Carrickfergus Voyage Tips and guide

Carrickfergus is a town 12 miles northeast of Belfast, historically in County Antrim, with a population in 2021 of 28,000. Its main attraction is the sturdy 12th-century Norman castle.

Carraig Fhearghais means "The rock of Fergus" - Fergus the Great (430-501 AD) was King of Dál Riata and it's said his ship hit a rock here. It became a substantial walled town in the Norman period, acquiring its fine castle. It long pre-dates Belfast, which only outgrew it in the 18th and 19th centuries as metal-bashing industries developed, and ships needed deeper harbours. Until then, Carrickfergus was the place you had to capture to land your troops in Ulster, and the English, Scots and Irish took turns doing so. King William of Orange landed here to campaign against James II / VII, and in 1760 the town was even seized for a few days by French privateers.

The counties of Northern Ireland are no longer units of government, so since 2015 the town has been part of Mid and East Antrim District. It's often abbreviated to "Carrick" but that's a common place name in Ireland, so always specify "Carrickfergus" when organising transport. It's nowadays a commuter town for Belfast, and its fortunes have ebbed and flowed with those of industry and civil stability in Northern Ireland.

54°43′12″N 5°48′18″W

Map of Carrickfergus

See Belfast for long-distance travel from Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Trains run every 30 min from Belfast (several stations) via Whiteabbey (for Newtownabbey), taking 35 min to Carrickfergus. Most trains continue to Larne.

54.7175-5.80971 Carrickfergus ailway station is north side of town centre. Trains also stop at Clipperstown a quarter of a mile west, and at Downshire half a mile east towards Larne.

Ulsterbus 563a-f runs hourly M-Sa from Belfast Laganside bus station via High St, Ulster University, Yorkgate, Skegonell, Greencastle, Whiteabbey and Greenisland, taking 40 min to Carrickfergus and continuing up Larne Road to Kilroot.

By road from Belfast follow M2 onto M5 then A2 the Shore Road.

There's free parking at Harbour Car Park next to the castle.

The town is walkable, but you want a car to explore Islandmagee and the Antrim glens.

Taxi: Charlie's is on +44 28 9332 1566. Mahood's is now part of Fonacab, +44 28 9336 2727.

• 54.7133-5.80641 Carrickfergus Castle, Marine Highway BT38 7BG, ☏ +44 28 9335 1273. Apr-Oct Tu-Su 9AM-5PM, Nov-Mar Tu-Su 9AM-4PM. The best-preserved Norman castle in Ireland, built in 1177 when the site was almost surrounded by water. It was besieged and captured several times, including by French privateers in 1760. (They only wanted provisions not possession, and left as soon as the winds were favourable; the Royal Navy destroyed them off Galloway.) The castle remained in military use until 1928. Victorian and other additions were then taken away to restore the Norman appearance. Adult £6, conc £4.50, child £4.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.7162-5.80612 Carrickfergus Museum, Civic Centre, 11 Antrim St BT38 7DG, ☏ +44 28 9335 8241. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Display of local history. Free.  (updated Jan 2026)
• St Nicholas Church (Church of Ireland) near Town Hall was established by the Normans but the present building is from the 19th century.
• 54.7228-5.78343 Andrew Jackson Cottage & US Rangers Centre, 2 Boneybefore BT38 7EQ. W-Su 11AM-3PM. Replica of the thatched cottage home of the parents of US President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the one on the US$20 bill. They emigrated to Carolina, where Andrew's father was killed in a logging accident three weeks before the birth. A small museum also commemorates the US Rangers, who trained here in 1942 before combat in Europe. Free.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.757-5.7044 Whitehead is a village at the entrance to Belfast Lough that developed as a seaside resort in the 1890s. Not much has happened here since so it retains its period atmosphere, and it's an access point for The Gobbins and Islandmagee.

• Cinema: Omniplex is within Rogers Quay shopping centre.
• Carrick Rangers play soccer in the NIFL or Danske Bank Premiership, Northern Ireland's top tier. Their home ground is Taylors Avenue (capacity 6000) half a mile east of the railway station.
• Amphitheatre Wellness Centre is on Prince William Way between the golf course and the railway tracks.
• Golf: Carrickfergus GC is on North Rd, quarter of a mile north of the railway station. White tees 5713 yards, par 68.

Green Island GC is two miles west at the edge of Newtonabbey.

• Slieve True is a 312-m (1024-ft) hill three miles northwest of town. Park on Slievetrue Rd to its east and walk up the firm track to the telecoms mast near the summit, reckon 15 min each way. Half a mile southwest of the top are the "Three Brothers" standing stones, but they've been incorporated into a field wall.

The main shopping centre is Rogers Quay by the harbour, with Sainsbury's open M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 1-6PM.

• Windrose, 5 Rodgers Quay BT38 8BE, ☏ +44 28 9335 1164. Su, Tu-F 10:30 AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-midnight. This marina-side bistro is one of the best eating places in town. (updated Jan 2026)
• Josh Macs, 3 Rodgers Quay BT38 8BE, ☏ +44 28 9336 6669. Daily noon-9PM. Reliable flame grill. (updated Jan 2026)
• Springsteen's Diner is at 5 Rodgers Quay, open daily 9AM-9PM.
• Kamakura at 6 Rodgers Quay is open daily noon-9PM. There's another branch at 32 West St.
• Papa Brown's is by the roundabout on Marine Highway, open daily 9AM-8:30PM.
• Mayur is at 10 Castle St, open daily 4:30-10PM.
• Little India is at 75A Belfast Rd, west of the marina. It's open Su-Th 4-10PM, F Sa 4-11PM.

• Central Bar at 13 High St is a JD Wetherspoon, open Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-1AM.
• Ownie's Bar is at 16 Joymount, open Su-Th 9AM-11PM, F Sa 9AM-1AM.

• 54.7115-5.80941 Premier Inn, Alexandra Pier, Rodgers Quay BT38 8BE, ☏ +44 871 527 8214. Well-run mid-range chain hotel on harbourside. No air con. B&B double £100.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.7151-5.80642 Dobbins Inn, 6 High St BT38 7AF, ☏ +44 28 9335 1905. Trad pub with rooms in town centre. B&B double £90.  (updated Jan 2026)
• 54.7165-5.80323 Walter's Place, 15 Joymount BT38 7DN, ☏ +44 7968 725140. Pleasant guest house. B&B double £85.  (updated Jan 2026)

As of Jan 2026, the town and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.

• Belfast is a fascinating city that needs several days to explore.
• Larne town is ugly and industrial, but the surprise is The Gobbins and Islandmagee.
• Cushendall is in the scenic Antrim glens.