- For Ballycastle in County Mayo, see Ballina
Ballycastle is a fishing port and beach resort in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Those counties are no longer units of government so the town is now in Causeway Coast and Glens District, and in 2021 had a population of 5600. It's close to the top-draw attractions of Giant's Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Bridge and Dark Hedges, all very touristy, but has many others that escape the hordes. The town is named for its own castle (hence Baile an Chaistil), lost somewhere beneath Castle Street, but others still stand on dramatic headlands, and Fair Head is a natural wonder.
Get in
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Map of Ballycastle
There's no direct public transport from Belfast, take the train or bus to Ballymena and change.
Ulsterbus 131 / 217 runs from Ballymena via Cloughmills and Armoy (for Dark Hedges), taking an hour. It's hourly M-F with four on Saturday.
Bus 402 runs along the coast from Coleraine via Portrush, Dunluce Castle, Bushmills (for distillery), Giant's Causeway, Dunseverick (for castle) and Ballintoy (for Carrick-a-Rede), taking 70 min. It's every 30 min daily.
Bus 178 is an inland route from Coleraine, with 2 or 3 M-Sa. It takes 80 min via Ballymoney and Armoy, so don't take it for the coastal attractions.
Rathlin Island Ferries sail from Ballycastle harbour to Rathlin Island four times daily, taking 30 min, an easy day trip. Visitors may not take cars to the island, see below for where to park.
Kintyre Express is a foot-passenger ferry between Ballycastle and Port Ellen on Islay in the Scottish Hebrides. This runs April-Sept, sailing from Ballycastle at 9:30AM, taking an hour and returning at 3PM, an easy day trip. It's a continuation of the sailing from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre at 7:30AM, returning from Ballycastle at 4:30PM and taking 90 min. So a day trip from Campbeltown to Ballycastle is possible but not vice versa.
Get around
[edit]Bus 402 runs along the coast as above. You need your own wheels for anywhere else, the main sights are all within bike range.
The car park by the seafront is free but has a maximum stay of two hours, and fills up quickly in summer. If you're taking a trip on the ferry, you need to use Ann Street off Quay Road.
Taxi firms are Fast Cabs (+44 7746 609019), Direct Cabs (+44 7976 751617), Maguire's (+44 7970 524323) and Paula's (+44 7925 680858).
See
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- 1 Ballycastle Harbour is the focus of town. The lump of rock near the ferry ticket office commemorates Marconi's pioneering test transmissions of 1898, relaying news of approaching ships from Rathlin Island. (His mother was Annie Jameson, one of the Jameson whiskey family.) The traditional red phone box on the Promenade shows just how far we've advanced since. The beach starts east of the marina, with a footbridge over Glenshesk River to the main Strand.
- Churches: St Patrick's and St Brigid's (Roman Catholic) on Moyle Rd was built 1870. The octagonal spire was added in 1898, nicely in time for Marconi to use it as a radio transmitter. Holy Trinity (Church of Ireland) on The Diamond was built in Graeco-Italian style in 1756. The Presbyterian church on Castle St was built in 1872, and its distinctive Round Tower was added in the 1890s.
- Ballycastle Museum, 61 Castle St BT54 6AS, ☏ +44 28 2076 2942. Apr-Sep. Small volunteer-run museum of local history. Free.
- 2 The Strand is the sandy beach stretching for half a mile east of the river. At its east end, a boardwalk leads onto Pans Rocks, nowadays popular for angling. In the 18th and 19th centuries the rocks were used as salt pans, and as access to a coal seam. The Devil's Churn is a small natural sinkhole or sea-cave, with steps cut for access and a barrier so that sea water trickled in gently and sediment settled. In the 19th century there was also briefly a fever hospital nearby; as this coincided with a vogue for sea-bathing it's possible that the Churn was also used as a therapeutic dunking spot.
- 3 Bonamargy Friary, 43 Cushendall Rd BT54 6QR. 24 hours. Franciscan friary established in 1485, relatively late in the monastic era. The church has lost its thatched roof but is a substantial ruin, as are the gatehouse and cloister. Several Earls of Ulster are buried here. Free.
- Glenshesk is one of the nine Glens of Antrim, the river valley rising above the friary. There are roads both sides of the river - take the smaller west-side lane to reach Ballycastle Forest car park, start of the path up Knocklayde (514 m). This is on forestry dirt-tracks and firm going until near the top, when you come onto open soggy heath with three false summits before you reach the triangulation point. Great views.
- Glentaisie is the last of the nine Glens. It's scenic but has the main road A44 running up it to Armoy. You might prefer to take the lane, B15 Hillside Rd.
- 4 Armoy is a village on A44 six miles south of Ballycastle. The Presbyterian church in village centre has an odd metal spire, likened to a miniature Eiffel Tower, at least by those who've never been to Paris - couldn't they re-badge it as commemorating Marconi? St Patrick's (Church of Ireland) church half a mile east has the 11 m stump of a Round Tower, the only remains of the ancient abbey. Armoy Road Races are held here, see below, and the champion motorbike racer Joey Dunlop (1952-2000) came from the village.
- 5 The Dark Hedges are near Armoy, but see Ballymoney for this attraction.
- 6 Fair Head is a three-mile stretch of cliffs up to 300 ft / 100 m high. They're dolerite, rising in organ-pipe columns, popular for rock-climbing. They're not quite sea-cliffs as a scree separates them from the shore. By car or bike leave A2 Cushendall Rd at Ballytoy (Hunter's Bar) and follow Torr Road east. In the little lake by the car park is an Iron Age crannog. Wild goats roam the headland. From here on, the coast trends south, facing the Irish Sea.
- 7 Torr Head is the next headland, reached by staying on Torr Road, which straggles along the clifftops to rejoin the main road at Cushendun. See Cushendall for Altagore ringfort and other sights south of here.
- 8 Kinbane Castle is the gnarly remnant of a two-story fortress, built in 1547 and promptly smashed up by English attacks. It's on a dramatic limestone headland, where you clamber up the steps for views out to Rathlin Island and the Mull of Kintyre. It's free to access 24 hours.
- 9 Carrick-a-Rede Bridge, 119a Whitepark Road, Ballintoy BT54 6LS, ☏ +44 28 2073 1855, [email protected]. Daily 9AM-4:30PM. Carraig a' Ráid means "rock of the fishing-rod" and it's a tidal islet, an offshore volcanic plug, a good place for fishing if only you could reach it. There's been fishing here for centuries but fishermen first built a rope bridge across the chasm from the mainland in 1755, when salmon changed from a cheap staple foodstuff to a lucrative catch. They strung the bridge together just as they'd string a net, a homespun affair not intended to last, and each spring it had to be replaced before the salmon-run began. They also built a cottage on the islet, next to a precarious ledge where the boat was winched up the rock face between trips, for want of shelter from the Atlantic. So successful were they that the salmon are all gone, and the last fisherman retired in 2002. The bridge morphed into a tourist attraction, and now half a million visit each year. No way could a rope bridge cope with that footfall, so it's been replaced by stronger and stronger bridges. The current bridge from 2008 is a sturdy metal wire structure, open year-round except in bad weather or for occasional spells of maintenance. So the knee-trembling experience is gone, the missing slats and your glove turning over and over as it plunges into the void. It's still a remarkable site, but you have to share it with the elbows and selfie-sticks of many nations. No dogs. Adult £15, child £7.50, NT free.
- 10 White Park Bay is a long sandy beach backed by sand hills, maintained by the National Trust and busily burrowed by rabbits. Elephant Rock is a natural scenic arch. The limestone contains many fossils.
- 11 Dunseverick Castle is a scrappy remainder, you come for the headland setting. Earthworks indicate defences here from the Iron Age, and St Patrick called by in the 5th century. The medieval stone bastion has suffered from Cromwell, 350 years of dereliction, and the restless sea. The cliffs on either side have many scenic lookouts and little coves for boats.
- 12 Giant's Causeway is within walking distance west of Dunseverick, see separate page.
- 13 Rathlin Island is visible six miles to the north. It's an easy day-trip.
Do
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- Rock-climbing: Fair Head is the premier spot, with 100 m columns ascended by hand-jamming or chimneying. Only "clean-climbing" techniques are permitted.
- Ulster Way is a long-distance hiking trail that circumnavigates Northern Ireland. The local section is called the "Causeway Coast Way" but there's no footpath between Carrick-a-Rede and Ballycastle, so you have to tramp along the busy main road with no sidewalk. To the east the route swings inland as Moyle Way, over boggy hills. In wet weather stick to the public road along the coast towards Cushendall.
- Boat trips sail from Ballycastle for sea-angling, scuba-diving and scenic tours. Operators are Kintra, Abhainn and Aquaholics.
- Make peace: Corrymeela Community is an organisation based in Ballycastle and dedicated to reconciliation and peace in Northern Ireland. They sometimes host conferences, exhibitions and so on.
- Ballycastle Golf Club is on Cushendall Rd just east of the river. White tees 5899 yards, par 71.
- Armoy Road Races are an on-road motorbike racing event held in July.
- Were you ever at the fair, were you ever ever there, were you ever at the fair in Ballycastle-oh?
- Ould Lammas Fair is a street festival and market held since 1606. Lammas was loaf-mass, a church harvest festival held on 1 Aug, but the modern Fair is held on the last Monday and Tuesday of August linking to the weekend.
Buy
[edit]- The convenience store for the harbour area is Spar at 15 North St, open daily 7AM-11PM.
- Spar main store is on Castle St (daily 6:30AM-11PM), along with Co-op Food and McLister's.
Eat
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- Did you treat your Mary-Ann to the dulse and yellowman, at the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-oh?
- Dulse (Palmaria palmata) is an edible seaweed - well, almost edible. So chomp away, buoyed by the thought that a swanky Japanese restaurant would be charging you £24.50 for this experience.
- Yellowman is a chewy honeycomb toffee, quite tangy as vinegar is mixed with baking soda to create the bubbles. Then it's bashed up with a hammer and sold by weight in irregular lumps.
- Morton's is a popular fish & chips cafe by the harbour, open M-W 3-8PM, Th-Su 12:30-8PM.
- Promenade Cafe at 7 North St is open Th-Tu 9AM-4PM.
- 19 by Katherine Carr is over the bridge at 2 Cushendall Rd, open F Sa noon-9PM, W & Su noon-4PM.
- Thyme & Co Cafe, 5 Quay Road BT54 6BJ, ☏ +44 28 2076 9851. M Tu Th F 9AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-3:30PM, 5:30-8PM, Su 9:30AM-2PM. Bright simple place for lunch and light bites.
- The Cellar, 11B The Diamond BT54 6AW, ☏ +44 28 2076 5879. M-F 5-9PM, Sa Su noon-9PM. This restaurant gets rave reviews for its seafood and other Med cuisine.
- Anzac Restaurant, 5 Market St BT54 6DP, ☏ +44 28 2076 8469. Tu 5-9PM, W-F 4-11:30PM, Sa noon-11:30PM, Su 1-11PM. Good bar food and service.
- Al's Pizzeria at 41A Castle St is open W-Su 5-10PM.
Drink
[edit]- Anglers Arms is at 12 North St.
- Harbour Bar is at 7 North St.
- O'Connor's is at 9 Ann St.
- Central Bar is at 12 Ann St.
- Boyd Arms is at 4 The Diamond.
- Halo Ballycastle is at 5 The Diamond.
- Diamond Bar is at 8 The Diamond.
- House of McDonnell is at 71 Castle St.
Sleep
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- Ardaghmore, 35 North Street BT54 6BP, ☏ +44 28 2076 3329. Clean welcoming guesthouse. B&B double £120.
- Ballycastle Backpackers, 4 North Street BT54 6BN (next to Marine Hotel), ☏ +44 7773 237890, [email protected]. Clean well-run hostel in 18th-century townhouse, very central.
- Marine Hotel, 1 North Street BT54 6BN, ☏ +44 28 2076 2222. Mostly good reviews for this hotel overlooking the harbour. B&B double £160.
- An Caisleán, 42 Quay Rd BT54 6BH, ☏ +44 28 2076 2845. Smart welcoming guesthouse near the harbour.
- Glass Island, 11 Beechwood Ave BT54 6BL, ☏ +44 7800 889863. Stylish guesthouse. B&B double £160.
- 1 Causeway Coast Holiday Park, 21 Clare Rd BT54 6DB, ☏ +44 28 2076 2550. This accepts short-stay tourers but not camping. Hook-up £40.
- 2 Salthouse Hotel, 39 Dunamallaght Rd BT54 6PF, ☏ +44 28 2051 0000. Upmarket spa hotel, let down by occasional glitches. B&B double £200.
- 3 Whitepark Bay Hostel, 157 Whitepark Road, Ballintoy BT54 6NH, ☏ +44 28 2073 1745. Mar-Oct. Clean quiet hostel in a great location by White Park Bay beach. In winter it may be available to pre-booked groups. Dorm £25 ppn.
Connect
[edit]As of Feb 2026, Ballycastle and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.
Go next
[edit]- Rathlin Island is a 30 min ferry ride. You have to come back the same way.
- Giant's Causeway lies west, along with Bushmills and Portrush, all very touristy.
- Southeast through Cushendall are the Glens of Antrim and the scenic coast road via Larne and Carrickfergus to Belfast.