous that writers in London spoke of the “the breast of Binevenagh mountain” as “a kind of physic garden, which supplied them with medicines to be found in no other place.” This surely is a magical place; made stranger by the artificial lake that sits in a saucer at its summit. It is full of trout by the way. Locals say that on a clear day you can see for over 100 miles, to the mountains of Donegal and the islands of Scotland. It’s unsurprising then, that the lights, cameras and action of Game of Thrones® spent quite a bit of time filming here.

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Number of results: 165

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Fairhead

Ballycastle

Address

Fairhead car park, Fairhead Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim, BT54 6RD

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Enjoy breath-taking views from the cliff edge

More Info
Glenariff Forest Park, Rainbow Trail

Glenariff

Address

Glenariff Forest Park, 98 Glenariffe Road, Glenariff, County Antrim, BT44 0QX

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

This is an optional detour along the very popular Waterfall Walk through Glenariff Forest Park.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Fairhead Loch Dubh Walk

Ballycastle

Address

Fairhead Car Park, Fairhead Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim, BT54 6RD

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Enjoy breath-taking views from the cliff edge of Fairhead

More Info
Rathlin Kinramer Trail

Rathlin Island

Address

Rathlin Island, Rathlin Island, County Antrim, BT54 6RT

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A waymarked route around Kinramer South, taking in the south of the island with stunning views of dramatic sea cliffs and of Ballycastle beyond.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Antrim Hills Way Hike

Glenarm

Address

Glenarm Car Park, The Cloney, Glenarm, County Antrim, BT44 0AB

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Across scenic hill-tops

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Croaghan Breen Forest Walk

Armoy

Address

28 Altarichard Road, Armoy, County Antrim, BT53 8XT

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Upland walking route, through Breen Forest and taking in the summit of Croaghan itself.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
7 reviews
Larne Town Parks

Larne

Address

Glenarm Road, Larne, County Antrim, BT40 1DY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9335 8232

parks@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

Town Park and Chaine Park are delightful parks located on the Causeway Coastal route in Larne offering dramatic coastal views out to Scotland, pleasurable walks, unique heritage features and entertainment for all the family.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1 reviews
Layde Walk

Glenarm

Address

Glenarm Car Park, The Cloney, Glenarm, County Antrim, BT44 0AB

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A short walk through the streets of Glenarm village.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Somerset Forest

Coleraine

Address

Castleroe Road, Coleraine, County Londonderry, BT51 3RL

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Choice of walks within Somerset Forest on the edge of Coleraine

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Downhill Forest Pond Trail

Castlerock

Address

Mussenden Road, Castlerock, County Londonderry, BT51 4RR

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

Forest walks with gradients.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
141 reviews
Gobbins Sea Safari with Abhainn Cruises

Carrickfergus

Address

Quayside, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 8BJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7845 370231

abhainncruises@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Boat Tours

Create life-long memories and discover hidden gems along the coast, cruising from Carrickfergus Castle all the way to the Gobbins. A bespoke private charter tour immersing you into stunning coastal scenery, history and nature, for a truly authentic…

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Kebble and Kinramer Nature Reserves

Rathlin Island

Address

Rathlin Island, Rathlin Island, County Antrim, BT54 6RT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7035 9963

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

Rathlin is Northern Ireland’s only inhabited off-shore island and is thought to come from the Irish word ‘Reachlan’ meaning ‘rocky reef’.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
3 reviews
Straidkilly Nature Reserve

Carnlough

Address

Straidkilly Road, Carnlough, County Antrim, BT44 0LQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9045 4094

info@ulsterwildlife.org

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Nature and Wildlife

Small and secluded Ulster Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, located on an inland route between Glenarm and Carnlough, on the hill slope above the Coast Road with interesting flora and fauna alongside panoramic views across the Irish Sea to Scotland.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
166 reviews
RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre

Rathlin Island

Address

Rathlin Island, Rathlin Island, County Antrim, BT54 6RT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 2076 0062

rspb.nireland@rspb.org.uk

Type

Type:

Visitor Centres & Museums

Just six miles off County Antrim's north coast with must see views of Northern Ireland's largest seabird colony and a chance to explore Rathlin's unique 'upside down' lighthouse part of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland Trail.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
116 reviews
Castlerock Beach

Castlerock

Address

Sea Road, Castlerock Stand, Castlerock, County Londonderry, BT51 4RE

Telephone
+44 (0)28 7776 0650

visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

Castlerock is a 1km (0.7 mile) long stretch of beach between the sea cliffs of Downhill to the west and the Lower River Bann estuary known as the Barmouth to the east. The beach is a recipient of the Blue Flag Award in 2025.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement - Restrictions apply 1st June to 15th September
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Glenarm Tourism Guided Walks

Ballymena

Address

17 New Road, Glenarm, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT44 0AA

Telephone
+44028 2884 1087

info@glenarmtourism.org

Type

Type:

Walking Holiday

Glenarm Walkers offer guided walks on the 3rd Sunday of each month (registration at 2.00pm Glenarm Visitor Centre or 2.30pm at walk location), with exception of Easter Monday when the walk begins at 11.00am Glenarm Forest.

More Info
White Park Bay

Ballintoy

Address

157 Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, County Antrim, BT54 6NH

Type

Type:

Walking & Hiking

A classic embayment beach of white sands & wild dunes

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
73 reviews
Downhill Strand

Castlerock

Address

Mussenden Road, Downhill, Castlerock, County Londonderry, BT51 4RP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 7776 0650

visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

Downhill is a golden sandy beach stretching from Downhill Cliffs in the east towards Magilligan Point. It's overlooked by one of Northern Ireland's leading landmarks, Mussenden Temple, and benefits from classic views of the Donegal Coast and beyond.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
Kinbane Castle

Ballycastle

Address

Ballycastle, off Whitepark Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim, BT54 6LP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

Kinbane Castle is a Historic Monument sited in the townland of Cregganboy, located along the Causeway Coastal Route. The area surrounding it offers spectacular views of Rathlin Island and Dunagregor Iron Age fort.

Price
Free

More Info
Private Charter Tours with Abhainn Cruises

Ballycastle

Address

Bayview Road, Ballycastle, County Antrim, BT54 6BT

Telephone
+44 (0) 7845 370231

abhainncruises@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Boat Tours

Taste the sea salt and feel the wind. What better way to explore an island with a sea-faring tradition spanning thousands of years? Create life-long memories, see World Heritage sites, and discover hidden gems along our stunning coastline.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking