Causeway Coast Way

Spectacular coastline, with old inlets and harbours, ruined castles, a rope bridge to an island, and the Giant's Causeway, but also a little too much road walking.

Ballycastle to Ballintoy (Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge) - not recomended (8 km)

The Way officially starts in Ballycastle with a lot of inland road walking, 5km (3 miles) of which is along a main road with no pavement? Almost none of this section is by the sea.

It's far better to skip this section, and start 8km (5 miles) further along the Way at Ballintoy, which is a great place to start with its pretty harbour and rope bridge walk. This also means the Way fits nicely into two 11 mile days.

There is a long term plan to create a proper coast path along this stretch, but, as of 2024, it hasn't been started.

In the meantime, do visit Kinbane Castle (ruins) and headland, which is the highlight of this section. Road access from the main (no pavement) coast road.

Ballintoy (Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge) to Dunseverick (Castle) : 8km

At Ballintoy, there is a pretty harbour, and a very nice out-and-back (1.5km each way) detour to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (National Trust) across to a small island at the tip of a headland. Highly recommended. Pre-booking a good idea at busy times as numbers are limited. £15, free to NT

Pub in town centre, tea rooms by NT rope bridge entrance, at, and just after the harbour.

After the harbour is a headland and then Whitepark Bay, a long sandy beach. This is much easier at low tide! At high tide, it's inland main road walking

Next is Portbradden harbour (no facilities), and craggy coastline to Dunseverick and it's ruined castle

Dunseverick (Castle) to Giant's Causeway (7 km)

Its a lovely rugged cliff top walk to the Giant's Causeway. Head down to explore the causeway - it's free, there's a public footpath down to the beach!

There's a hotel/pub, and very expensive parking nearby

Giant's Causeway to Portballintrae (4.5 km)

Walk around a headland, follow a railway line path, then a beach with sand dunes to cross over the Bush river and follow it to the sea and Portballintrae, a seaside town with facilities.

Portballintrae to Portrush (9km)

Roadwalking (with pavement!) to the spectacular ruined Dunluce Castle, then more roadwalking, finally to a sandy beach and Portrush headland. Portrush has facilities, and even a train station

Portrush to Port Stewart (10km)

A few stretches of the A2 coast road that now seems an old friend, but mostly cliff top paths to Port Stewart's large sand beach. Do continue along the sand to the mouth of the Bann river

If you have a car, do drive to the other side of the river, Mussenden Temple (NT, a folly) and Downhill

Travel on this walk is amazingly easy! A coastal bus route follows almost the entire walk every 20 mins, 7 days, early till late.. It's easy to park at the start of a stage, and return to your car by direct bus.

#402/402a/172 : Coleraine (train station) - Portrush (train station) - Portballintrae - (slightly inland to Bushmills) - Giants Causeway - Dunseverick - Ballintoy - Ballycastle

Bus 140b goes from Portrush to Port Stewart, there are also direct Port Stewart buses from Coleraine.

Parking is easy anywhere away from Giant's Causeway and Portrush town centre.

• Walk NI - Causeway Coast

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You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jul-24