Portballintrae Causeway Loop
A moderate walk running from Portballintrae to the Giant’s Causeway, taking in beach, cliff and rock formations.
County Antrim
Distance 5.6 miles
OS Map 5
Terrain Beach, formal and cliff top path
Nearest Town Portballintrae
Route Shape Circular
Grid Reference C929423
Route Type Beach, Coastal
This route starts in the council maintained car park at the end of Beach Road in Portballintrae. Follow the path that leads from the car park down towards the beach. Bear left across Three Quarter Mile Bridge that crosses the Bush River. Bear left through the sand dunes to emerge onto Runkerry Beach, and follow the beach along its length.
At the top of the beach, bear left onto a path that runs along the front of Runkerry house to follow the cliff top path northwards. Follow this path along the coast until reaching the Causeway Hotel and the newly refurbished National Trust Giants Causeway Visitors Centre. The visitors centre is a ‘green’ building in that it is built into the ground and the roof is covered with grass that can be walked over. Cross this building and take the steps down to the tarmac path that leads downhill to the Giants Causeway rock formations. A shuttle bus for those with limited mobility operates on this path. Continue past the rock formations along the path into the next bay. Bear right at a path junction in this bay before reaching the rock formation known as ‘The Organ’. You are now on the Shepherds Path. Follow this path uphill (following the red route) and climb the steps that lead to the cliff top path. Bear right at the top of the steps and continue back to the visitors centre.
Leave the visitors centre through the car park, emerging onto the road. Bear right onto the Runkerry Road before the junction with the main Causeway Road. Turn right after 250m into the railway carpark, and join the path that leads away from the station along the railway. After the path begins to drift away from the beach, bear right onto a sand dune path before meeting the Bush River again. The paths through the sand dunes all lead back to the Three Quarter Mile Bridge, which you cross to get back to the car park at start of the walk.
Portballintrae Bay and Harbour, Runkerry Point, the Giants Causeway
The start of the route is at the car park at the end of Beach Road in Portballintrae. Continue in an easterly direction past Portballintrae Bay and Harbour to arrive here.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Dogs must be kept on lead
Car park available at Portballintrae, as well as a shop and seasonal cafe. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Disabled parking – Portballintrae – Visitors Centre – Giants Causeway
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.
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Walk Route
Portballintrae Causeway Loop
Great walk with stunning views. Just one short section of the path along the front of Runkerry House has become overgrown with briars, thistles etc and could do with being cut back
Tramlines shared path from Bushmills to Runkerry poorly maintained, presently narrowed in to one pedestrian wide in a lot of places with overgrowth. Cyclists don’t stop making pedestrians a lot with dogs on leads step into long wet grass, nettles and brambles. Surface of pathway ok, lack of maintenance to sides allowing it to grow over is the problem. Present condition of pathway does not make it suitable as a shared path.
Excellent. Walk has to be best walk done to date great views good parking kids love it