Ballintoy to Bushmills
Please note that there are improvement works to a run of steps leading down to the grassland below the road that winds down to Dunseverick Harbour which are to be carried out over the next 4 – 6 weeks. Diversions will be posted directing walkers to an alternative route that will bring them onto the grassland and down toward the sea.
Discover the wonders that lie along the Causeway Coast, including Portballintrae, Portbradden, Dunseverick Harbour and the Giant’s Causeway. The route includes walking on beaches, across rocks and along cliff top paths following the Causeway Coast Way, one of the most spectacular cliff top paths in the UK! Please note that there are improvement works to a run of steps leading down to the grassland below the road that winds down to Dunseverick Harbour which are to be carried out over the next 4 – 6 weeks. Diversions will be posted directing walkers to an alternative route that will bring them onto the grassland and down toward the sea.
County Antrim
Distance 12.5 miles
OS Map 5
Terrain Single file track, beaches, unev
Nearest Town Bushmills/Ballintoy
Route Shape Linear
Grid Reference D037453
Route Type Beach, Coastal
From Ballintoy harbour car park, follow the Causeway Coast Way path in a westerly direction, passing low dunes and damp pastures. Cross a stile leading past rock stacks to access the narrow end of White Park Bay Beach. The beach offers easy walking along its length. Continue across uneven rocks and chalk boulders to access Portbradden. Care is needed when crossing these rocks. During high tide, Portbradden can be accessed by joining the main coast road via the track at the youth hostel, and taking the winding road down to Portbradden. Continue along the coast, passing through the arch at Gid Point. Continue along the path passing a series of rocky bays to Dunseverick Harbour. From the lay-by at Dunseverick, follow the path in a westerly direction passing by Portmoon Salmon Fishery, Contham Head and Benbane and Bengore Head. Between Benbane and Bengore is Hamiltons Seat, the highest point on the walk which offers superb views. Continue along the path passing the Bays of Port na Tober, Port na Spaniagh and the Ampitheatre. An optional detour is to take the ‘Shepherd’s steps’ down to the waters edge to experience the hexagonal basalt formations that make the Giant’s Causeway a World Heritage Site.
From here follow the tarmac path to the visitors centre or follow the cliff top path to the visitors centre. Continue through the car park to the junction of the Causeway Road and the Runkerry Road. Follow the Runkerry Road for 300 meters to arrive at the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway. Follow the path along side the railway track along its length until arrival at the Bushmills Station on the Ballaghmore Road, Bushmills.
Ballintoy Harbour, White Park Bay, Dunseverick Castle, Benbane Head, the Giant’s Causeway.
The walk starts at Ballintoy Harbour car park. To get here follow the Main Street west out of Ballintoy for 500m, and turn right. Ballintoy Harbour car park is 1.6km away at the end of the Harbour Road.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Free car parking available at Ballintoy Harbour and Bushmills town centre, or at Bushmills Train Station for a £5 fee. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Café (wheelchair accessible) – (Ballintoy Harbour and Bushmills) – Shop (wheelchair accessible) – (Bushmills) – Disabled toilets.
Grade 5
- There may not be a formalised path, and variable, single file trails are to be expected.
- Gradients and cross slope could be expected to be steep and not limited.
- Obstacles and surface breaks of greater than 75mm measured across the line of the path to be expected.
- Overhanging branches are possible. Passing places and rest areas may not be formalised or provided.
Comments will be reviewed and those that cause offence will be removed. This is at the discretion of WalkNI.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy the walking routes listed on WalkNI safely and easily.
If you have come across any problems whilst walking a route, please let us so we can pass on any issues to the appropriate management body responsible for maintaining the walk.
Walk Route
Ballintoy to Bushmills
Completed this particular walk in the middle of a heatwave. Quite honestly I have never seen the coastline look so beautiful. Absolutely inspiring. Started off in Ballintoy village having caught bus from Coleraine. Early mist soon disappeared as the path twisted its way along the shore and cliff tops towards Bushmills approx 12 miles away. The views in all directions are spectacular, Rathlin Island looked as if it was floating, raised beaches,the fine sand at White Park Bay complete with local cows who roam freely along this part of the shore along with riders cantering across the shoreline helped to make it even more special. The path tracks the coastline in and out of bays from one headland to another. Much much more to see than the famous stones at the Causeway Centre. Lunch by the shell of Dunseverick Castle and then continue from one viewpoint to the next. Great to see almost no litter. Easy finish following the Causeway Railway to Bushmills which runs parallel to the beach at Portballintrae. Guide posts could be checked and replaced where needed but it’s not difficult to navigate.
A walk to remember for a very long time. As always check the weather as the path is exposed and the drops are steep.
Beautiful walk on a sunny Saturday in March. We parked the car at the war memorial car park in Bushmill (free). Took the bus to Ballintoy Harbour and walked along the coast up to the Giant’s Causeway to watch the sun set. The path is well marked and relatively easy to walk, but make sure to wear proper shoes as some parts can be a bit slippery. Stunning views, well worth it. It took us about 4.5 hours to complete the walk at a relatively high pace. We missed the last bus back to Bushmills, but were offered a ride back by a very friendly local.
5 stars for beauty but it could have had a little more fencing. Walking in a strong Northern wind it was quite thrilling on the clifftops between Giant’s Causeway and Dunseverick Castle with nothing more to hold on to then some metal wire along the sheep fence (right along some barbed wire). The views were stunning so it was worth the scare. There is now a path over/around the landslide which did not seem to be a real detour. The way is marked well up to date info is available at local tourist informations. We parked at Carrick-a-Rede (because it’s free), then took the rambler bus (only peak season from april) for 3 pounds pp and walked back from Giant’s Causeway. This turned out to be convenient as the wind delayed us quite a bit and we would have missed the last bus had we walked the opposite direction. Excellent food & cakes available in Ballintoy Harbour.