Causeway Coastal Route, 3 day itinerary
Explore the Causeway Coastal Route and experience some of the best outdoor adventures in Northern Ireland. Enjoy breath-taking scenery along one of the world’s best coastal driving routes.
This epic route delivers everything you want from an authentic Irish coastal experience – magical volcanic landscapes, soaring cliffs and pristine beaches. Winding through the iconic coastline you’ll uncover a wealth of castles, attractions and heritage sites. Stepping off the beaten track, you’ll find locals with a lifetime of stories to tell. Discover a whole new perspective on the stunning coastline from cliff-top paths or on horseback, and feel the wind in your hair with an early morning fishing trip.
Day 1
Gobbins Cliff Path - Walking the Edge
On the thrilling Gobbins Experience, nature isn’t content to just sit back and be admired. It completely engulfs you: from the all-enveloping Irish Sea winds and the dolphins dancing off the coastline, to the squawking native sea birds and the salty air hitting your lips.
Lunch and Tour in Glenarm Castle
Glenarm Castle is the home of Viscount and Viscountess Dunluce and their family. The present castle has been in the McDonnell family since it was first built in 1636. Visit the house where you will see superb examples of Irish furniture as well as portraits of family members from the early 17th century through to the present day. Before taking up full-time residence at Glenarm, the family lived most notably at Dunluce Castle. The Walled Garden is one of Ireland’s oldest walled gardens. Originally created to supply the Castle with its fruit and vegetables, the Walled Garden is now filled with exciting flowers and specimen plants to captivate the keenest gardening enthusiast. Enjoy lunch in the charming Tea Room, situated in the old Mushroom House.
Coastal Canters - Sheans Horse Farm
Trekking at Sheans is the perfect introduction for novice riders.. Sheans Horse Farm will offer you a range of unique experiences from the freedom and fun of horse riding to getting stuck into some essential farming activities. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the North Antrim hills where, at the top, you can enjoy panoramic views over five counties. First-time riders love the challenge of getting to grips with the basics of trotting in a fun and carefully supervised environment. This is very popular and is always seen as a personal achievement for all visitors.
Day 2
Catch and Sea - Causeway Coast Foodie Tours
The early morning skies at Portrush Harbour are a rich and inky blue as you climb on-board a fishing boat bound for the Atlantic Ocean. The sight of the sun rising as you set off along the rugged waters of the Causeway Coastal Route is nothing short of breath-taking. Bold orange and yellow brushstrokes light up the sky, the warmth of the colours in contrasting with the bracing sea winds that are sure to wake you up no matter how early a start. En route to catch your breakfast, you’ll spot some of the wildlife that inhabit the area: seals, cormorants, black rabbits, herring gulls and perhaps even a pod of dolphins – or, if you’re really lucky, a minke whale.
Beyond the Bridge – Salmon Fishermen Tale
Warming your hands by a turf fire in an 18th century fisherman’s hut, you learn of the men who once earned their living here, on this deserted island beside the precarious Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Experiences don’t get more authentic, or more memorable, than this.
Whiskey on the Rocks/Bushmills
Sitting on basalt rocks in a quiet spot on the Giant’s Causeway, you take a sip of Bushmills 12-Year-Old Distillery Reserve whiskey and let the salty sea wind envelop you. This is a truly unique, and intimate, way to experience the world-famous Giant’s Causeway, and to savour the world-famous whiskey distilled just a few miles away.
Clifftop Experience - Away A Wee Walk
The best way to avoid the crowds and get under the skin of a place is to explore it with a local friend. That’s what walking the Causeway Coast with Eimear Flanagan or one of her team feels like. These are their cliffs; they’re proud of this landscape and more than happy to share it with visitors. This five-mile walk through the heart of Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage Site is a personal discovery of a spectacular coastline. The National Trust Giant’s Causeway attracts upwards of a million visitors a year – and rightly so – but few people get to experience it quite like this.
Day 3
Bakehouse NI
A small family business passionate about the fantastic local food and beautiful countryside. Offering cookery classes based on traditional Irish food using local produce such as Lough Neagh Eel, blackberries and sloes. Enjoy the unique hospitality of the Bakehouse and try your hand at traditional bread making.
Toome Bridge – River Bann Tours
The Lower River Bann, a passage to Lough Neagh and a gateway to the Glens, is a picturesque route to discover the rich cultural heritage and native wildlife of the region. River Bann Tours is the perfect way to connect you to the historical towns and villages along the river, where you can disembark to explore the outstanding local attractions, meet the local people and enjoy the delicious local food options. Visit the Lock Keepers Cottage, tea room and visitor centre situated along the River Bann as it meets Toome canal flowing out of Lough Neagh. This small bespoke centre has information and artefacts which uncover the importance of the region and its waterways, from the first settlements by Mesolithic Man through time. You can learn about the heritage of the local area and discover the unique fauna and flora of the region. View the section of Toome Canal that appeared in the Game of Thrones® episode “Kill the Boy” from season five when it was used to shoot the passage of Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister through the ruins of Old Valyria.
Crowned "Historic Houses 2023 Garden of the Year", Glenarm Castle and its walled gardens are a true national treasure. One of Ireland's oldest estates, and home to the Earls of Antrim, Glenarm Castle offers incredible garden walks, with stunning planting displays year round. Don't miss the annual tulip festival which takes place every May.
Whether you’re a total beginner or a confident rider, experience the freedom, fun and buzz of horse riding at Sheans Horse Riding and Heritage Centre. Located close to the village of Armoy, adjacent to the Glens of Antrim on the Antrim Coast.
Follow in the footsteps of generations of fishermen when you cross the bridge from the present to the past.
Bakehouse NI is a small cookery school set in the countryside near the village of Bellaghy. It provides “at home” cookery experiences based around traditional Irish cookery using local ingredients.
