Ballycastle

• Tourist Information Office

  address: 14 Bayview Road

Unfortunately, there is no rail link, the nearest station is along the coast at Portrush.
There are direct buses from Belfast and Coleraine

By boat

Passenger and vehicle ferries run from Rathlin Island around 5 times per day. There are restrictions on vehicles.
Kintyre Express is a ferry for foot passengers between Ballycastle and Port Ellen on Islay in the Scottish Hebrides. This runs F-M in April and Sept, daily May-Aug. It sails from Ballycastle at 09:30, taking an hour and returning at 15:00, an easy day trip. Adult fare is £60 single, £95 return, bikes are free. This ferry is a continuation of the sailing from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre at 07:30, returning from Ballycastle at 16:30 and taking 90 mins. So a day trip from Campbeltown to Ballycastle is possible but not vice versa.

• Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge

  phone: +44 28 2076-9839
  address: 119a Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, BT54 6LS
  Cross the sligtly scary rope bridge to Carrick-a-rede island. On some days it can be quite dangerous although now safe as staff monitor it. So before it gets really windy(fun) they close it. You can run across the bridge if you wish, but it's recommended that you wait until no one else is on it, you aren't allowed to shake the bridge, but people have been known to. After crossing the bridge, there are beautiful greens and it is a spot for great pictures. The bridge closes before sun-down, so no matter how romantic it might seem to watch the sun set on a beautiful island, it gets closed too soon! On a good day, the coast of Scotland is clearly visible, so there's advantages to going during premium light hours. Additionally, the bridge is only open in the summer months, they take it down each winter, and before it's put up (in March(?)) they check it for safety. National Trust tearoom.

• Bonamargy FriaryFranciscan foundation established in 1485

• Kinbane Castleruins on narrow limestone headland

• Coast Road

• beach

• Fair HeadRock Climbing

• Cliff Walks

• Sea Fishing

Ballycastle is full of traditional shops, there are very few if any high street brands.

Dulse (an edible seaweed) and yellowman (a honeycomb toffee) are local specialities.

• Thyme & Co. Cafe

  address: 5 Quay Road, BT54 6BJ
  Great frys and Lunches.

• The Sweetie Jar

  address: Quay Road
  sweet shop also selling ice creams

There are numerous bed and breakfasts in the area, one youth hostel and the marine hotel.

• The Marine Hotel

  phone: +44 28 2076-2222
  address: 1-3 North Street, Ballycastle, BT54 6BN
  31 room hotel

• North to Rathlin Island by ferry
• West to Giant's Causeway, Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine
• South-west to Ballymoney
• South-east to Cushendall