Hotels in Ballycastle

Ballycastle makes a practical, well-placed base for a Causeway Coast holiday, sitting between the Glens of Antrim and the Giant's Causeway with its own Blue Flag beach on the doorstep. Hotels and guesthouses cluster around the harbour and seafront, many with sea or Rathlin Island views, and the Marine Hotel is the best known of the town's larger properties, with a restaurant and bar looking out over the water. Smaller guesthouses and B&Bs are dotted through the town and along the coast road towards Ballintoy, generally offering better value and a more personal welcome than the bigger coastal resorts further west.

Self-catering cottages are plentiful in and around Ballycastle, ranging from traditional stone cottages to modern coastal houses, and are a popular choice for families or groups wanting a base for several days of exploring, since many of the area's attractions, including Carrick-a-Rede, the Giant's Causeway and Rathlin Island, are all within a 20-30 minute drive or ferry crossing. Booking ahead is strongly advised for the last weekend of August, when the Ould Lammas Fair fills the town and its accommodation well in advance, and for the main summer months generally, when demand along the whole Causeway Coast is at its highest. Outside peak season, Ballycastle tends to be significantly quieter and cheaper than Portrush or Portstewart, while still putting you within easy reach of the coast's main sights.