Portrush to Bushmills
A moderate walk running from Portrush via Portballintrae to Bushmills, taking in beach, cliff and castle.
County Antrim
Distance 8.2 miles
OS Map 5
Terrain Beach, formal paths, minor road
Nearest Town Portrush/Bushmills
Route Shape Linear
Grid Reference C936411
Route Type Beach, Coastal
From Portrush Harbour, continue up past the Ramore Wine Bar and around Ramore Head. The route continues onto a formal pathway passing Portandubh Harbour and Portrush Countryside Centre and Nature Reserve. Proceed to the Curran Strand passing the former salmon fishery at Porteen. Set out along the beach, following the sand for over 2km to reach the parking area at White Rocks Coastal Park. This area derives its name from the striking limestone cliffs that line the back of the beach. Follow the route markers along the pedestrian path that traces its way up to the A2 road and turn left beside the tarmac, heading towards Dunluce Castle and onto Portballintrae. Continue past the B145 junction for a short distance to where a way marked track known as the ‘Port Hedge’ crosses fields into Portballintrae village. Continue round the bay past the harbour to the car park. Continue following the path along the coast, take the path to the right before reaching the bridge over the River Bushfoot. Continue straight through the car park of Bushfoot Golf Club and follow the path to reach the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway. Turn right and follow the path along the railway line to the Bushmills Station. Turn left onto the Ballaghmore Road and left again onto the Dunluce Road to continue into Bushmills.
Once you get to Bushmills, you can go for a Dander Aroon exploring the Ulster Scots heritage there. Check out these videos for more info: https://vimeo.com/657555534/8566d770e9 and https://vimeo.com/657500111
Portrush Harbour, Whiterocks Beach, Dunluce Castle, Portballintrae Bay and Harbour.
The walk starts at Portrush Harbour. To get here from the A2 Dunluce Road, continue into Portrush past Royal Portrush Golf Club. At the roundabout continue straight on onto Causeway Street, at the end of which bear left onto Eglinton Street past the Church on the left. At the traffic lights and the junction with Mark Street, bear right onto Kerr Street. At the end of which bear left down to the Harbour car park.
Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
Car park available at Ramore Head, Portballintrae Harbour and on street parking in Bushmills. The following facilities are available for users with limited mobility: – Café (wheelchair accessible) – (Portrush) – Shop (wheelchair accessible) – (Portrush) – Disabled parking – (Portrush)
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
Portrush to Bushmills
We did this walk last weekend, although instead of going to Bushmills, we diverted to the Giant’s Causeway.
From the end of the beach at Whiterocks there is a good signposted walking track up to the road, the Whiterocks Coastal Path. It is on the left as you leave the beach and start on the road uphill.
The path to Portballintrae described here was somewhat overgrown with nettles etc.where it runs along the back of the houses, not great if you’re wearing open toed sandals as my wife was! The start of this path was actually about a third of a mile from the junction with the B145, not such a “short distance”, as in the route description. It is also not signposted at all if you’re doing the walk in the opposite direction.
I only walked a portion of this from Portrush to Dunlance Castle. Lovely walk from east bay in Portrush along the beach to White rocks. Bit of a steep climb for the short section from White Rocks beach up to the Dunlance Road. There is paved road but no sidewalk but it seems to be designed as such for people to park and walk down to the beach. Once you hit Dunlance road there is sidewalk/pavement all the way to the castle (and it looks like it continues onward after towards Bushmills). I was a bit thick and spent a bit of time trying to find the sidewalk along Dunlance Road. It might be obvious to everyone else. But if its not, when you come up to Dunlance Road there is an interesction with Balleybogey road. If you see the pavement on the far side of the road which stops it will continue on the opposite side closest to you after the road off to White Rocks beach. It does not start right on the corner and is the same color as the road, but it is there! Walk along Dunlance road to castle was an easy pretty level walk with wonderful views.
Walked from Bushmills to Portstewart. Can use bus to get to start. A pleasant walk with varied coastal views. Diverted to visit Lissenduff Earthworks at Portballintrae. Had one problem of trying to find the path out of Portballintrae via housing estate and had to ask way due to the lack of signage. Pavement alongside road to White Rocks and thankfully road wasn’t that busy and along this stretch there are fine views. A walk along firm sands to get to Portrush.