Overview
The road down to Murlough Bay is single-track with few passing places, and there is no bus, which is exactly why the bay is usually empty. It lies on the far north-eastern edge of County Antrim, between the headlands of Fair Head and Torr Head, and looks straight out across the water: Rathlin Island in front, and on a clear day the Mull of Kintyre, Islay and Jura on the Scottish coast beyond. Most people who make the effort get wide, quiet shore to themselves.
The cliffs here are a clean lesson in Antrim geology – basalt capping older sandstone and limestone, in a rugged, multi-toned face. Weathered lime kilns survive on the lower slopes, left from a small industry that worked here before the place went back to being wild. Note before you commit the drive: there is nothing to buy for miles, no toilets, shops or cafés.
History and the Casement memorial
The name comes from the Irish Murlach, simply ‘sea inlet’. Its recorded history reaches back to the early medieval period: according to the 11th-century preface to the Amra Coluim Cille, Saint Columba landed here around 595 AD after sailing from Iona, on his way inland to the Synod of Drumceat.
The bay’s better-known story is a modern and political one. Sir Roger Casement, the Irish nationalist executed by the British government in 1916, asked to be buried on its shores. His remains were eventually interred at Glasnevin in Dublin, but a plain stone plinth stands near the cliff edge, marking where a commemorative cross once stood, and a small memorial service is held here each August.
For a different kind of pilgrim, Murlough Bay stood in for Slavers Bay in Game of Thrones – the stretch where Tyrion and Jorah were captured.
Landscape and wildlife
This is an Antrim clifftop bay, not a dune system, and the habitat suits it: a temperate woodland of birch, rowan and hazel on the sheltered slopes, running down to a rocky shore. Buzzards and peregrine falcons work the cliffs and headlands, while eider ducks and fulmars are regulars along the water. Offshore, grey seals haul out and bottlenose dolphins turn up now and then, most often in the calm of early morning. It rewards a slow look more than a quick one.
Walking the coast
Murlough Bay is best done on foot. The main route is a 4.4 km loop from the car park on Murlough Road: a quiet lane leads to Knockbrack Viewpoint, which gives the first proper look down into the bay, and that view is the real payoff before the steep, rocky descent to the beach. The catch is the return, a sustained climb back up the same track, so most people take 60 to 90 minutes over the round trip with time on the shore.
For more, the coastal path extends west toward Fair Head or east toward Torr Head. Those stretches are rougher and less waymarked and want decent navigation, but they hand determined walkers constant Atlantic views. The ground is uneven and slick in wet weather, so wear sturdy footwear.
Practical information
Getting there
Come by car. From Ballycastle, take the A2 toward the coast, then Torr Road, then Fairhead Road, where the National Trust car park sits at the end. A smaller car park lies closer to the bay. The final road is narrow and winding, so take it slowly. There is no direct bus; the nearest stop is in Ballycastle, about 2.5 km away on an exposed coastal walk.
Parking and fees
Access to the bay is free, but parking is a muddle worth knowing about in advance. The Fairhead National Trust car park charges around £2 per car. There is a small free layby near the bay entrance, but spaces are few and fill fast on a fine day. Some visitors also report a farmer charging £3 cash to park in a yard. Bring coins, and do not assume a card will work.
Accessibility
The car park and the first stretch of path are fairly level and manageable with moderate mobility. The route down to the beach, though, involves steep, uneven ground and rocky steps that rule out wheelchairs and pushchairs. The whole setting is exposed, with no shelter.
Visitor tips
- Check the tide: the beach opens up at low tide and can be largely covered at high tide, so consult a local tide table first.
- Dress for it: Atlantic weather changes fast; a waterproof and windproof layer is sensible even on a sunny day.
- Dogs: welcome on a lead; keep them under control near the cliff edges and away from nesting birds, roughly March to July.
- Bring your own: there are no toilets, shops or cafés, so use facilities in Ballycastle and pack a lunch.
- Swimming: cold water and strong currents; not advisable unless you are experienced and know the conditions.
Nearby
Murlough Bay sits just off the Causeway Coastal Route, easy to slot between bigger stops:
- Fair Head: a dramatic headland with Northern Ireland’s highest sea cliffs, popular with climbers and walkers.
- Rathlin Island: a short ferry from Ballycastle, a place of seabird colonies and quiet, with an RSPB seabird centre.
- Glens of Antrim: scenic river valleys inland, with waterfalls and villages like Cushendun.
- Ballycastle: the nearest town for cafés, food and beds, and the Ballycastle Museum for local history.
Bring coins and your own lunch, aim for low tide, and give yourself the extra ten minutes up to Knockbrack Viewpoint – it is the best of the bay.