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Before you go
Your trip to Ballycastle.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Ballycastle – Northern Ireland Destination Belfast and the Giant's Causeway about 90 km from Belfast
How to get there
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Belfast International Airport (BFS) Belfast · 75 km
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Coleraine (estação ferroviária) Coleraine · 30 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
It is about 90 km from Belfast via the coastal road or inland routes. Belfast International Airport (BFS) is about 75 km away. The nearest train station is Coleraine, roughly 30 km away, with buses to Ballycastle. Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway are about 20 km.
How many days
One day for the town, the beach, the Bonamargy convent and Fair Head. A second day allows a relaxed visit to Rathlin Island. Travelers exploring the Antrim coast can use Ballycastle as a base between Bushmills and the Glens.
When to go
From May to September the days are long and temperatures typically range between 13 °C and 18 °C; this is the most popular time for Rathlin, whose seabird centre usually opens from Easter until the end of summer. Winter is windy and wet, with temperatures between 3 °C and 8 °C. The Ould Lammas Fair takes place on the last Monday and Tuesday of August.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Getting around. The town centre and harbor are walkable, and the ferry to Rathlin departs from the harbour. For Fair Head and Glenariff, a car is the most practical option; regional buses link Ballycastle with Coleraine and Bushmills.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Ballycastle
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Morning
Town centre, harbour and beach
Start at the Diamond, the town square, walk down to the harbour and follow the beach toward the mouth of the River Margy, with views of Fair Head and Rathlin.
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Afternoon
Bonamargy and Fair Head
Visit the ruins of the Bonamargy convent on the eastern outskirts of town, then head to Fair Head, where waymarked trails follow the cliff tops.
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Late afternoon
View of the harbour
Return to the harbour to watch the end of the day over the sea, with Rathlin ahead and, on clear days, the coast of Scotland in the distance.
2 days in Ballycastle
Day 2
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All day
Rathlin Island
Take the ferry from Ballycastle harbour to Rathlin. On the island, visit the seabird centre at the West Light and walk the trails before the return ferry.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Ballycastle?
Walk the beach and harbour, see the Bonamargy convent, do the Fair Head trails and take the ferry to Rathlin Island. At the end of August the town hosts the Ould Lammas Fair.
When is the Ould Lammas Fair?
On the last Monday and Tuesday of August, with events in the preceding days. It is the fair where yellowman and dulse, the dried seaweed, are sold.
How do you get from Ballycastle to Rathlin?
By ferry from Ballycastle harbour. The crossing takes between 25 and 40 minutes, depending on the vessel. Book in advance in busier months.
How far is Ballycastle from the Giant's Causeway?
About 20 km via the coastal road, passing close to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
What is yellowman?
A crunchy yellow sweet made from sugar and syrup, sold in pieces at the Ould Lammas Fair. The sweet has its own page in Flavours of the United Kingdom.