Overview
In 2022 the Sunday Times named Ballycastle the best place to live in Northern Ireland, and the case makes itself: a Blue Flag beach, a working harbour, a packed festival calendar and a 25-minute ferry to an inhabited island, all in a town of around 5,600 at the north-eastern tip of County Antrim. It looks out over the Sea of Moyle and the headlands of the Causeway Coast, and makes a natural base for the Antrim Coast and Glens. If you only have a day, give the morning to the beach and the afternoon to Rathlin.
History & heritage
The Irish name Baile an Chaistil means ‘town of the castle’. The story here goes back a long way – by tradition to the 3rd century AD, when Cairbre Riada is said to have founded the Dál Riata colony. The old castle that gave the town its name stood on the site of what is now Holy Trinity Church. The centre is worth a slow wander: there are more than fifty listed buildings within an 18th-century conservation area.
In 1898, Guglielmo Marconi’s team set up a transmission station on the seafront to test a wireless link with Rathlin Island, an early step in radio history. The churches are a feature too – the octagonal spire of St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s (1870), the Graeco-Italian Holy Trinity (1756) and the Presbyterian Round-Tower church. For the fuller story, the volunteer-run Ballycastle Museum, in an 18th-century courthouse, covers Bronze Age archaeology, the Glens and centuries of maritime trade.
Ballycastle Beach
Ballycastle Beach is a golden sweep of sand about 1.2 km long, backed by a wheelchair-accessible promenade. A footbridge over the River Margy gives step-free access from the town centre in about five minutes, and at the eastern end another footbridge leads out to Pans Rock Pier, a favourite spot for a photo. The beach holds Blue Flag status for water quality, and a lifeguard service runs over the summer – check the times posted at the beach. The sheltered water suits canoeing, paddle-boarding and sailing, with local operators running gear hire and guided trips from the marina.
One practical note: the beach is free, but parking may carry a charge. There’s free parking at the marina and at the Visitor Information Centre nearby.
What to see & do
- Fair Head: The great cliff headland north of town is one of Ireland’s premier rock-climbing venues, reached by a marked walk from the car park. Even if you’re not climbing, the cliff-top views to Rathlin and across to Scotland are the best on this stretch of coast.
- Kinbane Castle: On a limestone headland five minutes north, this ruined fortress dates to 1547. Allow extra time for the steep, narrow path down to it.
- Bonamargy Friary: Franciscan ruins a short walk from the centre, holding the tomb of the chieftain Sorley Boy MacDonnell.
- Ballycastle Golf Club: An 18-hole links dating to 1890, with the closing holes running right alongside the beach.
- Rathlin Island ferry: Northern Ireland’s only inhabited island is a 25-minute crossing from the harbour, known for its seabird cliffs, lighthouses and craft workshops.
Cycling & hiking
The coast road south to Cushendun via Torr Head is a popular cycling route, climbing past hidden coves and wide sea views. For walkers, Ballypatrick Forest just outside town has trails through woodland, and the former narrow-gauge line – now the Ballycastle Railway walking route – gives a quiet alternative to the busy A2.
Wildlife & birdwatching
The harbour and surrounding waters are good for spotting seals, especially at low tide. Rathlin’s cliffs host big seabird colonies, with puffins, guillemots and razorbills nesting through the summer – the single best reason to make the crossing in season.
Food, drink & events
Seafood is the thing along the harbour front. Our Dolly’s is the local go-to for a coffee or breakfast, Morton’s does the promenade fish and chips, and the Friday food market in the town centre is good for artisan cheese, preserves and bread.
The calendar peaks with the Ould Lammas Fair, a harvest fair held since 1606 on the last Monday and Tuesday of August. It fills the Diamond with market stalls, rides and the town’s famous yellow-man toffee and dried dulse. Summer also brings trad sessions in the pubs.
Practical information
- Getting there: Ballycastle is about an hour’s drive north of Belfast on the A2 coastal route. Translink buses connect it to Belfast, Ballymena and Coleraine. The harbour is at 5 Bayview Road (BT54 6BT).
- Parking: Free parking at the marina, the Visitor Information Centre and Ballycastle Forest; beach parking may carry a charge. Summer weekends fill quickly, so arrive early.
- Ferries: The Rathlin crossing takes about 25 minutes. In summer there’s also a seasonal ferry to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, around 1.5 hours.
- Visitor Information Centre: Free car parking, maps and transport timetables; it holds a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
Time your trip for the last weekend of August and you’ll hit the Ould Lammas Fair – but book a bed well ahead, because the whole north Antrim coast does the same.