Causeway Coast, northern ireland
Attractions Guide

The following attractions are listed in order along a recommended route located between Belfast and Coleraine along Northern Ireland's extremely scenic northern coast, known as the Causeway Coast.

First you can visit the picturesque Dark Hedges, a stunning long tunnel of trees which was also used as a filming location for Game of Thrones. This iconic sight is set a bit back from the coast but is a highly photogenic location worth visiting, among the most popular attractions of the Causeway Coast.

If you're traveling on a clear day you might like to stop next at Ballycastle Beach where you can take a short 0.4 mile (0.6 km) round-trip walk out to a tiny rocky peninsula to take in striking views of the massive cliffs of Fair Head and nearby Rathlin Island (which can also be seen from further away at Kinbane Castle on a very clear day).

Afterwards continue up to a headland called Torr Head, where you can admire spectacular views of a scenic landscape of grassy rolling hills meeting the ocean, requiring only a very short walk. Torr Head is a short detour away from the route but is worth the time to visit.

Next you can visit the mostly-ruined Kinbane Castle which sits atop a small breathtaking headland with amazing panoramic coastal views, with a round-trip hiking distance of only 0.6 miles (1 km) to the tip of the Kinbane Headland from the parking area.

Afterwards you can head to one of Northern Ireland's most popular attractions, the nearby Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This bridge connects to a tiny island and can be reached via a walk of approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) round-trip that provides views over one of the most gorgeous parts of the coast in Ireland, with vivid blue-green water and lush grassy cliffs.

Larrybane Quarry

Also notable is the Larrybane Quarry, another Game of Thrones filming location that you can practically see from the parking lot that connects to the Rope Bridge parking lot.

Next you can visit the picturesque Balintoy Harbour, which you can stop to admire from a small pull-off on the hill just before you reach the parking lot. From Ballintoy Harbour you can walk westwards along the scenic coastline to see the impressive Elephant Rock, which sits just off the coast next to a small sea arch. The round-trip distance for this walk is approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km).

Near the Ballintoy Harbour you might like to visit White Park Bay, a beautiful beach with stunning cliffs that can be reached with a short walk of approximately 0.9 miles (1.4 km) round-trip from the parking lot, with the option of walking along the beach to get closer to the cliffs.

Dunseverick Castle & Falls

Continue to one of the top sights in all of Ireland and today's main attraction, the Giant's Causeway, where you can admire the breathtaking natural step formations consisting of geometric rock columns along the coast. The round-trip distance hiking along these surreal formations is approximately 2.4 miles (3.9 km) round-trip.

Dunluce Castle

Just east of the Giant's Causeway you can stop to explore the ruins of the incredible 13th century Dunluce Castle which sits atop tall sheer cliffs.

The final attraction along this route is the Downhill Demesne & Hezlett House, the spooky ruins of an 18th century estate which is mostly an empty hull, located right on the coast near the city of Coleraine.

Just behind this house is the small romanesque Mussenden Temple which sits atop the cliffs over the sea providing excellent coastal views. The house is a very short walk from the parking lot, and to see the house and temple requires a round-trip walk of approximately 0.8 miles (1.3 km).