Causeway Coast Short Break
- Walk the Causeway Coast and its geological highlight, the Giant's Causeway
- View Ballintoy Harbour, where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed
- Cross the Moyle Sea to the ruggedly picturesque Rathlin Island with its multitude of birdlife
- Sample a dram of Bushmills Whiskey in the world’s oldest distillery
- Watch the waves crash into the cliffs from deserted sandy beaches
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Bushmills and overnightArrive in Bushmills after a convenient private transfer from Coleraine train station (connected to Belfast).
This town is famous for its whiskey distillery which is the oldest in Ireland. If you have the time you can take a tour and sample some of this exquisite golden Irish whiskey. They produce triple distilled, singles malts, and Black Bush which has rich, fruity notes and a deep intense character.
Settle into your comfortable accommodation and celebrate the start of your Causeway Coast adventure.

This B&B has recently been completely renovated and consists of 8 rooms, all with modern decor. It’s just a short walk away from the centre of Bushmills and the whisky distillery.

Bayview Hotel is a 4-star accommodation overlooking the everchanging Atlantic Ocean, which is a unique setting if you like watching the sun set. All rooms are en suite and equipped with anything that you may need to ensure a comfortable stay, including large beds, soft robes and slippers, high powered showers, toiletries, hairdryer, complimentary Wi-Fi, TV and coffee and tea making facilities.

Upgrade Option (additional supplement added at confirmation): You are guaranteed to enjoy your stay in this 4-star boutique Hotel & Restaurant in the village of Bushmills, steeped in Irish history and home to the world’s oldest whiskey distillery. The spacious en suite bedrooms are equipped with flat screen TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, hair dryer, tea and coffee facilities, heated towel rails, ironing facilities as well as a safety deposit box. And of course, your stay wouldn’t be complete without a full Irish breakfast in the morning to fuel you for the day ahead.
The first stop today is the magnificent Giant’s Causeway. Make sure to check it out as the route goes right past it. With an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the volcanic age almost 60 million years ago. Drop into the Visitor’s Centre where you can learn about the legend of Irish giant, Finn McCool.
Further along, this coastal trail comes across the ruins of Dunseverick Castle, where Saint Patrick is recorded as having visited in the 5th century AD. Walk along the stunning beach of White Park Bay, and pass through Ballintoy Harbour, which has barely changed in hundreds of years and where scenes from the series “Game of Thrones” series were filmed.
The delightful village of Ballintoy then comes into view with its little white cottages. Home to just 200 people, it still has a lively pub that serves great local food, perfect for tonight’s dinner spot.
Ascent: 372m (1221ft) / Descent: 320m (1050ft)

This old black and white building on the high street of Ballintoy houses a public house, restaurant and a guesthouse with lovely rooms. They have all been refurbished to a very high standard with modern and tasteful décor. You will receive a warm welcome Geraldine and Sean, the husband and wife team who run it.

This Bed & Breakfast is a modern and recently restored accommodation situated at the edge of the North Atlantic Ocean. On clear days you can enjoy views across to Rathlin Island from Ballintoy harbor. The bedrooms are equipped with large beds, flat screen TV, tea / coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi and ironing facilities are also available.
Take a bus to Ballycastle for today’s adventure. Then board a ferry to Rathlin Island (takes about 50 minutes and it’s best to book in advance). Just 6 miles across the Sea of Moyle you can learn about its exciting history, including the story of Robert the Bruce who took refuge here in 1306. It’s also famous for its population of puffins (the season occurs from April to July every year). Why not board a puffin bus to check them and all the other species of birds on the west side of the island?
You can also make a loop walk from Church Bay (where the ferry lands) down the peninsula to Rue Point and the South Lighthouse. Walk along a quiet country road and a dirt trail passing loughs and rugged landscapes as you walk and with fabulous views back to the mainland and Ballycastle.
Afternoon tea at the local hotel is a great way to finish your day here before heading back on the ferry and your first overnight in Ballycastle.
Ascent: 150m (492ft) / Descent: 135m (443ft)

This family-owned guesthouse features accommodation with a shared lounge and breakfast room, where guests can enjoy a cooked breakfast. It is ideally situated between Ballycastle seafront and the town centre and five minutes walk from all local amenities.

Ardaghmore Bed and Breakfast is a family run Victorian guest house in Ballycastle on the Causeway Coastal Route. Breakfast consists of a full traditional Irish breakfast.

Upgrade option: Enjoy a relaxing stay at this family-run hotel in Ballycastle, just a few minutes’ walk away from the beach with views to Rathlin Island and beyond. All bedrooms have been newly refurbished and tastefully decorated keeping comfort and space in mind.
A pre-arranged transfer takes you to Murlough Bay, an idyllic spot sandwiched between Torr Head and Fair Head. Walk the iconic cliffs of Fair Head formed of gigantic columns up to 12 metres in diameter, the trail skirts around the headland high above the Sea of Moyle giving expansive views looking out towards Raithlin Island and along the Causeway coastline. Head back inland past historic loughs and open green farmland. Quiet country roads lead you through the hamlet of Ballyvoy and onto the main beach in Ballycastle and back to the waterfront.
There is a great cafe on the waterfront in Ballycastle as well as a very well-renowned Fish and Chip shop. For other refreshments, there is a wide range of cafes/restaurants in the town centre itself.
Ascent: 85m (279ft) / Descent: 290m (951ft)

This family-owned guesthouse features accommodation with a shared lounge and breakfast room, where guests can enjoy a cooked breakfast. It is ideally situated between Ballycastle seafront and the town centre and five minutes walk from all local amenities.

Ardaghmore Bed and Breakfast is a family run Victorian guest house in Ballycastle on the Causeway Coastal Route. Breakfast consists of a full traditional Irish breakfast.

Upgrade option: Enjoy a relaxing stay at this family-run hotel in Ballycastle, just a few minutes’ walk away from the beach with views to Rathlin Island and beyond. All bedrooms have been newly refurbished and tastefully decorated keeping comfort and space in mind.
From Ballycastle, we have arranged an included transfer to Coleraine and from here there is a train service to Belfast.
If you have more time to explore, why not consider one of our other walking adventures in Ireland? We have a beautiful 5-day trip in the Mourne Mountains along the most scenic sections of the Saint Patrick's Way. Please speak to one of our specialists for more information.
This trip has a carbon score of 17kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 17kg is equivalent to 100 cans of coke. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This short break has 3 days of walking and rated easy to moderate. It has an average walking distance of approximately 17 km per day. The first day's walk is completely along the coast and past the Giant's Causeway which you will need to slightly divert to see. Its a very nice combination of coastal, inland and island walking.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 15 Years
This trip is rated easy to moderate overall, with walks that can be completed at your own pace. The daily distances range from 10 to 21 km (6 to 13 mi). There are two walks that lean towards the moderate grading; the walk from Bushmills to Ballintoy (21 km/13 mi) and Orra Beg to Ballycastle (20 km/12.5 mi). Please view the itinerary for more details, including the ascents/descents.
It is advisable to build up your fitness before setting off, we recommend taking walks that are similar in duration to what you will be doing on this holiday to make the most of your time and walks in Ireland. If you would like to have some flexibility it is possible to add some additional rest days.
There are some elevation gains and losses on the coast and when you reach the Antrim Glens area. Most of the route follows either coastal trails, or countryside tracks, and some of the time you will also be walking on quiet rural roads with little traffic. There are a few short sections on sandy or rocky beaches that may slow down your progress along the route, and where you should always keep an eye on the tide. The information that we provide in our navigation app will advise you where these sections are and what the alternative route is at high tide.
Keep in mind that the trail follows the Causeway Coast and at times this means that the path is close to the cliff edges which can feel exposed in wet and windy conditions. That being said, this is a true highlight of this trip and the views on a clear day are more than worth it.
If you are thinking of travelling solo, please consider that mobile phone coverage may be patchy in remote areas along the trail (particularly the section from Orra Beg to Ballycastle). We also welcome small groups on the trail, ideally no bigger than 10 travellers due to accommodation limitations. Booking in advance is a must!
Overnights in B&Bs and family-run guest houses are included. The accommodations are comfortable and offer a warm welcome to walkers with traditional Irish hospitality and delicious breakfasts. All accommodation is comfortable and mostly in convenient locations in the town centres, although there could be exceptions to this if availability is a challenge when you want to book.
You can add on extra nights in any of the overnight locations on this tour.
This trip is available to solo walkers, please note that rooms for single occupancy may be limited. Booking in advance is a must!
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Usually this is buffet-style with bread, cereals, fruit, and yogurt, combined with a cooked breakfast of your choice, generally this is eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, and mushrooms. Lunch and dinner are not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Most of your accommodations will more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival at a small fee. Alternatively, you can buy lunch at local shops or stop in a café. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby pubs or restaurants. Please check the app for more information on food and drink that is available locally.
This is a low-level route that is well-waymarked for the most part and easy to follow, with signs for the Causeway Coast Way or the Moyle Way. However, this is not always the case (especially on the Orra Beg to Ballycastle route) so you will have to remain vigilant when there are no waymarkers. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
Please note that depending on the time of year and recent weather, the trail may be boggy in places which could reduce your average walking speed.
- 4 Nights in B&B’s and guest houses
- 4 Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Private transfer on Day 1 from Coleraine train station to Bushmills
- Private transfer on Day 4 from Ballycastle to the start of your walk at Murlough Bay
- Private transfer on Day 5 from Ballycastle to Coleraine train station
- A detailed trip information pack
- Access to the GPX tracks via the Macs Smartphone App
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to and from Coleraine
- Lunches, dinners, snacks, and drinks
- Return ferry to Rathlin Island
- Local buses or public transport
- Extra nights before, after or during your walk
This walking tour is available between April to October. In our opinion, one of the most beautiful times to visit this region is in spring when colourful wildflowers appear in the landscape, forming a beautiful contrast.
Travel between May and June to be in the best chance of seeing puffins on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony. Puffin nesting season is from late April to July when they return to shore. July and August are the busiest months and accommodations tend to fill up fast but the days are longer, making them perfect for exploring. For a quieter experience, the ideal months are May/June and September.
Due to the 2025 International North West 200, which is one of the biggest motorcycle race events in the UK, it will be very difficult to book between 5 - 10 May 2025.
Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. No matter what month you choose to travel, being close to the Atlantic means it can get wet and windy at any time of year (particularly at the start and towards the end of the season). It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day. It is safe to walk along the coastal path in most weather, as long as you are well-prepared. If there are gale-force winds or there is low visibility due to fog, the walks near the cliff edges would be too risky.
You can fly into Belfast International Airport. This airport serves many airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair, and Jet2. From here the quickest way to get to Coleraine is to take a short taxi ride to Antrim Train Station (8km away and costs around €15 to €20). Then in Antrim you can take a direct train to Coleraine. Leaves hourly and takes approximately 1H.
It’s also possible to fly into Belfast City Airport. From here take a train into Belfast Centre, and then another direct train to Coleraine. However only Flybe serves this airport so your choices will be limited.
If you are choosing to arrive by some other means take a direct train from Belfast Centre to Coleraine.
From Coleraine a transfer to your accommodation in Ballycastle is included. Please give us your arrival time as soon as possible so that we may set up this transfer for you.
For more public transport information please check the Translink website.
From Ballycastle an included transfer to Coleraine Train Station is included. Please follow the same directions in reverse in the Getting to the Start information.
Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
Please note that the reviews for this walking holiday up until December 2019 are based on our previous itinerary. As of December 2019, minor changes and improvements have been made to enhance your experience, including reversing the itinerary.
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take with you to Northern Ireland. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
You should be in good physical fitness to fully enjoy the walking on this tour. The walks are an average of about 17km per day, with the exception of the walk on Rathlin Island which is only 9km, giving you time to explore the rest of the island as well.
Your baggage will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as the Causeway Coast is extremely popular especially over July/August. We will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a daypack and hats/gloves etc.
Traditionally April/May has always been the most popular time of year because the theory goes that the weather is better. Although I believe any time between late March and October offers a wonderful experience. Please bear in mind that weather at the very start/end of the season is more likely to be changeable, so pack accordingly and ensure you check the weather forecasts daily.
You can use public transport or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop. Information about buses between places are in your information pack.
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