Ballycastle

Ballycastle sits at the point where the Antrim coast turns from the Glens towards the Causeway Coast proper, a small harbour town wrapped around a wide, sandy Blue Flag beach and backed by the green shoulders of Knocklayd and Fair Head. It has a working feel that some of the more polished coastal resorts nearby lack: fishing boats still use the harbour, the ferry to Rathlin Island loads from the pier most mornings, and the town's single Diamond square has hosted a market fair since 1606.

The setting is dramatic without trying too hard. Fair Head's dark basalt cliffs rise just east of town, Rathlin's low outline sits a few miles offshore, and on a clear day the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is visible across the North Channel. Ballycastle is also the natural base for exploring the Causeway Coastal Route, with Carrick-a-Rede and the Giant's Causeway both within a short drive west, and the quieter Glens of Antrim and Torr Head scenic route stretching away to the east.

Top things to do in Ballycastle

Ballycastle rewards a slower pace, but it is also within easy reach of some of Northern Ireland's biggest attractions.

• Rathlin Island — a 25-30 minute ferry from Ballycastle harbour to Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island, home to a large seabird colony, puffins between April and July, grey seals, and the RSPB West Light Seabird Centre.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge — the famous rope bridge to a small island off the coast near Ballintoy, around a 15-minute drive west, run by the National Trust with pre-booked timed tickets.
• Ballycastle Beach — a long Blue Flag sandy beach right in town, backed by a promenade, play park and putting green, and popular for walking, swimming and watersports.
• Fair Head — dramatic basalt cliffs just east of town with sweeping views across to Rathlin and Scotland, reached via a circular walking route from Ballyvoy.
• Ould Lammas Fair — Ireland's oldest traditional fair, held in the Diamond on the last Monday and Tuesday of August since 1606, famous for market stalls and the local sweet treat, yellowman.
• Giant's Causeway — the UNESCO World Heritage basalt column formation, around a 25-minute drive west along the coast road.
• Ballycastle Golf Club — a parkland and links course laid out along the coastline, with views out to Rathlin and Fair Head from several holes.

Getting to Ballycastle

Ballycastle is on the north Antrim coast, about an hour and a quarter's drive from Belfast via the A26 and A44, and roughly 20 minutes from Ballymoney, the nearest railway station, from where Translink bus services connect onward. Ulsterbus Goldline coaches run from Belfast, and the Causeway Rambler seasonal service links Ballycastle to Bushmills, the Giant's Causeway and Portrush in summer. Belfast International and Belfast City airports are both around 75-90 minutes away by car, and the town has plenty of free and pay car parking near the harbour and beach.

Best time to visit Ballycastle

Summer, from June to August, brings the warmest weather, the longest daylight and the busy Ould Lammas Fair at the end of August, but it is also the peak season for traffic on the coast road and demand for the Rathlin ferry. May and September offer quieter roads, decent weather and better availability for accommodation, while spring is the best time to see puffins arriving on Rathlin. Winter is quiet and often wild, with big Atlantic swells hitting the beach and Fair Head, appealing if you want the coast to yourself rather than gentle weather.

Where to stay in Ballycastle

Ballycastle has a mix of seafront hotels, guesthouses and self-catering cottages, with the Marine Hotel overlooking the harbour and beach among the best known. Camping and touring caravan sites are dotted around the town and along the coast towards Ballintoy and Cushendall, making it easy to base a Causeway Coast trip here rather than in busier Portrush or Bushmills.

Food and drink in Ballycastle

The town has a strong seafood-led dining scene given its working harbour. The Salthouse serves freshly caught seafood with ocean views, while Marconi's Bar and Bistro at the Marine Hotel focuses on contemporary dishes with a seafood emphasis. The Lookout offers Italian-leaning food including stone-baked pizzas with sea views, and Thyme & Co is a popular café and pizzeria near the beach using locally sourced ingredients. For a pint, the Anglers Arms on North Street sits directly across from the sea, and around Lammas Fair time look out for yellowman, the local honeycomb-toffee sweet sold from market stalls in the Diamond.