The Atlantic Companion · Causeway Coastal Route · Antrim
Ballycastle is a working town with a long beach, a harbour, and the ferry pier for Rathlin — the L-shaped island six miles offshore that's the only inhabited island off the Antrim coast. Rathlin's West Light is upside-down (the lamp at the bottom of the tower, built into the cliff face) and from April to July the cliffs below it hold one of the best seabird colonies in these islands: thousands of puffins, guillemots and razorbills. The ferry takes 25 minutes. The day-trip is the highlight of the eastern Causeway coast for many visitors.
Ferry port to a flipped lighthouse, puffins, and the only inhabited Antrim island.
First things first
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The essentials
Locally chosen, not algorithmic. In rough order of "if you only do one thing".
Island
Two boats run from Ballycastle harbour to Church Bay on Rathlin — the fast catamaran (25 min) and the slower car ferry (45 min). Foot passengers in summer should book; a handful of cars travel each sailing. Once on the island, a minibus runs to the West Light Seabird Centre.
Good to know · Operated by Rathlin Island Ferry. Pre-book at rathlinballycastleferry.com — summer weekends sell out. Last ferry back is early evening; check before you go over.
Nature
The RSPB-run viewing platform at the West Light is built into the cliff face beside the upside-down lighthouse. From April to mid-July, the stacks below hold tens of thousands of guillemots, razorbills and puffins — the puffins close enough you don't need binoculars. After July the colony empties out fast.
Good to know · Open seasonally (roughly Apr–Sep). Small entry fee. Minibus from Church Bay (5 km) or rent a bike at the harbour. Bring binoculars even if you don't normally.
Beach
A gently curving sandy bay on the eastern edge of town, with a short prom, a stretch of grass, and the long view across to the Mull of Kintyre on a clear day (12 miles, often visible). The natural Ballycastle pre-dinner walk.
Good to know · Free. Easy parking along the prom. Lifeguarded summer weekends. Toilets and a small café at the marina.
Town
The Diamond is the small market square at the centre of the old town, anchored by Boyd's of Ballycastle (a long-running traditional pub). Dunluce Centre, Morton's fishmonger, House of McDonnell — a real working town centre, not a tourist front.
Good to know · Pay-and-display parking around the Diamond. Auld Lammas Fair takes over the town the last weekend of August.
View
A 200-metre dolerite sea cliff three miles east of Ballycastle — the largest expanse of climbable rock in Britain or Ireland, and an easy clifftop walk for non-climbers. Three small loughs on the plateau above. Scotland clearly visible across the channel. Almost no one stops.
Good to know · Free. Park at Ballyvoy and walk in (1 km on a farm track). Honesty box for the farmer's land. Cliff edge has no fence — keep dogs on lead and children close.
History
A ruined Franciscan friary on the edge of town, founded in 1485, burial place of the McDonnell chiefs. Includes the grave of Julia McQuillan, the 'Black Nun', and a vault of McDonnells including Sorley Boy. Quiet, atmospheric, ten minutes' walk from the centre.
Good to know · Free. Open all hours. Small car park signposted from the A2 east of town.
Local businesses
Hand-picked, not paid for. The ferries, the beds, the pubs and the bike hire that make a visit work.
Before you go. These listings are compiled from public sources and aren't yet verified by the businesses themselves. Hours, menus and prices change with the seasons — always check directly with the venue before travelling, and book ahead in July and August. Owners can get in touch to update their listing.
Eat
A small sourdough bakery and café on Ann Street, Ballycastle — long-fermented loaves, pastries, soup at lunch. A pilgrimage spot for North Coast bakers.
Do
The only way onto Rathlin — a 25-minute fast ferry or 45-minute car ferry from Ballycastle harbour. Foot passengers walk on; cars need to be booked well ahead in summer.
Run a place in Ballycastle & Rathlin Island?
Our directory is curated, not pay-to-play. If we'd recommend you, you can be on here.
See how to get listedGot a window or a counter?
Download a free A5 QR card for Ballycastle & Rathlin Island — print it, stick it up, and visitors land straight on the Ballycastle & Rathlin Island guide.
Ask a local
Stay a night on Rathlin
Most visitors do Rathlin as a day trip and rush the late ferry. Stay over (the Manor House and a handful of B&Bs in Church Bay) and you'll have the West Light at dawn, the Mull of Kintyre across the water at dusk, and an island of 150 people to yourself in the evening.
The Fair Head loop walk
Three loughs, a dramatic clifftop, a stone-age burial cairn, and views to Scotland — and almost no one walks it. The full loop is 8 km from the Ballyvoy car park; the short version to the cliff edge and back is under an hour.
Know a Ballycastle or Rathlin spot worth sharing?
Hidden gems on this page are written by locals, not us. The bakery, the trad session, the path nobody walks — tell us and we'll add it.
Common questions
Yes — Rathlin is Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island, famous for the seabird colony at the West Light Seabird Centre (puffins, razorbills, guillemots between April and July) and for its quiet, unspoilt landscape. It's a 25-minute ferry from Ballycastle and works well as a day trip.
Puffins are at Rathlin's West Light cliffs roughly from early April to late July, with the best viewing in May and June when chicks are being fed. The RSPB-run West Light Seabird Centre is the only viewpoint; book a free shuttle from the harbour or it's a 7 km walk each way.
Rathlin Ferry runs from Ballycastle harbour year-round — a fast 25-minute passenger sailing or a 45-minute car ferry. Book in advance in summer; the small car ferry sells out. Most day visitors walk on as foot passengers and use the island shuttle or bicycles.
A full day. The ferry crossing, shuttle to the West Light Seabird Centre, time at the puffin viewing platform, and lunch back at the harbour fills 6–7 hours comfortably. Staying overnight is possible — there are a few B&Bs and a guesthouse — and lets you see the island after the day-trippers leave.
Practical
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