Ballycastle
Ballycastle (Irish: Baile an Chaistil, "town of the castle") is a town in Northern Ireland, on the North Antrim coast.
Understand
- Tourist Information Office, 14 Bayview Road (Portnagree House Harbour and Marina Visitor Centre).
Get in
Unfortunately, there is no rail link, the nearest station is along the coast at Portrush. There are direct buses from Belfast and Coleraine
By boat
Passenger and vehicle ferries run from Rathlin Island around 5 times per day. There are restrictions on vehicles.
Kintyre Express is a ferry for foot passengers between Ballycastle and Port Ellen on Islay in the Scottish Hebrides. This runs F-M in April and Sept, daily May-Aug. It sails from Ballycastle at 09:30, taking an hour and returning at 15:00, an easy day trip. Adult fare is £60 single, £95 return, bikes are free. This ferry is a continuation of the sailing from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre at 07:30, returning from Ballycastle at 16:30 and taking 90 mins. So a day trip from Campbeltown to Ballycastle is possible but not vice versa.
Get around
See
- 1 Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge, 119a Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, BT54 6LS (Near Ballintoy, 5 miles West of Ballycastle.), ☏ +44 28 2076-9839, carrickarede@nationaltrust.org.uk. 10:00-19:00 in summer, shorter hours in winter. Cross the sligtly scary rope bridge to Carrick-a-rede island. On some days it can be quite dangerous although now safe as staff monitor it. So before it gets really windy(fun) they close it. You can run across the bridge if you wish, but it's recommended that you wait until no one else is on it, you aren't allowed to shake the bridge, but people have been known to. After crossing the bridge, there are beautiful greens and it is a spot for great pictures. The bridge closes before sun-down, so no matter how romantic it might seem to watch the sun set on a beautiful island, it gets closed too soon! On a good day, the coast of Scotland is clearly visible, so there's advantages to going during premium light hours. Additionally, the bridge is only open in the summer months, they take it down each winter, and before it's put up (in March(?)) they check it for safety. National Trust tearoom. £5.
- 2 Bonamargy Friary. Franciscan foundation established in 1485
- 3 Kinbane Castle. ruins on narrow limestone headland
- 4 White Park Bay (On B146, 6.5ml from Bushmills, 7.5ml from Ballycastle.), ☏ +44 02870 848728. Bay and three-mile long beach located near Ballycastle.
Do
- Coast Road.
- beach.
- 1 Fair Head. Rock Climbing
- Cliff Walks.
- Sea Fishing.
Buy
Ballycastle is full of traditional shops, there are very few if any high street brands.
Eat
Dulse (an edible seaweed) and yellowman (a honeycomb toffee) are local specialities.
- 1 Thyme & Co. Cafe, 5 Quay Road, BT54 6BJ. Tue – Fri: 08:30 – 16:30, Sat: 09:30 – 16:30. Great frys and Lunches.
- The Sweetie Jar, Quay Road. sweet shop also selling ice creams
Sleep
There are numerous bed and breakfasts in the area, one youth hostel and the marine hotel.
- 1 The Marine Hotel, 1-3 North Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6BN, ☏ +44 28 2076-2222. 31 room hotel from £35.
- 2 Stella Maris, Killerduff, ☏ +353 96 43322. Comfy small hotel in Victorian coastguard station, fine dining. Open May-Sept. No children under 5 or dogs. B&B double €135.
Go next
- North to Rathlin Island by ferry
- West to Giant's Causeway, Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine
- South-west to Ballymoney
- South-east to Cushendall