Overview
Carnlough’s harbour was built to move limestone, not to shelter fishing boats, and that industrial origin still shapes the village. It sits at the head of a sheltered bay below Glencoy, the second of the nine glens that make up the Antrim Coast and Glens, with a population of just over 1,500. The compact, limestone-built harbour is the centre of everything, and the village works best as a pit stop on the Causeway Coastal Route rather than a full day out.
If you’ve twenty minutes, walk down the harbour steps and along the wall. If you’ve longer, take a boat out into the bay – that’s the thing worth staying for.
History & heritage
The first harbour here was built in the late 1700s by Phillip Gibbons: a stone pier around 200 feet long that cost about £1,200. The present harbour is later and grander, built in 1853 by Frances Anne Vane Tempest, Marchioness of Londonderry, to service the limestone quarries scattered across the surrounding hills. She was also behind the coaching inn that opened in 1848 as the Londonderry Arms – later inherited by Winston Churchill, and now the Harbourview Hotel, which still anchors the village and runs whiskey experiences.
A quieter piece of local lore is carved into the harbour wall: a plaque remembering ‘Paddy the Pigeon’, by local account an RAF messenger bird from Carnlough decorated for service during the Second World War. The plaque is real; the fuller story is passed down locally rather than firmly documented, so take the details as village memory.
For the industrial history proper, the Heritage Hub inside Carnlough Town Hall (opened in 2018) tells the story of the limestone quarrying, the iron mining over in Glenravel, and the maritime life of the harbour. Mary Watson runs guided village tours from here, with a suggested donation of £3–£5.
What to see & do
The harbour walk & Game of Thrones steps
The stone staircase that drops from the main street to the water’s edge is the village’s signature. These steps stood in for the canals of Braavos in Season 6 of Game of Thrones, as Arya Stark hauls herself out of the water. Even without the TV connection, the descent gives the best angles on the harbour’s limestone arches and the 19th-century bridge over the entrance channel.
Boat tours & wildlife
Carnlough Bay Boat Tours run from the harbour aboard the Curiosity, with excursions out into the bay to look for bottlenose dolphins, grey seals, harbour porpoises and seabirds. Prices and sailing times shift with the season and the weather, so check at the harbour on the day. The bay is active year-round, but late spring and early autumn tend to bring the calmest water and the best chances of a sighting; puffins, guillemots and razorbills are around the offshore stacks between April and July.
Sea-angling
Amberjack Sea Angling Trips also depart from Carnlough Harbour, with gear provided – straightforward for beginners. Book directly with the operator for times and prices.
A short walk to Cranny Falls
For a stretch of the legs, the Heritage Hub recommends the walk to Cranny Falls from the harbour: an easy path that follows an old quarry tramway up to a waterfall.
Getting there & parking
Carnlough sits directly on the A2 Causeway Coastal Route, 14 miles north of Larne, with clear signage into the village centre. There’s parking near the harbour and along the main street; it’s likely free, though no charge or free-parking notice is officially posted.
For public transport, the Ulsterbus 218 service from Belfast’s Europa Bus Centre stops in Carnlough, a journey of about an hour. Check timetables before travelling, as services thin out at weekends and on holidays.
A note for boaters
This is a harbour to look at, not to berth in. It’s used mainly by pleasure boats and small fishing vessels, isn’t recommended for anything over 10 metres, and visitor berthing is very limited – contact Glenarm Marina for availability before relying on it.
Nearby attractions
- Glenarm – The neighbouring glen village just to the south, with its castle, walled garden and conservation village.
- Ballycastle – A larger seaside town further up the coast, with a historic castle, working harbour and the Ballycastle Museum.
- Antrim Coast & Glens – The wider region threads walking trails, coastal paths and glen villages the length of the peninsula.
Practical information
- Location: Carnlough, County Antrim (A2 Causeway Coastal Route)
- Access: Public road with parking near the harbour; pedestrian harbour access is free and open year-round
- Facilities: Public toilets, Heritage Hub in the Town Hall, Harbourview Hotel for food and accommodation
- Best time to visit: Late spring through early autumn for milder weather and the best wildlife viewing
Check the tide before planning a walk along the bay, as low water exposes stretches that are underwater at high tide – and gives the harbour steps their most photogenic drop.