Best Northern Ireland coast road trip guide & stops

You’ll discover plenty of rich history and wind-beaten wilderness on a Northern Ireland coast road trip! Along the shorelines of County Antrim, County Down and County Derry, the “Causeway Coast” is a breathtaking landscape of ancient sites, seaside towns and gloriously green countryside.

It’s a perfect option for a UK road trip, especially with this expert guide that will take you to the very best of this remarkable region. Below, we’ve rounded up the 9 best places to visit on a road trip along the Northern Irish coastline!

Best road trip around the Northern Ireland coast – 9 places you can’t miss

Our route goes north then west from the seaside town of Newcastle, with highlights including Giant’s Causeway, Rathlin Island and the Bushmills Distillery. Game of Thrones fans are covered too – we’ve included quite a few top Westeros highlights along the way!

The total journey distance of our Northern Ireland coast road trip is 170 miles, on a scenic route staying close to the coast as much as possible.

Total distance : about 170 miles | Recommended days : 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route : June, August | See route in Google Maps

1. Newcastle

Pick up your campervan and drive south fromBelfast to Newcastle (33 miles) to start your Northern Ireland road trip on the country’s southeastern coast. This seaside town packs in a lot despite its small size – as well as its sandy beach and award-winning promenade, the diverse mountain and forest surroundings make Newcastle a hub for climbing and hiking in its diverse surroundings.

Golfers should make for the Royal County Down Golf Club, venue for the 2007 Walker Cup and 2015 Irish Open, and a favourite of Tiger Woods!

Set by the Irish Sea, Newcastle is at the foot of Slieve Donard, the highest of the Mourne Mountains (a region likely to become Northern Ireland’s first national park). It’s surrounded by Donard Forest and Tollymore Forest Park, used as the Haunted Forest in Game of Thrones. The National Trust Murlough Nature Reserve is between Newcastle and neighbouring town Dundrum.

2. Gobbins Cliff Path

Schedule plenty of time for the next leg of the trip, as we have several suggested stops on the way! Our next unmissable destination is the Gobbins Cliff Path or The Gobbins just outside Islandmagee, a three-mile walk along The Gobbins cliffs among breathtaking scenery as far as Ailsa Craig in Scotland. The walk uses 15 bridges, six galley structures and a 22-metre tunnel; drop in at the visitor centre afterwards to see how it was all put into place.

The journey fromNewcastle to Gobbins Cliff Path is 78 miles, the longest section of our trip. We’ve opted for a meandering route mostly along the coast rather than a direct route inland, so you can stop off at Downpatrick to explore Saint Patrick legend, or the National Trust estate at Castle Ward, aka Winterfell Castle.

Then explore the seaside town of Bangor and the beautiful coastal setting of Helen’s Bay, before stopping off at Belfast, on the way to the Antrim coast.

3. Glens of Antrim

The world-famous Glens of Antrim, immortalised in song, are nine glens or river valleys between the Antrim coast and the Antrim Plateau region in Ireland’s northeast. Glentaisie, Glenshesk, Glendun, Glanaan, Glenballyemon, Glencore, Glenariff, Glencloy and Glenarm are the names of the nine glens from north to south, with Ballycastle, Cushendun, Cushendall, Waterfoot, Carnlough and Glenarm as the main settlements. The glens are part of the Antrim Coast and Glens Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cushendun, Cushendall and Glenarm are probably the most visited of the glens, along with Ballycastle, their biggest town. The local tourist office at Cushendall (another is at Ballycastle) is the best place to start – ask about traditional music and local festivals as well as information on the glens. Westeros fans won’t want to miss Cushendun Cave, the birthplace of Shadow Assassin.

The Gobbins to Cushendall is 33 miles, passing Carlough and Glenarm.

4. Rathlin Island

Finish your Glens of Antrim tour at Ballycastle, a destination in itself for its beautiful beach, but also the departure point for trips to Rathlin Island. Measuring just 4 by 2.5 miles, this is Northern Ireland's northernmost point as well as the country’s only inhabited offshore island. The entire island is an RSPB reserve.

The ferry to Rathlin Island is passenger only, apart from cars belonging to island residents. Park up at the Ballycastle ferry terminal for a Rathlin Island day trip – Rathlin is easy to walk around, or you can take a minibus tour or hire a bike from the Boathouse Visitors’ Centre at Church Bay, open seven days a week from April to September. Rathlin Island scuba diving is also popular because of the many wrecked ships in the surrounding waters.

Our recommended route fromCushendall to Ballycastle is 23 miles, passing yet another of Northern Ireland’s Game of Thrones filming locations – beautiful Murlough Bay (Slavers Bay in Essos). It also passes Torr Head, a rugged headland with views all the way across to the Mull of Kintyre.

5. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Our next few stops are crammed together in a short but spectacular section of the north Antrim coast. First up is the National Trust site of Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy, built by salmon fishermen in 1755 to connect the tiny island of Carrickarede to the mainland. It’s almost 30 metres above sea level, arriving at the island’s single building – a fisherman’s cottage – after an adrenaline-raising walk above the Atlantic Ocean.

Ballycastle to Carrick-a-Rede is just 4.5 miles. Games of Thrones fans can also head inland to the Dark Hedges (the King’s Road), nine miles from Ballycastle, or stay around Ballintoy to see GoT’s Pyke Harbour.

6. Giants Causeway

Next up is the best known and most visited site in Northern Ireland, ancient Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s made up of around 40,000 basalt columns, formed by a volcanic fissure eruption some 50 to 60 million years ago… or by the result of a fight between Irish giant Finn MacCool and Scottish giant Benandonner. It’s an iconic image of Northern Ireland and the definitive spot for your road trip selfie.

Access to the stones is free by foot, but many visitors opt to take the short minibus tour to the stones, arranged by the National Trust. Use of the car park, guided tours and admission to the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre are all included in the ticket price.

Carrick-a-Rede to Giant’s Causeway is nine miles, passing Dunseverick Castle, visited by St Patrick in the fifth century. An awesome option is the Giant’s Causeway Clifftop Experience, a guided hike of five miles along the coast back to Dunseverick.

7. Bushmills Distillery

It’s only a few minutes to the next destination on our Northern Ireland coast bucket list, the three-mile drive fromGiant’s Causeway to the Old Bushmills Distillery. An Irish whiskey distillery has been at this site for hundreds of years, with an official licence granted as far back as 1608; making it the oldest working distillery in the world.

Distillery tours are available (as with all destinations, check for local restrictions before setting out) and visitors can also book tasting experiences and buy souvenirs in the Bushmills shop.

8. Dunluce Castle

Another short drive for the next leg of the trip, fromBushmills to Dunluce Castle (three miles). Although now ruined, medieval Dunluce Castle is still a much-visited destination in NI for its setting on the edge of a basalt outcropping with hugely steep drops on either side. And of course, it’s a Game of Thrones setting too! Dunluce Castle was used as Pyke Castle of House Greyjoy on Pyke Island.

Dunluce Castle visits are available daily from March to October; booking is essential. After your visit, head over to the Magheracross Viewing Point for a picnic against breathtaking views.

9. Portstewart

Golfers who teed off at the Royal Down course in Newcastle will also want to experience Portstewart Golf Club at this seaside town, another former venue for The Open Championship.

For non-golfers, Portstewart along with neighbouring town Portrush is one of the main Northern Ireland seaside destinations, known for its gorgeous two-mile and Blue Flag beach Portstewart Strand. Its dunes are part of the Bann Estuary Area of Special Scientific Interest for their diverse habitats and wildlife, and the Strand was used as the Dornish coast in season five of Game of Thrones. Our seven-mileDunluce Castle to Portstewart drive makes a short detour to Portrush.

From Portstewart, walk the cliff path to the bird haven of the Barmouth, where the Bann flows out into the Atlantic Ocean, or take the walking/cycling path along the coast to Portrush. The North Antrim Coast Path starts at Portstewart Strand on its 40-mile route along the coast to Murlough Bay.

Want to continue your trip from Portstewart? Drive from Portstewart to Mussenden Temple, a National Trust site, with a stop at the shopping town of Coleraine. From Mussendon, visit the little seaside town of Castlerock, a popular tourist destination. The Causeway Coastal Route ends here, but we recommend driving onwards to Magilligan Point on the peninsula on the very northwestern tip of Co Derry. Magilligan is a National Nature Reserve and has ferry services across Lough Foyle over to Greencastle.

Portstewart to Magilligan Point via Mussenden Temple and Castlerock is 24 miles. Then round off your trip with the 42-mile drive fromMagilligan Point to Derry/Londonderry, NI’s second city. Heading back,Derry to Belfast is 71 miles, passing near the upper shores of Lough Neagh via Dungiven and Maghera, or 90 miles by the south of the lough, passing Dungannon.

Organising your Northern Ireland coast road trip

Whether you’re on a couples’ trip, family holiday or adventure with mates, organising your Northern Ireland coast road trip is easy with Camplify. You’ll find everything you need with ourcampervan hire in Belfast andcampervan hire in Northern Ireland listing (and ourcampervan hire in the UK vans if you’re arriving by ferry from Scotland, England or Wales). Or why not arrive by plane to Belfast City or Belfast International airports and take a long weekend?

If you need more inspiration or want to see more of this region’s famous highlights, check out our ultimate guide to the bestNorthern Ireland road trips.

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